Cognitive Science Research at

Northwestern University
Version 1.0 – July 26, 2010

Introduction
So you're interested in research in cognitive science – great! We've prepared this brief guide to give you tips
and advice on why to do research, how to start, and, well, what you'll do. The most important piece of
advice we can give is this: don't get intimidated and don't get discouraged. Everybody will go through
bumps in the road to research, and that's okay. Our hope is that this guide will help make the road a little
smoother. Remember, though, that this guide is not comprehensive. What we discuss here is oversimplified
and overly generalized…but we think it can help.

Why do research?
Research is a rewarding and challenging endeavor. It immerses you in "real world" science, free from the
abstractions of textbooks and lectures. We all know that learning by doing is both fun and efficient.
Moreover, you get to both pursue your own interests and discover new interests.

There are also some practical benefits:

 You can get course credit;

 It is an illustration of the concepts and principles you learn in your coursework;
 Cognitive science majors may be able to count it as an advanced elective;
 It looks great on a transcript and makes you desirable for graduate schools and many jobs;
 You get to know other students, graduate students, and faculty members;
 It can set you up for an honors’ thesis;
 The University is eager to shovel you grant money;
 You can build your CV by getting experience in programming, administration, statistics, and maybe
even a publication or two!

What kind of research can I do?

Maybe you want to research language. Maybe you want to interview people. Maybe you want to build
computer models. And maybe you want to squish-up squid axons. You can do anything you want!

Well…really, anything that a professor (and probably a graduate student) wants, but you’d be surprised at
the diversity of research interests at Northwestern. (And, if you put in your time, so to speak, you may get to
work on your own research).
A good place to start is by looking at faculty members’ websites. A list of faculty member who self-identify as
cognitive scientists may be found on the Cognitive Science Program’s website (see a link in the Appendix)
but you should go beyond that to faculty pages in departments like Psychology, Linguistics, Learning
Sciences, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Neurobiology &
Physiology, Music Cognition… the list goes on! Read their biographies, skim their publications, and pick a few
things that pique your fancy.

If after a quarter or two of work you find that your interests have changed, don’t worry—that’s supposed to
happen! Talk to your friends, talk to your professors, and talk to your TA’s…you’re bound to find something.

You can also e-mail the CogSci Club! The brown-nosing nerds that we are, we have a pretty good sense of
the types of research that different faculty members do. So if you come to us and say “All my life I’ve wanted
to take an EEG of somebody staring at floating dots on a computer screen so that I can figure out how they
tell right from left,” we’ll know where to point you 1. Or if you say “All my life I’ve wanted to create computer
narratives of 3D stick figures who model personality sub-systems,” we’ll have a good idea, too 2. Or if you
say…well, you get the idea. Also, there’s a good chance we’re friends with an undergraduate or graduate
student working in any given lab – so if you’re still intimidated (even after our insistence that you shouldn’t
be) we can put you in touch with a student too.

When should I start doing research?

Good question. The simple answer is: when you’re ready. Some people start their freshman year, and some
wait longer. A lot of it depends on the professor, the culture in their lab, and the type of research they do.
But mostly, it depends on you. Talk to your advisor and talk to your professors. Formal independent study is
a class unto itself, so you’ll want to find a balance in your course load. Although many people take it as a
fifth class, it’s probably best to do it as a fourth class the first time around so that you can get a sense of the
time commitment you’ll need to make without your classes suffering.

Some people will also start their research more informally, just volunteering in a lab as opposed to enrolling
in research for credit. It’s a great way to get your feet wet!

How do I start?
This is probably the hardest step, and certainly it’s what trips people up the most. All the time, we hear
people say “I don’t know how to get started,” or “I know who I want to work with, but I don’t know what
you have to do beforehand.”

It’s surprisingly simple: e-mail. Once you find a professor whose work interests you, just shoot them a
friendly e-mail. Explain who you are and what interests you. Tell them what experience you have (prior labs,
Psych 201/205, etc.) and why you want to work with them. Keep it brief, friendly, and cordial.

1
Steve Franconeri
2
Ian Horswill … c’mon, these are too easy
Now, wait. Don’t be surprised and don’t be discouraged if you never hear back. Sometimes it takes a while,
and sometimes you won’t get a response. That’s OK. It just means that the professor doesn’t have room in
their lab, so you have to move on. Most of the time, you probably will get a response, though. Once you get
a chance, jump on it. You’ll probably meet with a professor, post-doc, or graduate student so that they can
get to know you and them.

Remember: the most important thing is not to get intimidated and not to get discouraged. Believe it or
not, it takes guts to e-mail a professor out of nowhere and ask if there’s space in their lab, and they’ll
appreciate it. Don’t be surprised if they simply do not have the space for another student. If they don’t, still
be friendly and gracious because they may reconsider in the future.

Didn’t you say something about money?

Yes! The University is eager to support undergraduate research and offers grants and fellowships. There are
three units which offer these: the Provost’s office (University-level), the Dean’s office (college-level) and a
department/program (in this case, the Cognitive Science Program). As you’ve already guessed, the
university-level grants are open to just about anybody, the school-level are open to just about anybody in
the school, and the department/program-level are open to just about anybody in that department/program.

These grants are competitive, but there’s lots of money to go around, and many people benefit from them.
Some are meant for certain demographics, and some are open to anybody. Some are meant to cover costs
of living (mainly summer grants) and some are meant specifically to support research costs. There’s lots of
good information online, at http://www.northwestern.edu/undergrad-research/.

Some General Comments

Each professor is different, each graduate student is different, and each lab is different. Our general advice
and tips can only take you so far. Whether or not you’re a good fit for a lab is dependent on that lab’s
research and the time you ask. If they’re between projects, or if they’re working on the end stages of several
projects, there might not be a good place for you. Some professors will require certain coursework (see
below), some will require specific work some of the time, and some won’t require any at all. The only way to
know is to ask.

