What does a research psychologist do?
Research psychologists are psychology professionals who examine questions and test hypotheses by using scientific methods to understand human thought and behavior. These psychologists must conduct experiments in controlled lab settings as well as out in the field to examine the social behavior of people living in a rural town. They must analyze data and prepare reports to be presented professionally to program managers and administrators. Research psychologists must also supervise staff and interns who are involved in treating and diagnosing mental health.
Research psychologist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real research psychologist resumes:
- Manage investigator initiate and cooperative group correlative studies to identify biomarkers to ascertain tumor burden and clinical outcomes in lymphoma.
- Maintain a leadership role in APA accredit internship and externship match program.
- Facilitate therapy groups for children and adolescents.
- Provide cognitive-behavioral supervision to 3rd and 4th year psychiatry residents.
- Provide didactic presentations to psychiatry trainees, medical students and residents and faculty.
- Identify relationships between plasma ion and radical chemistry and the chemical functionality of the deposited organic coatings.
- Confirm successful integration of DNA construct into genome and establish founders of a cell-specific conditional knock-out mouse model.
- Oversee daily management of organic/medicinal chemistry aspects while serving on a multidisciplinary team comprise of physical chemists and pharmacologists.
- Collaborate with a colleague to design and synthesize sequence selective DNA binding agents direct to interact irreversibly with specific genes.
- Provide psychological therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder, deficit/hyperactive disorder, specific learning disorder and others mental diagnosis.
- Translate BHP operational research needs into NASA documentation, research announcements, and other documentation as required.
- Provide consultation regarding appropriate placement/treatment of juveniles in the DJJ system.
Research psychologist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Research Psychologists are proficient in Research Projects, Research Studies, and Technical Reports. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Integrity, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Research Psychologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Research Projects, 14%
Designed, implemented and analyzed data for large research projects (200-400 subjects).
- Research Studies, 9%
Led efforts to develop the future series of research studies for Department of Military Psychiatry.
- Technical Reports, 8%
Write, review, and edit technical reports, research reports, and research products for publication.
- Mental Health, 7%
Consulted to regionally-based adult and senior mental health teams to develop outcome measures and performance improvement systems.
- Statistical Analyses, 7%
Conducted advanced statistical analyses such as hierarchical linear regression and imputation of missing survey data.
- Human Subjects, 5%
Administer neuropsychological (cognition and attention), subjective, and physiological evaluations with human subjects.
"research projects," "research studies," and "technical reports" are among the most common skills that research psychologists use at work. You can find even more research psychologist responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a research psychologist to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "psychologists must examine the information they collect and draw logical conclusions." Research psychologists often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "develop data collection instruments and conduct all aspects of research. "
Integrity. Many research psychologist duties rely on integrity. "psychologists must keep patients’ problems in confidence, and patients must be able to trust psychologists’ expertise in treating sensitive problems.," so a research psychologist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways research psychologist responsibilities rely on integrity: "received funding as a pi for $75,000 from lady tata memorial trust, uk. "
Interpersonal skills. research psychologists are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to research psychologist responsibilities, because "psychologists study and help individuals, so they must be able to work well with clients, patients, and other professionals." A research psychologist resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "provide cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal interventions in weekly psychotherapy for chronic mental health clients in residential treatment facilities. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain research psychologist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a research psychologist rely on this skill, as "psychologists need problem-solving skills to collect information, design research, evaluate programs, and find treatments or solutions to mental and behavioral problems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what research psychologists do: "identified unknown intermediates in the pathway of making 2-aminoadipic acid by high resolution mass spectrometry. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a research psychologist to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what research psychologists relies on this skill, since "psychologists must have strong communication skills because they spend much of their time listening to and speaking with patients or describing their research." How this skill relates to research psychologist duties can be seen in an example from a research psychologist resume snippet: "designed and implemented data management and communication tools for efficient data analysis and data sharing. "
The three companies that hire the most research psychologists are:
- ICF4 research psychologists jobs
- Alaka`ina Foundation Family Of Companies4 research psychologists jobs
- KBR2 research psychologists jobs
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Compare different research psychologists
Research psychologist vs. Clinical fellow
Clinical fellows are doctoral-level health professionals whose interest focuses on biomedical research. They take part in protocol-based clinical research and laboratory research. Their significant role in research leads them to a higher academic degree. Usually, they conduct research for 2-3 hours. They have completed their general residency, and train in health specialties like oncology or cardiology. They examine and treat patients, execute medical procedures, and complete patient charts.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a research psychologist are more likely to require skills like "research projects," "research studies," "technical reports," and "statistical analyses." On the other hand, a job as a clinical fellow requires skills like "patients," "veterans," "autism," and "surgery." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Clinical fellows really shine in the health care industry with an average salary of $72,607. Comparatively, research psychologists tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $91,487.On average, clinical fellows reach higher levels of education than research psychologists. Clinical fellows are 13.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Research psychologist vs. Eating disorder specialist
Clinical psychology interns are responsible for assisting the clinical psychology staff by utilizing their academic knowledge to practical applications. A clinical psychology intern observes the daily operations in a health care facility, shadows medical staff, and prepares reports for clinical psychology processes or psychological research. The interns perform administrative and clerical duties as needed, including responding to the patients' inquiries and concerns, joining psychology professionals on conducting counseling and therapies, and interpreting patients' behaviors and practices.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, research psychologist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "research projects," "research studies," "technical reports," and "mental health." Meanwhile, an eating disorder specialist has duties that require skills in areas such as "rehabilitation," "mental illness," "eating disorders," and "community organizations." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, eating disorder specialists achieve higher levels of education than research psychologists. They're 7.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 2.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for research psychologists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Laurel Camp Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, Marian University - Indianapolis
Developers of technology communication will need to be even more creative in the future. Psychologists have noted that people are finding the monotony of interacting in the same remote ways, making them less motivated and socially engaged during video conferencing and chats. Some indicate that they now prefer a phone call or a handwritten letter because it seems more personal and intimate. However, even the best technology cannot provide the in-person contact that people, as social beings, need, so psychologists will need to help people navigate productive use of technology and safe, in-person connections.
Research psychologist vs. Clinical psychology internship
Provosts have a hefty set of educational requirements, including a master's degree in an educational field, tenure as a college or university academic professor, and, in some cases, the prerequisite of a doctorate: all necessary for the $151K yearly salary. Those who choose this career path will be called upon as the university's chief academic officer under the president to create and implement academic priorities as well as allocate resources that will support those priorities.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from research psychologist resumes include skills like "research projects," "research studies," "technical reports," and "statistical analyses," whereas a clinical psychology internship is more likely to list skills in "individual therapy," "patients," "group therapy sessions," and "crisis intervention. "
Clinical psychology interns earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $41,391. Comparatively, research psychologists have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $91,487.When it comes to education, clinical psychology interns tend to earn higher degree levels compared to research psychologists. In fact, they're 9.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 18.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Research psychologist vs. Psychology associate
Types of research psychologist
Updated January 8, 2025
