We are accepting requests to partner with campus units in an ongoing basis. If interested, please email Lisa Willoughby, Ph.D. at lisa.willoughby@health.slu.edu.
About the BEAR lab
The Behavior Education Assessment Research (BEAR) Lab was established to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in supporting on-campus units through collaborative data collection and dissemination. While projects are grounded in psychological science, undergraduate students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds at SLU are encouraged to apply for the BEAR Lab experience. The BEAR lab differs from other research labs in psychology in that the projects we engage with are strictly focused addressing practical concerns of immediate interest to a collaboration partner.
No prior research experience is required but all pre-requisite requirements listed below must be met. And, of course, students should come prepared to engage fully with the research and consultation process.
BEAR lab projects
The BEAR lab is designed to address a single issue with a project partner each semester. All project goals will be designed to positively support project partner operations. Any project goal that places the responsibility of making organizational decisions on BEAR lab members or those that would lead to the collection of grievances about staff performance or unit operations, such a program evaluation projects, are beyond the scope of the BEAR lab and will not be entertained.
Example projects include working with:
an academic unit that would like to know how techologies, like AI and hardware, are being used by faculty.
an academic support unit to understand how students define the boundaries of academic honesty.
an undergraduate major program to identify the information sources students use when selecting courses during registration.
a student wellness support unit to explore the types of non-academic concerns students feel impact their ability to engage in academic work.
a campus organization to determine what kinds of information students would like to see on the organization's website.
a group of instructors interested in learning about the study strategies students use when preparing for exams.
a unit on campus that is attempting to improve its visibility on campus.
BEAR lab experiences for students
BEAR lab students will be responsible for working with project partners in developing viable questions rooted in psychological science at the start of the semester and delivering information at the end of the semester. In the process, BEAR lab students will develop and practice project consultation skills, design procedures for gathering data to address project goals using sound, ethical research practice, and summarize gathered data for use by project partners. Students can expect project themes to involve understanding attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, and other psychology-related concepts using practical methodologies, such as surveys and focus groups.
Information for prospective BEAR lab students
Prior research experience is not required. However, given that BEAR lab projects will require a high degree of responsibility, students must meet minimum pre-requisites at the time of application:
Completed 60 credits toward their degree with at least 9 credits representing in-person courses completed at SLU within the past year.
Overall SLU GPA is 3.3 or higher.
Good academic standing at university and program(s) levels.
Completed PSY1010 or equivalent with a grade of C or better.
Completed PSY2050, STATS1300, or another college-level data analysis or research methods course with a grade of B+ or better.
Identify 1 instructor at SLU with an active SLU email address who is able to provide a positive character and academic reference.
Able to attend all weekly lab meetings during the semester, plus a few additional consulting meetings with campus partners and the BEAR lab team.
Able to register for 1 credit of PSY4970-77 and commit to approximately 3 hours of BEAR lab work each academic week for the semester.
Interested in joining?
Please complete this form and submit it by the stated due date.