VRA Scheme

 

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES - DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

VOLUNTARY RESEARCH ASSISTANT SCHEME

The Voluntary Research Assistant Scheme (VRAs) is an experience offered to all UG and PG students enrolled in a Psychology programme at Heriot Watt University.

Aims

1. Increase your employability profile by including the scheme in your CV
2. Develop further your transferable skills in terms of data handling and reports preparation
3. Get greater knowledge of a research environment, including team work, and of the research environment in general
4. Get hands-on research experience on a specific topic of Psychology of your interest

How?

By taking part in a research project led by a staff member.

Minimum duration: 2 months; Maximum duration: 12 months
Minimum hours/week: 2 hours; Maximum hours/week: 4 hours

The number of hours undertaken will depend on the time of year and your commitments in relation to your studies and should be discussed and agreed with your supervisor.

Is there a selection process?

The VRA experience is agreed with the supervisor. If the supervisor accepts the application and there are places available, then no further selection is needed. If there are more applications than places available, then there is a selection process.

The selection is based on:

• CV (qualifications acquired up until the application and extracurricular relevant activities)
• Personal statement highlighting the reason for pursuing this opportunity ( e.g. experience useful for pursuing Masters programme or PhD position; experience useful for developing particular skills; experience useful for deciding between clinical and research career)
• Match between abilities-project (e.g. if project requires use of SPSS independently, unlikely to benefit year 2 student).

 

Here is what previous students have said about their experiences...

 

https://heriotwatt-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/mmm52_hw_ac_uk/Ee3a8niiZFZOlMfxiv5DEHMBefjZVCmwyMlbowAjjABAyw?e=SsxFze

https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/4eb078cb-8b34-41e7-92b8-38cf5b3c145f

 

If you are interested in becoming a VRA for any of the projects below, please email the relevant staff contact copying in VRA Coordinator: Dr Mel McKendrick M.McKendrick@hw.ac.uk

 

 INTERNSHIPS - PLEASE SEE INFORMATION AT BOTTOM OF PAGE

 

CURRENT VRA OPPORTUNITIES

 

Campus: Campus:	Any
Project: Project:	Gamified learning
Description	The aim of this cross disciplinary project is to scope, map and design gamified learning opportunities
VRA Role:	Audit existing games Map games to learning contexts within existing courses Help to design new games No experience required but familiarity with gaming preferred
Start Date:	July 2021
Duration:	Phase 1, as needed weekly from July 2021 until September 2021 (phase 2 academic year 21/22).
Benefits to VRA:	Experience working as part of a cross discipline team; understanding of teaching and learning needs, development of gamification skills and knowledge, an understanding of the application of research and gamification to learning.
Staff Contact:	Dr. Mel McKendrick
Email:	M.McKendrick@hw.ac.uk

 

 

 

Campus: Campus:	Any
Project: Project:	Cross Modal Comparisons (CMC): How does a stimulus in one sensory modality interact / influence perception of a stimulus in another sensory modality?
Description	The aim of the study is to understand how a stimulus in one sensory modality interacts / influences perception of a stimulus in another sensory modality and how neurodiverse traits affect this perception.
VRA Role:	Study design and stimulus generation Ethics application Monitor and encourage recruitment to online Qualtrics study Data preparation Getting the data into suitable forms for analysis Data analysis and interpretation Write-up results
Start Date:	May 2021
Duration:	As needed weekly from May 2021 until September 2021 (N.B. a schedule of engagement will be arranged between us, normally at least 2 hours per week; continuation during academic year 21/22 is likely but not required).
Benefits to VRA:	Experience collecting, analysing and preparing data for write up.  Training in data management, analysis and using Qualtrics software.  Working as part of a research team with other VRAs.
Staff Contact:	Dr. Louise Delicato
Email:	L.Delicato@hw.ac.uk

 

Campus	Any
Project	HATS: How are Academics Thought of by Society?
Description	The aim of the study is to understand how different social groups perceive academics based on the form of social knowledge of the group expressed by their shared values, norms and attitudes.  A Qualtrics study has been prepared and ethics application has been submitted.
VRA role	Monitor and encourage recruitment to online Qualtrics study Data preparation Getting the data into suitable forms for analysis Data analysis and interpretation This will include considerable qualitative analysis and so confidence using or learning to use techniques (g., thematic analysis) and software for qualitative data analysis such as nvivo will be important Some SPSS analysis may also be required Write-up results
Start Date	May 2021
Duration	As needed weekly from May 2021 until September 2021 (N.B. a schedule of engagement will be arranged between us, normally at least 2 hours per week).
Benefits to VRA	Experience collecting, analysing and preparing data for write up.  Training in data management, analysis and using nvivo software.  Working as part of a research team with other VRAs.
Staff Contact	Dr. Louise Delicato & Dr. Mioara Cristea
Email	L.Delicato@hw.ac.uk

 

Campus	Edinburgh, Dubai, Malaysia
Project	Validation of a potential training paradigm for student presentation skills
Description	The aim of the current study is to trial a combination of exposure and cognitive restructuring in a training paradigm with live social performance situations in order to provide the basis for research development in a virtual training application programme
VRA Role	We are looking for students who can help running the study and act as audience members where participants engage in presentation practice. You will help with administering feedback exercises and in analysing behaviours.
Start Date	New study phase April 2021
Duration	The study will involve coding, helping to recruit and conduct the study and analysis.
Benefits to VRA	You will gain experience of working with groups of participants in an online video study and learn about social anxiety in relation to speech content, gestures and attention. You will also gain knowledge of analysis and statistics depending on your role.
Staff Contact	Dr Mel McKendrick
Email	M.McKendrick@hw.ac.uk

 

 

INTERNSHIPS 

Supervisors and students may also be interested in applying for an externally funded internship. 

The BPS and EPS schemes are designed to provide a stipend to 3rd year students to assist the supervisor on a research project driven by them. 

https://www.bps.org.uk/about-us/awards-and-grants/society-grants/undergraduate-research-assistantship-scheme (Early March)

https://eps.ac.uk/undergraduate-research-bursary/ (Early March) Must be supervised by an EPS Ordinary Member - only one per department. 

The Carnegie scheme is designed to give 3rd year students the direct opportunity to propose their own research project. 

https://www.carnegie-trust.org/award-schemes/vacation-scholarships/ (Late January)