Psychology Research Assistant Jobs

What is a psychology research assistant?

To put it into very simple terms, the job of the psychology research assistant is to assist fully-qualified psychologists in their research projects. This is a way for junior psychologists to get some first-hand experience with the job, while under the careful supervision and guidance of a trusted professional.

In order to take a job as a psychology research assistant, you need to have a decent understanding of the role, as well as appropriate qualifications. To land the job, you should aim to have a degree within a relevant field. You should also aim to have at least some experience with field work, and the ability to use data processing programs, such as Word and Excel, and experience with statistical analysis programs, such as SPSS.

What Is the Career Outlook of a Psychology Research Assistant?

As mentioned earlier, a job as a psychology research assistant is a great way to get relevant experience while simultaneously receiving tutelage from a professional, while also learning crucial problem solving skills. The career prospects of a psychology research assistant are strong, and the job can lead to all manner of career avenues.

This job can lead very cleanly into your next position, as the company that you are working for will gladly upgrade your position and status once they have a good feel for what you are capable of. You are more likely to be hired for a better position within the same company, as they already have a great feel for what you are capable of, so you don’t need to prove yourself with qualifications.

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What Is the Role of a Psychology Research Assistant?

Some of the initial tasks of an average psychology research assistant role may sound rather menial. To begin with, you may find yourself helping a professional to document their findings, and keeping their records in order. You might one day find yourself sorting their emails and correspondences, and another day you may be busy with photocopying jobs.

This work helps to lighten the stress on the professional who has taken you under their wing, and allows them to do exciting and groundbreaking work. As your experience moves forward, you will be able to offer your own opinions on the research being carried out, to help achieve better results.

As you move forward, you will also be invited to take part in the act of research itself. Your superior will have you recording results in real time as they carry out their research, and helping to keep track of the numerous variables involved. This will slowly develop a familiarity with the research process, which will equip you with all you need to engage with your own research projects in the future.

How Much Do You Make As A Psychology Research Assistant?

The average salary of a psychology research assistant is around $55,000 per year. This is a very healthy income for a novice role, and the pay can easily be increased and adjusted as you build more raport within the company, and as your position within the company climbs higher.

This pay can vary slightly, depending on where you work, but most psychology research assistants make well over the minimum wage, making it always a worthwhile and rewarding job.