[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/psychthesisday.jpg” caption=”Sivan Rotenberg discusses her research poster with Joe Kim, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]The Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour hosted its fourth-year Honours Undergraduate Thesis and Poster Day last week. A total of 55 psychology students participated in the event, and their work was displayed in CIBC Hall on Tuesday, March 25.

“This level of scientific work and professionalism at the undergraduate level is exactly what we want to cultivate in students, and it reinforces in them what to expect, should they pursue advanced degrees,” said John Capone, dean of the Faculty of Science.

The Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour specializes in experimental psychology and provides its students with educational opportunities at all levels.

“Each student is judged by three faculty members or a post-doctoral fellow, and graded on both the oral presentation of their thesis and their poster,” said Terri Lewis, professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour and organizer of the event.

Lewis stressed that the student experience is hightened at the undergraduate level by developing skills, such as library research, writing, public speaking, designing experiments, as well as collecting, analyzing and interpreting data.

“The purpose of the thesis is to give every student an intensive apprenticeship in psychological research and in the process of collaborating with faculty,” Lewis explained. “Students are expected to acquire the skills that are needed to both conduct and present their research. Students should come away from this experience not only fully prepared for graduate work in psychology and related fields, but with very useful tools for life.”

McMaster will also host the Ontario Psychology Undergraduate Thesis Conference in May 2009.