Expertise/Research

We focus on outstanding research while drawing on strengths and resources unique to South Florida. Addressing urban and multicultural issues in this region, we provide hands-on experience for our students through labs and independent study.

Get Involved in Research

We encourage students to get involved in research. There are several ways to gain experience in a lab, clinic or in the field. You can become a research assistant and help run studies or you can sign up to be a participant in research studies. Or you can perform your own research under the supervision of a faculty member!

Honors Thesis
An Honors Thesis is a research project you conduct largely on your own. Typically, students develop a research proposal, conduct a study and write a research paper outlining the results, working under the supervision or direction of an Honors Thesis committee of at least two members. The committee members are Psychology faculty who work in your area of interest or who are otherwise willing to serve on your committee.
An application to undertake an Honor's Thesis must be approved by the department. Many students take Independent Study credits the semester before they take Honor's Thesis Credits to develop their research proposal. These Pass/Fail credits count as general upper-division electives but do not count as Psychology electives.
Independent Research or Study
Independent Research courses allow you to get involved in research more intensively, but are to the level of the thesis. Students work in close collaboration with a professor to review literature, devise hypotheses, and design, carry out and write up a research project.
The Independent Study option allows you to study a topic that is not offered in the regular Psychology curriculum - via library research, reading, writing and discussion with a professor.
Both types of independent courses require scheduled weekly meetings with the professor and a significant amount of time and effort, equivalent to a 3000- or 4000-level course. Arrangements must be made with the professor before the semester starts; a written proposal is required. These Pass/Fail course credits count as general upper-division electives, but not as Psychology electives.
Become a Research Assistant
If you would like to participate in psychology research on a limited basis, you can volunteer to assist with ongoing research, perhaps helping to collect data, prepare materials or assist a thesis student. This can be a great way to try different labs to find a good fit. Check out our research areas below and reach out to our faculty to get involved.
Participate in Research for Class Credit
Students who are participating in research as part of a course requirement or a course that offers extra credit for research participation, please use SONA Systems to sign up for studies.
Participate in Other Ongoing Research Studies
Participate in the Psychology Department's ongoing research studies below:
Researchers: To request a study be listed, removed, or modified, please fill out this form.
Studies currently available for participant sign-ups:
- Interpreter Cognition II (posted Jan 2022)
  If you are:
  - At least 18 years of age
  - Spanish/English bilingual (i.e., able to translate back and forth between English and Spanish)
  - Able to access a device larger than a phone that will allow you to use Zoom video conferencing and respond to an online survey
  - Willing to be video recorded
  You can earn a $60 gift card to participate in our 3-hour study examining interpreters' cognition. Determine your eligibility for this study.
- K23: Emotional Systems in ADHD (posted Jan 2022)
  
  The ERICA Lab at FIU seeks children ages 7-12 years with an ADHD diagnosis, as well as healthy children with no history of mental or physical health diagnosis, to help understand youth brain and emotional development. Compensation includes: $25 for a 2 hour on-line session and $75 for an in-person MRI scan session; a toy prize (worth ~$20); an fMRI photo of your child's brain; a screener report of your child's behavior, IQ and academics No medications or DNA testing are involved. For more information call: 305-501-0916 or email sugarcia@fiu.edu
- CRUSADA: Child regulation and parent scaffolding of emotion in youth with ADHD: Roles of ethnicity and culture (posted Jan 2022)
  
  The ERICA Lab at FIU seeks children ages 7-12 years with an ADHD diagnosis, as well as children with no history of mental or physical health diagnoses, to help us understand youth heart rate and emotional development. Compensation: Parents get $75 for questionnaires and interviews on-line, as well as an in-person 45-minute task, as well as $25 for completing questionnaires 6 months later and $25 for completing questionnaires 12 months later; Children get $30 for completing the task; Parents get a screening of their child's behavior, IQ, and academics No medications or DNA testing involved. For more information call 305-501-0916 or email sugarcia@fiu.edu
- Examining the Relation Between Spatial Ability and STEM Prospects (posted Jan 2022)
  
  The objective of this research study is to establish & investigate a potential relation between an individual's spatial ability competency & interest towards/achievement within STEM. Two spatial ability assessments will be delegated (mental rotation & perspective-taking/spatial orientation), followed by indicating degree of confidence regarding each spatial ability assessment, frequency/total amount of engagement with designated spatial activities during childhood, experiences with both spatial & general anxieties during adolescence, intention of registering for upcoming STEM related courses/declaring entry into a STEM career, & reporting grades received in STEM aligned courses. The duration of the online study will be approximately 40-60 minutes. Participants will be entitled to a $10 Amazon gift card reward delivered electronically immediately upon completion of the entire study. Eligibility is having previously successfully completed the following introductory level STEM derived courses: Biology 1, Calculus 1, Chemistry and/or Physics 1, while being currently enrolled in the respective second level courses (Biology 2, Calculus 2, Chemistry 2, and/or Physics 2). Demographics information will remain confidential & protected. Email cdesm002@fiu.edu for more information.
FIU’s Center for Children and Families also has Studies for Children and Studies for Adolescents.
External Research Opportunities
In addition to the opportunities within the department, there are many other places where students may gain valuable research experience.