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Research psychologist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Brenda Ingram-Wallace Ph.D.,

Ben Brown

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical research psychologist skills. We ranked the top skills for research psychologists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.4% of research psychologist resumes contained research projects as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a research psychologist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 research psychologist skills for your resume and career

1. Research Projects

Here's how research psychologists use research projects:

Designed, implemented and analyzed data for large research projects (200-400 subjects).
Summarize findings of varied research projects to diverse audiences.

2. Research Studies

Here's how research psychologists use research studies:

Led efforts to develop the future series of research studies for Department of Military Psychiatry.
Designed and implemented research studies, experimental designs, and databases.

3. Technical Reports

Technical reports are a type of document that is used to indicate either the progress, result, or process of scientific research or the state of problems occurring within such research. A technical report may also showcase the report's overall conclusion and may also include recommendations. This kind of report does not require a peer review and isn't published officially but distributed within the organizations where it was formed.

Here's how research psychologists use technical reports:

Write, review, and edit technical reports, research reports, and research products for publication.
Analyzed survey results, wrote technical reports and journal articles.

4. Mental Health

Mental health is the state of wellbeing in which an individual can cope with the regular stresses and tensions of life, and can work productively without having any emotional or psychological breakdown. Mental health is essential for a person of any age and helps them make the right decisions in their life.

Here's how research psychologists use mental health:

Consulted to regionally-based adult and senior mental health teams to develop outcome measures and performance improvement systems.
Participated in regional training seminars for Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation staff.

5. Statistical Analyses

Here's how research psychologists use statistical analyses:

Conducted advanced statistical analyses such as hierarchical linear regression and imputation of missing survey data.
Conduct statistical analyses in order to check for adverse impact and validity of tests for U.S. Air Force personnel HR processes.

6. Human Subjects

Human subjects are human beings used in research studies, which may be medical or non-medical and involve a researcher intervening or only observing. The test may be conducted to determine the effectiveness of a particular drug, a person's reaction to a medical device, or an observation of a person's reaction to waiting in a room for a long period of time.

Here's how research psychologists use human subjects:

Administer neuropsychological (cognition and attention), subjective, and physiological evaluations with human subjects.

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7. Data Analysis

Here's how research psychologists use data analysis:

Conducted data analysis, prepared reports and made professional presentations to program managers and high level administrators.
Reviewed automated workforce data analysis tools for possible use by OPM.

8. Research Program

Here's how research psychologists use research program:

Develop and build relationships outside of the agency to facilitate research program success and transition of products
Formulated the goals and objectives of each client's individualized research program and intervention strategy.

9. Research Plans

Here's how research psychologists use research plans:

Developed research plans to secure Air Force Office of Scientific Research funding to build equipment for color vision research.
Prepared formal research plans identifying and outlining major objectives, approaches/methods, target populations, independent and dependent measure and equipment/resources.

10. Human Performance

Here's how research psychologists use human performance:

Execute behavioral science research in the areas of training and human performance.
Performed research in the areas of physical fitness, cognition, human performance, & warfighter readiness

11. Institutional Review

Here's how research psychologists use institutional review:

Submitted study documents to Institutional Review Board.

13. Research Findings

Here's how research psychologists use research findings:

Presented informational briefings to military and civilian groups to share research findings.
Presented research findings at national conferences.

14. Analyze Data

Analyze data or data analysis refers to the practice of studying, organizing, and transforming data to make it more useful. It also includes the cleansing of non-useful information which helps in better decision making regarding any particular matter. Analyze data is a practice that is used widely in the field of business, social sciences, and science.

Here's how research psychologists use analyze data:

Analyze data collected in experiments for further study and publication.
Facilitate adolescent focus groups on resource mapping in VermontAnalyze data and update previous study report and poster.

15. Research Design

Research design is the process of tackling research-based questions through relevant strategies and data analytics. A full-fledged plan is created to carry out the research in any field, including business, law, medical, marketing, etc. The researcher will use his/her own methodology and tactics to approach the research and interpret the data associated with it.

Here's how research psychologists use research design:

Formulate, plan, conduct, and direct laboratory and field research designed to enhance crew effectiveness and safety.
Contributed to all aspects of the research design of an experiment investigating how computer chat aids language learning.

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What skills help Research Psychologists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on research psychologist resumes?

Brenda Ingram-Wallace Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychology; Director of Counseling Services, Albright College

Internships and practicums, where you can work with clients and incorporate some technology aspects, will help recent graduates stand out from their peers. Possessing familiarity with therapeutic computer applications and their utility for various mental health concerns will be a plus.

What research psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Ben Brown

Professor, Ohio State University

Always the soft skills of holding a conversation and working with people, regardless of the pandemic.

What type of skills will young research psychologists need?

Chong Ho (Alex) Yu Ph.D.

Professor, Azusa Pacific University

In the era of big data analytics, many positions require analytical skills. Traditional statistics become insufficient and even outdated. Young graduates need to equip themselves with data science skills, such as AI, machine learning, ensemble methods. I don't mean they have to learn how to write a computer program. But at least they should learn the basic concepts and applications.

What soft skills should all research psychologists possess?

Harriet Phinney Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Seattle University

Understanding human diversity, effective communication (speaking and writing: the ability to convey complex ideas respectfully to a diverse audience) across differences, adept at working in groups, yet also independent thinkers.

What hard/technical skills are most important for research psychologists?

Harriet Phinney Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Seattle University

Empirical data collection: Research skills for collecting original data, analyzing the data, writing up the information collected, and presenting it in a professional manner.

Do you want to know more?

List of research psychologist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a research psychologist resume and required skills for a research psychologist to have include:

Research Projects
Research Studies
Technical Reports
Mental Health
Statistical Analyses
Human Subjects
Data Analysis
Research Program
Research Plans
Human Performance
Institutional Review

Social Work
Research Findings
Analyze Data
Research Design
Human Factors Research
Literature Reviews
Subject Matter Experts
Team Training
DOD
IRB
Program Evaluation

Scientific Literature
Scientific Community
Data Collection Instruments
NASA
Behavioral Medicine
PI
Journal Articles
Training Programs
Market Research

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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