How to Become a Research Psychologist

By Dr. Matthew Loux and Bryce Loux  |  03/17/2026

Research psychologists primarily study human and animal behaviors. They focus their attention on specific aspects of cognition, such as memory, learning, and motivation. By conducting research on these areas of cognition, research psychologists’ work has the potential to create positive changes for society by:

• Creating new cognitive models
• Improving policies related to social and mental health
• Altering the ways in which education is delivered
• Improving clinical processes

What Does a Research Psychologist Do?

A research psychologist specializes in the study of different components within the human psyche, such as thought processes, feelings, and behaviors. In contrast to clinical psychologists, research psychologists do not diagnose or treat psychological disorders.

Instead, research psychologists study these disorders to understand their underlying mechanisms. Research psychologists focus more on the position of advancing scientific theory through the processes of experimentation and analysis.

Research psychologists conduct experiments, perform research, and use scientific methods to test their hypotheses and analyze data. They may work independently or as part of a research team. Research psychologists collaborating with research scientists and mental health professionals to inform treatment strategies and clinical trials based on their findings.

In addition, research psychologists are responsible for:

• Securing funding for their studies (often through grant writing)
• Managing project timelines and administrative tasks
• Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students

Some research psychologists also teach, publish articles about human behavior, and work with other scientists in interdisciplinary research. For instance, many research psychologists might work in the pharmaceutical industry on projects that help scientists to develop effective mental health medications.

The Path to Becoming a Research Psychologist

Becoming a research psychologist requires a long-term commitment and dedication to several years of study. It involves several steps, such as:

• Obtaining a bachelor’s degree
• Getting practical experience
• Earning a master’s degree
• Obtaining a doctorate degree

Obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree

Prospective research psychologists should start their academic journey by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a relevant discipline. Other relevant undergraduate degrees include:

• Neuroscience
• Statistics
• Cognitive science

Undergraduate courses can also be useful for acquiring basic research skills, communication skills, and critical thinking.

Getting Basic Research Experience

To gain practical experience, students who want to become research psychologists should:

• Participate in scientific research at a research lab run by a faculty member or research manager
• Finish a senior thesis or take part in an independent research project
• Learn the use of statistical software

In addition, obtaining hands-on research experience is crucial. Volunteering or working as a research assistant or research analyst allows you to manage experiments, collect data, and conduct literature reviews.

The technical skills developed by joining a team as an undergraduate provides valuable experience and networking opportunities. Psychology departments often facilitate research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students, supporting their involvement in research projects and academic development.

Research opportunities that may be available to aspiring research psychologists include:

• Clinical research labs at universities focusing on clinical psychology (often accepting undergrad volunteers)
• Research internships at government agencies (such as National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs)
• Summer fellowship programs
• Research assistant jobs in social science departments

Graduate programs for aspiring research psychologists often require research supervisor recommendation letters. Consequently, acquiring research experience as an undergraduate student is vital.

Earning a Master’s Degree at a Graduate School

Some students decide to get a master’s in psychology or a related field at a graduate school prior to seeking a Ph.D. These degree programs include:

• More advanced courses on research methods and statistical analysis
• A research thesis
• Opportunities to be a research paper co-author
• Present at a scholarly conference, often with other researchers

Although a master’s is not a requirement to become a Ph.D. (most Ph.D. programs admit undergraduate students), it enhances your preparedness to become a research psychologist or even an experimental psychologist.

Obtaining a Doctorate Degree

Becoming a research psychologist requires a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) to pursue most research psychology careers. A doctoral program typically involves a combination of classroom, teaching, and research requirements. Completing a doctoral dissertation based on original, empirical research is also a requirement for earning a Ph.D. or Psy.D.

This type of degree will require:

• Writing journal articles to be published in academic journals
• Participating in conferences
• Gaining specialization in a particular research methodology

After earning your Ph.D., completing a post-doctoral fellowship is often required for tenure-track positions in academic settings. Postdoctoral training is aimed at:

• Developing independent research skills
• Increasing grant opportunities
• Building a publication record under mentorship
• Allowing for deeper specialization

In general, research psychologists do not require a clinical license, as they do not conduct therapy or perform clinical assessments. However, if your area of research involves working with human or animal subjects, you are required to adhere to ethical standards for research and obtain approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB).

If your area of research psychology will be applied or assessment-based, certain credentials may be valuable. These credentials include:

• Membership in the American Psychological Association (APA)
• A certification in psychometrics

Area of Specialization for Research Psychologists

During the undergraduate years, it is helpful to consider what area of psychology interests you the most, because that can shape your academic journey. Research psychologists can choose to specialize in different areas of psychology, such as:

• Cognitive psychology – Involves perception, learning, memory, attention, and decision-making
• Social psychology – Deals with group behavior, stereotypes, and persuasion
• Developmental psychology – Studies behavior at different stages in the life cycle. Can lead to early childhood studies or school psychology.
• Neuroscience or biopsychology – Studies the biological underpinnings of behavior
• Industrial/organizational psychology – Focuses on the dynamics and productivity of workplaces
• Health psychology – Studies the mental and emotional factors of illness and the wellbeing of individuals
• Experimental psychology – Focuses on designing and conducting experiments to investigate questions and test hypotheses about human thought and behavior
• Forensic psychology – Concentrates on applying psychology to various areas of the justice system, such as expert testimony and evaluating victims and offenders

Who Employs Research Psychologists?

A Ph.D. enables you to pursue various career paths. Typically, research psychologists work in different settings, such as:

• Universities or colleges
• Government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the Department of Education
• Private businesses such as technology companies
• Consultancy firms
• Healthcare companies
• Think tanks and nonprofits

Some research psychologists also choose to work for themselves. They become independent or freelance researchers, working independently on initiatives such as program evaluation and data science.

The Future and Psychological Research

With advancements in technology, the field of research psychology is rapidly changing. Some of these changes will involve:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning – These tools can help create models of cognitive processes and behavioral predictions.
• Advances in neuroimaging – Greater insight into brain activity will be possible using functional magnetic research imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalogram EEG technology.
• Greater cross-cultural research collaboration – Research results will be relevant to all populations, and not just Western ones.
• Greater open science – Research findings will be more transparent and replicable, and research psychologists will share their data with more people.
• More applied behavioral sciences – Psychological research will be integrated into climate change, pedagogy, and digital well-being.

Research psychologists can impact education, improve the mental health system, affect the use of technology, and improve public policy. The insights gained from research by psychologists are directly applied to developing treatment strategies and interventions for mental health issues.

If you love asking questions, going on a quest to find the answers, and understanding the complexities of people’s actions, you’ll have that opportunity every single day in the research psychology field. Join a lab, take research methods seriously, and go wherever your curiosity takes you.

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at AMU

For interested adult learners interested in studying various aspects of psychology, American Military University (AMU) offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. For this bachelor's degree in psychology, students can take courses in biopsychology, psychopathology, learning and cognition, and personality theories. Other courses include perception, research methods in psychology, the psychology of terrorism, adult development, and the psychology of disaster.

For more details about AMU’s B.A. in psychology, visit our arts and humanities degree program page.

Note: This psychology degree does not provide licensure; preparation for licensure; or professional certification as a mental health counselor, psychologist, or practitioner.