Welcome to week three of the Careers in Psychology e-course! In today's lesson, you will explore a few different experimental psychology career options. If your results from the Psychology Career Quiz suggested that you might enjoy a career in research, then you'll definitely want to spend some time carefully researching these career choices.
In the previous lesson, we looked at some of the great reasons why you might want to pursue a degree in psychology. As part of your last assignment, you spent some time thinking about the reasons you were interested in psychology as well as some of the specific career paths that appeal to you. Does learning about the latest psychology research studies interest you? Can you picture yourself designing and conducting your own experiments on the mind and behavior?
Experimental psychology careers can be highly varied, so there is an enormous range of options available in this field. For example, some experimental psychologists work in university settings and spend the bulk of their time teaching classes, performing studies, and writing and publishing papers. Other experimental psychologists work in applied fields and spend most of their time researching real-world problems, investigating human problems, and developing solutions.
Continue reading to learn more about some of the experimental psychology careers that might interest you.
What Is an Experimental Psychologist?
Experimental psychologists use the scientific methods to study human and sometimes animal behavior. While some professional hold a graduate degree in experimental psychology, many experimental psychologists hold degrees in a specific subject area such as developmental psychology or cognitive psychology. The type of research performed by an experimental psychologist depends largely on his or her educational background, areas of interest, and place of employment. Learn more about this exciting career area including educational requirements, job duties, and salaries in this experimental psychologist career profile.
Interested in research? Consider becoming a...
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Developmental Psychologist
Developmental psychologists often work in research or university settings and explore theoretical issues related to human development. If you are interested in a career as a developmental psychologist, you should consider pursuing a doctorate degree in developmental psychology... Learn more about becoming a developmental psychologist. -
Cognitive Psychologist
Cognitive psychologists work in a number of areas. Many cognitive psychologists conduct applied research or basic research on the human thought process. Cognitive psychologists often work at colleges and universities, government agencies, corporate businesses, and in private consulting. A doctorate degree in cognitive psychology is recommended... Learn more about becoming a cognitive psychologist. -
Social Psychologists
Social psychologists study social influence, social perception, and social interaction. Some opt to teach at the university level, while others might work in consulting positions to help businesses better understand their customers or employees... Learn more about becoming a social psychologist.
Your Assignment: Are You Interested in Experimental Psychology?
Your assignment for this week is to write in your career reflection journal. Remember, there are no due dates or grades issued in this course. The purpose of your journal is to help you reflect on the careers that might be the best choice for you.
In today's journal entry, answer the question: Are you interested in experimental psychology? Obviously, the experimental field is just one of the major career areas in psychology. If you are interested in experimental careers, make a brief list of some of the things that interest you the most about this career. Even if this career area does not appeal to you, take a moment to write down a few of the reason why you are not interested in experimental psychology. When it comes to selecting a career, understanding what you don't want can be just as important as knowing what you do want.
