Psychology students around the globe: Could you benefit from skills development, networking experiences, or even publication opportunities? You might be surprised to learn that all three of these goals are achievable through involvement in empirical research.
But wait, you might ask, “Isn’t it time-consuming and complicated to launch your very first research project?” The honest answer is yes. But fortunately, there is no need to leap in headfirst or alone. A more accessible and supportive opportunity exists to help you discover whether conducting research is right for you: Psi Chi’s Network for International Collaborative Exchange (NICE).
Each year, NICE volunteer leaders host an amazing, collaborative Psi Chi CROWD research projectopens in new window, and you are invited to join in on the fun! Specifically, this annual project provides a guided (i.e., safe) environment for you to learn about:
- Project development
- IRB approval
- Data collection
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Scientific writing
- Paper presentations
- Publishing
Who can join and how?
Undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty are all welcome to take advantage of this unique opportunity. You do not need to be a Psi Chi member to participate. And perhaps best of all, it is totally free to get involved.
Each summer, the NICE committee carefully vets project proposals for replicability, interest, and impact. As a result, Psi Chi’s annual CROWD projects have explored all sorts of fascinating topics. Example projects include “Family Dynamics in a Cross-Cultural Sample” and “Social Support and Help Seeking Worldwide.” Its most recent 2023–24 project addresses the relation between culture and perceptions of victimization by teachers.
Learn about the latest project hereopens in new window, and consider inviting fellow students or faculty at your campus to join you for this endeavor. Once you are ready to get involved, please email the NICE chair at nicechair@psichi.orgopens in new window. The deadline to get involved is March 15.
What happens next?
Once your request to join the latest project is received, NICE CROWD will provide you with the project protocol, example IRB, and support to address any questions you might have. As a contributor, you will be asked to commit to collecting 100–250 participant responses from your local college, and you might also need to translate the measures being used (currently in English), if necessary.
You can also offer to assist NICE CROWD leaders with scientific writing, presentation, or data analysis, depending on your unique interests and goals. In addition to this flexibility, the benefits of joining a collaborative project are numerous:
- Regarding NICE CROWD, dozens of researchers participate each year. This large cohort increases the project’s diversity and sample sizes, while also reducing the burden of any solo researcher needing to solicit large numbers of participants.
- NICE CROWD offers useful materials and protocols for each researcher in order to create consistency across campus samples.
- And of course, the large number of collaborators results in diverse perspectives, mentorship and learning opportunities, and enhanced productivity through sharing tasks such as data interpretation during the research process.
Going beyond the aforementioned immediate benefits, students who take the initiative to get involved in research projects have often discovered unexpected passions for research, and some students even decide to pursue research-related careers. I highly encourage you to check out NICE CROWD todayopens in new window to find out whether research could become an important part of your future. NICE CROWD is a safe space for you to develop broadly sought-after skills, such as problem-solving and teamwork, while also allowing you to make a meaningful impact on the science of psychology.
Other opportunities through Psi Chi
If you are interested in NICE CROWD, you might also wish to explore Psi Chi’s Conducting Research online resourceopens in new window. This resource is just one of many programs provided by Psi Chi—the International Honor Society in Psychology. Undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty who meet the eligibility requirements are invited to join Psi Chi through their local 4-year college or university.
New members of Psi Chi receive global recognition for academic excellence, access to awards and grants, leadership opportunities, and more. To learn more, visit our webpages about the benefits of membershipopens in new window, how to become a memberopens in new window, and how to start a new chapteropens in new window.
About the author
In 2013, Bradley Cannon joined the Psi Chi Headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Originally an intern, he is now Psi Chi’s assistant director of communications and the managing editor of Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research. Bradley received a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.
