info for students

Join the lab

Vocal Perception Action Lab (VPAL) directed research students collaborate in every aspect of research including design, data collection, analysis, writing, and public presentation. VPAL researchers have presented their work at regional and national conferences including meetings of The Psychonomic Society, The Society for Music Perception and Cognition, the Eastern Psychological Association, and more.

Gain valuable research skills

Your weekly lab tasks will depend on the current stage of your project, but you can expect to meet with Prof James regularly to discuss research. At the beginning of the semester, we'll discuss your research goals and determine how many research credits would be a good fit for you. Most VPAL researchers return for multiple semesters of work and gain the benefits of working on multiple aspects of a long-term project.

Course credit and grade

VPAL research students work for course credit (PSYC 396, X97). Each credit requires 2-3 hours of work per week, though your "lab" work can often be accomplished outside of the lab.

Most directed research students elect to earn pass/fail course credit. However, students who choose to work for 2 or 4 credit hours per semester can request to enroll for a letter grade that will contribute to their GPA and apply to the psychology major. Working for a letter grade entails the creation of a final product (such as a presentation or paper). Prof James will work with you to create a learning project that encompasses the scope of your work in the lab.

How to join VPAL

Please complete this survey to inform Prof James about your interest (you must be logged in with your SMCM account).

Recommendation letters

If you would like Prof James to write a recommendation letter or serve as your reference, please schedule an appointment with him. Prepare the following and share it via email or other document.

• 1. When is the recommendation due? Prof James typically needs 3 weeks notice in order to prepare a good letter.

  2. What is the recommendation for? If grad school, provide a list of schools and degree programs. If for an internship or job, provide a brief job description.

  3. Why are you applying? Briefly explain how the position relates to your career goals. Then concisely describe why you think you are a good candidate for the position.

If Prof James agrees to write your recommendation letter, you should prepare to share additional material such as your resume/CV and your application essay (e.g., a personal statement).