Providing Research Opportunities for Undergraduate Students Using Big Team Science

Many undergraduate students are looking for a meaningful research experience, but oftentimes there are not as many research opportunities as there are interested students. We have solved this problem by partnering with the Psychological Science Accelerator (PSA). The PSA is a decentralized organization that works with labs around the world to collect and analyze data from a diverse participant pool on a variety of research projects. Since our first involvement, we have worked with over 20 students on PSA projects. We meet weekly with students to discuss open science and the importance of obtaining large and diversified participant samples and students have prepared study materials, collected and analyzed preliminary data, presented at conferences, and will be co-authors on a forthcoming peer-reviewed paper. Our long-time students are now involved in hypothesis generation for an original study that will culminate in publishing a registered review. Our approach to undergraduate research is one that we think many faculty will find appealing in any college setting from 2-year colleges to R1 research universities. It is relatively easy and affordable to become involved in a PSA project: each project is led by a team of people who provide guidance to potential collaborators on how to submit their own IRB, how to recruit participants (and for some projects, they provide participant payment funds), provide all study materials, and grant access to large databases. Most projects allow for authorship opportunities for both faculty and students.