Thursday May 17, 2012
While many students in the U.S. are probably thinking about the upcoming summer break, it will soon be time to start thinking about final exams. While there are no sure-fire shortcuts when studying for a psychology test, there are things that you can do to get the most out of your study time. By following these relatively simple strategies, you can be sure that you'll be ready when test day arrives. Learn more about how to study for a psychology test.
More Test-Taking Tips
Photo by Hannah Boettcher
Wednesday May 16, 2012
Have you checked out the Request for Research Participants section of the About.com Psychology Forums? It's a great place to find opportunities to participate in psychology research or to post your own requests for participants.
One recent poster writes:
"I am currently looking for participants for my research into body image perceptions and the media influences, I am studying age ranges, 18-30 and 40-55. I would most appreciate if you could take the time out to complete my survey, it is only a few questions and should take no more than 5 minutes."
If it sounds like something that might interest you, be sure to visit the forum to find a link to the survey.
Image by YarranzTuesday May 15, 2012
Are you fretting over your final exams or standardized tests? Do you ever feel so nervous during a test that you can't concentrate on the material or even forget the answers to questions? Test anxiety is quite common among students. For some, this might mean dealing with a bad case of "butterflies in the stomach," while other students might even have a full-blown anxiety attack.
Kelly Roell, About.com's Guide to Test Prep, has some great ideas for how you can overcome test anxiety. She suggests that setting realistic expectations and using positive imagery are two possible ways to deal with the symptoms of test anxiety. Learn more about what you can do in her article on overcoming test anxiety and share your own tips for dealing with test-related stress.
Learn more about test anxiety:
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Monday May 14, 2012
While earning a graduate degree is required for many psychology jobs, the fact is that approximately 75% of students who earn a bachelor's degree in psychology do not go to graduate school. According to one study, only about 25% of psychology undergraduates end up working in a field that is closely related to their major.
Despite these numbers, it is important to remember that having a bachelor's degree in psychology is great preparation for careers in a wide variety of fields. Psychology undergraduate programs can vary considerably in terms of goals, but there are some very useful skills that these programs tend to focus on including:
- Communication skills: In addition to gaining a solid understanding of how people communicate, psychology majors also learn how to read, write and present information to others.
- Research skills: Psychology undergraduate spend a great deal of type researching, analyzing and synthesizing complex information.
- Interpersonal skills: Understanding the needs of other people, solving problems in a group and interacting well with others are skills valued by virtually all employers.
As you plan for your future career, start by making yourself aware of the many different options that are available. By carefully planning your future and being aware of the different opportunities that are out there, you can find a career that is perfectly suited to your educational background, skills and personality. Learn more about ten different entry-level career options in this article on what you can do with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
Photo courtesy Rob Belknap/iStockPhoto
