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Psychology research assistant vs faculty research assistant

The differences between psychology research assistants and faculty research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a psychology research assistant and a faculty research assistant. Additionally, a faculty research assistant has an average salary of $59,697, which is higher than the $54,582 average annual salary of a psychology research assistant.

The top three skills for a psychology research assistant include data collection, SPSS and research projects. The most important skills for a faculty research assistant are research faculty, C++, and biomedical.

Psychology research assistant vs faculty research assistant overview

Psychology Research AssistantFaculty Research Assistant
Yearly salary$54,582$59,697
Hourly rate$26.24$28.70
Growth rate19%17%
Number of jobs48,89156,780
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

What does a psychology research assistant do?

Psychologists are responsible for studying cognitive and social processes through observation and therapy. They typically focus on understanding and articulating the emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and feelings of their clients. Their typical day-to-day duties may include researching clients' behavior and brain functionality, identifying emotional and behavioral patterns of their clients, and diagnosing and treating emotional, mental, or behavioral disorders. Other duties include developing programs to address psychological issues and collaborating with other health care professionals or social workers in treating patients.

What does a faculty research assistant do?

The main job of a faculty research assistant is to gather and log experimental data. Faculty research assistants analyze the statistical aspect of data sets. They prepare spreadsheets and graphs to portray research results. Their duties and responsibilities include the creation of posters and slides to aid researchers in presenting their findings. They need to develop skills in communication, technical, critical thinking, scheduling, and planning. Also, they must know how to maintain safety, quality, and infection control standards.

Psychology research assistant vs faculty research assistant salary

Psychology research assistants and faculty research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Psychology Research AssistantFaculty Research Assistant
Average salary$54,582$59,697
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $86,000Between $38,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CityPiscataway, NJWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyMassBay Community CollegeGoogle
Best paying industryEducationManufacturing

Differences between psychology research assistant and faculty research assistant education

There are a few differences between a psychology research assistant and a faculty research assistant in terms of educational background:

Psychology Research AssistantFaculty Research Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorPsychologyBiology
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Psychology research assistant vs faculty research assistant demographics

Here are the differences between psychology research assistants' and faculty research assistants' demographics:

Psychology Research AssistantFaculty Research Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 27.2% Female, 72.8%Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 11.5% White, 54.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 16.5% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between psychology research assistant and faculty research assistant duties and responsibilities

Psychology research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish electroencephalogram (EEG), MRI, and behavioral testing on research participants.
  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Design computer-based surveys, perform data collection and analysis using SQL and STATA.
  • Conduct psychological research on the correlation between humility and romantic relationships before and after having children using survey methods and SPSS.
  • Train researchers in using SAS programs for processing and analyzing data.
  • Implement a web-crawler to track ideas spread across the Internet using search APIs.
  • Show more

Faculty research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish the optimized synthesis of a carbohydrate antigen globo-H.
  • Manage all aspects of HPLC method development and analysis through interpretation of data ensuring accuracy of results.
  • Conduct chemistry research with Dr. Willis Weigand.
  • Prepare and submit research grant and IRB applications.
  • Serve as teaching assistant for various courses in chemistry.
  • Secure NIH funding through writing and submission of a grant proposals.
  • Show more

Psychology research assistant vs faculty research assistant skills

Common psychology research assistant skills
  • Data Collection, 11%
  • SPSS, 9%
  • Research Projects, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Psychology Lab, 5%
  • Literature Reviews, 5%
Common faculty research assistant skills
  • Research Faculty, 14%
  • C++, 10%
  • Biomedical, 7%
  • Research Projects, 7%
  • Research Findings, 5%
  • CRISPR, 4%

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