Guidelines for Undergraduates

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Before you apply for a position in the Infant Communication Lab, please read the following information carefully to make sure that this lab provides the best research opportunity for your specific interests and abilities.

What you can expect

The goal of the Infant Communication Lab is to study the development of gestures and language in infants and toddlers. We conduct a variety of studies using different methodologies, but all of our studies generally involve observation of infants and the development of vocal, motor, and communicative abilities in the first three years of life. Undergraduate research assistants (RAs) are responsible for helping with data collection, preparation, and coding. We collect our data primarily during visits to infants’ homes, and RAs go on these visits as recording technicians (filming babies and monitoring the microphone they wear during the visit)or to play with other siblings. The videotapes from the visits are digitizedand stored on CD. Later, the CDs are coded. During the coding process, we gather data relevant to behaviors of interest; this generally involves studying infants’ motor actions and postures, vocalizations, anduse of gestures and words. These data are then analyzed and our results are presented at conferences and in publications in scientific journals. As an RA, you can expect the following:

1. Training: Dr. Iverson, experienced lab members, and graduate students will provide training in data collection procedures, digitizing, coding, and data analysis.

2. Experience: You will spend a significant amount of time on each of the various tasks being conducted in the lab and will become experienced in all of them.

3. Opportunity: If you are interested and motivated, becoming involved in undergraduate research provides an opportunity to learn about the process of doing research. Committed students may be able to conduct an independent project, work on a thesis, and/or work on presentations for conferences or publications. Students who are interested in conducting their own projects are strongly encouraged to apply to the lab. You can read current articles by Dr. Iverson and check out the lab webpage for more information on our current projects.

What we expect from you

The research being conducted in the lab is crucial for progress in the area of developmental psychology. The studies provide information that is published and presented to the public. Therefore, we take our work in the lab very seriously. Undergraduate RAs must be diligent, responsible, dependable, detail-oriented, and have a strong work ethic. A sincere interest in the topic and the desire to learn about research techniques and implement this knowledge are also necessary. As an RA, you will be expected to do the following:

1. 10 hours a week of lab work: Each RA is responsible for allotting 10 hours a week for lab work in their schedule. Some of this time should be scheduled in blocks of at least 2 hours due to the time required for home visits. We will ask you to keep track of these hours and to make up any missed hours.

2. Attend lab meetings: Lab meetings are held on Wednesdays at 11:30 and last for approximately 30 min. We expect you to attend these weekly meetings unless you are ill or have a serious personal or family emergency.

3. Complete all necessary assignments: RAs will occasionally be given articles to read and extra assignments to be completed outside of lab. Students must be able to fulfill these extra assignments in a timely matter.

Why become an RA in the Infant Communication Lab?

Students who are interested in developmental psychology, are preparing to go to graduate school, or are seeking first-hand experience in developmental research techniques are encouraged to apply for a position in the lab. Undergraduate research is a very valuable asset for resumes and graduate school applications; students from the lab have gone on to graduate programs in psychology, education, social work, nursing, medicine, and even law. Please consider your interests and availability and complete the application if you feel that this lab will be good fit for you. Click here for an application.

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