Work-Study Research Assistant Program

Faculty Name: Alexandra Paxton

Faculty Department: Psychological Sciences

General Research Focus:

The dyscord lab focuses on how people communicate and work together. We use a variety of research methods—including eyetracking, motion-tracking, computer vision, touch-screen games, online games, and driving simulators—to quantitatively analyze the dynamics of human interaction.

Brief Position Description:

This WSRAP posting is for a research assistant to assist primarily with the data collection process, including recruiting participants, running experiments, and organizing data after the experiments. As part of this research assistantship, students will gain valuable experience with cutting-edge data collection methods in psychology and learning to work as part of a scientific team. (Note: If you have an interest in this research but have significant data science and/or programming experience, see the other posting by faculty member (Alexandra Paxton).

This research assistant (RA) will learn about the ins and outs of behavioral scientific research by helping set up scientific studies (by testing recording equipment or playing demo versions of games), run data collection (with an opportunity to build professional interpersonal skills), and prepare data for analysis (like data entry and annotating videos). The RA will build time management, communication, and teamwork skills by working with other undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty to meet lab goals. As part of the lab, the RA will have the opportunity to learn more career, scientific, and academic skills through regular lab meetings. In addition, the lab will work with the RA to identify additional skills of interest for the RA and will work with the RA to design opportunities to build those skills (to the degree that the lab is capable of helping with them).

Job Description:

A Student Human Behavioral Research Assistant - 204 will assist faculty in human research efforts. A student in this position may:

   • Screen, select, and schedule subjects
   • Test equipment and resolve basic problems within guidelines
   • Operate experimental equipment (e.g., video camera, eye-trackers)
   • Work with other lab members to meet lab goals
   • Collect and hand-code analyze data
   • Organize, analyze, and communicate data
   • Read and summarize related literature
   • Attend training sessions and staff meetings
   • Prepare and post content for the lab website
   • Perform miscellaneous duties as directed