Science Fairs, Clubs, and Student Research

Student presenting

Participating in a school psychology club or creating experiments for a science fair can nurture an interest in psychological science and cultivate an understanding of behavior’s role in health, policy, and more.

Science clubs

Psychology clubs

While psychology classes focus on theories and ideas in psychology, psychology clubs tend to cover their practical application.

Community service project ideas

Sample projects from a real high school psychology club.

Science fairs

Engaging students in research

Conducting psychological research for science fairs opens in new window

Teaching the scientific method and engaging students in research.
Inspiring Young Researchers

Inspiring young researchers

Psychology science fairs are on the rise—and a great way to nurture new talent.
Human participant in research

Ethical conduct of behavioral projects involving human participants

It is important that teachers who serve as research supervisors and high school students be knowledgeable about and respectful of the ethical principles underlying research with human participants.
Non-human animal research

Use of nonhuman animals in behavioral projects in schools (K–12) opens in new window

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Acceptance form for regional science fair award: Outstanding research in psychological science

Information on the science fair, recipient’s information, school, and teacher/sponsor.
Student presenting science project in classroom

Volunteer to judge at high school science fairs

APA members interested in encouraging young students and supporting high school research may want to volunteer to be a judge at regional science fairs.

Posters and presentations

Guidelines for preparing posters using PowerPoint presentation software

Help from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2) on creating a poster (PDF, 19KB)opens in new window.

Sample PowerPoint poster templates

Template 1 (PPT, 131KB)opens in new window

Template 2 (PPT, 147KB)opens in new window

Template 3 (PPT, 103KB)opens in new window

APA’s Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) thanks Janie Wilson of Georgia Southern University for providing these templates.

Further help

Last updated: January 2023Date created: 2009