Once you’re involved in a lab, be curious, confident, and courageous. Ask lots of questions, read up on the
topics being considered, and look to your colleagues for advice. There is a definite hierarchy in each lab, but
it’s there for a reason, so you should take advantage of it to learn as much as you can about the topics
you’re researching and academic research culture. Don’t be intimidated to ask for help, to ask for more
work, or to ask for less work. And remember that we’re talking about cognitive scientists, here—people who
are reasonably well adjusted, and reasonably friendly.
F.A.Q. ( ← ever thought about how to pronounce that?)
n.b.: Since much of undergraduate independent studies are done through the Department of Psychology,
we will use course numbers from this department herein for the sake of argument. We will also address
some specific questions about research in this department, but much of this discussion may be expanded to
other programs.

I haven’t taken Psych 201 and/or Psych 205—can I still do independent research?
Probably! Different professors will have different expectations, but in our experience most do not require
these. It’s a good thing to mention when you talk to a professor, but don’t use this as an excuse not to get
involved. (It’s lame as all get out.)

What is the difference between all the different independent study classes?
Good question. Generally speaking, there are three “classes” of class: independent study for one quarter; a
two-quarter independent project; and a two-quarter honors’ thesis. The honors’ thesis is exactly what it
sounds like: a project some people choose to do during their senior year as a culmination of their
undergraduate coursework. What you’re probably interested in is one of the independent study classes.
These are for undergraduate research assistants who are not work-studies and will earn credit.

In Psychology, these classes are Psych 397-1/2 and Psych 399. There is a lengthy discussion of the
differences on the psychology department website, but Psych 397 is a two-quarter sequence typically
dedicated to a specific project. People rarely go into these without first doing Psych 399, which is a general
independent study you can take as many times as you like. Be sure to check out this website for more
detailed information on these classes as well as information on how to register:
http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/psych/undergraduate_studies/research_opportunities/research_for_c
ourse_credit.html. (You should note that, generally, the blessing of your professor is sufficient, but there is
nevertheless paperwork.)

There are similar classes, with similar distinctions, in all departments. But you should explore these in-depth
with your professor, the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies, and the department’s
undergraduate program assistant for details.

Can I take Psych 397 or Psych 399 (or another such class) as a fifth (overload) class?
Many people do. As we said above, it may be a good idea to try it once as a fourth class. Be sure to check
your school’s requirements and procedures on registering for an overload, and leave plenty of time to do so.
In WCAS, you need to have a GPA of at least 3.0 from the previous quarter (or your advisor’s written
permission), and take the class number and permission number to the WCAS Undergraduate Advising Office.
A receptionist will check CAESAR and then give you a slip to take to the registrar’s office (in Rebecca Crown
Center) and a receptionist there will manually enroll you. All of this must be during the first week classes
(the “add” period). Whew! Needless to say, it takes time (and walking), so it’s best to do this ASAP.

How do I register?
The Psychology Undergraduate Program Assistant, Brenda Robertson (b-robertson@northwestern.edu) has
a form you must fill out and your professor must sign. Bring it to her and she’ll give you a permission
number. Then read the little diatribe in the preceding paragraph, if it’s an overload.
What will I do as a research assistant?
That’s a question best answered by your professor or graduate student. Most undergraduates help by
running subjects and with data entry. Although this can sound tedious (and can be) you’ll really learn a lot by
doing this. For example, if you’re helping a graduate student run subjects, you’ll probably learn about the
study you’re running and the rationales behind the design of the experiment – particularly if you ask! And
before you know it you’ll find your mind wandering, curious why they aren’t running a certain condition, or
coming up with an idea for a new study altogether.

Are there any written requirements or assignments?

Again, ask your professor. Some will ask you to write a paper on a topic similar to your lab work, but it’s
pretty painless.

What if I don’t know what I’m interested in?

That’s okay! What’s important is to keep taking a diverse set of classes and to start doing research
immediately. There a few things you can do if you have no idea what interests you. The easiest thing is just
to ask a professor or graduate student whom you know and think is smart and nice. You’ll figure out pretty
quickly whether or not you like the research you’re doing, and if you decide to go in another direction, at
least you’ll have had good experience. You can also peruse lists of labs needing a research assistant, and go
into one of those. If none of those work, we can find an Ouija board.

Can I count Psych 399 (or similar) as a cognitive science advanced elective?
Most of the time. If you’re a major or minor and would like to count this as an advanced elective, write to
Professor Steve Franconeri (franconeri@northwestern.edu), the Director of Undergraduate Studies for
details.

I heard that Professor X is a big jackass!

Not a question, but okay, frankly, I doubt it. Granted, some people just don’t get along with each other, but
you won’t know how you work with any given professor or graduate student until you try. And what’s the
worst that could happen? After a quarter or two you stop working in the lab? C’mon, that’s not so bad. Rest
assured that undergraduates move in and out of labs all the time.

I finally got in a lab and was given a task but I screwed it up!
Also not a question, but don’t worry—everybody makes mistakes, especially the first time they do
something as bizarre and obtuse as, say, code data. Be honest with your lab colleagues and move past it,
having learned something.
Appendix: Some Links & Contacts
COGNITIVE SCIENCE P ROGRAM
Website: http://cogsci.northwestern.edu
Program Administrator: Benjamin Dionysus cogsci@northwestern.edu
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Steve Franconeri franconeri@northwestern.edu
List of affiliated faculty: http://www.cogsci.northwestern.edu/people.html

COGSCI CLUB
Website: www.nucogsci.com
E-mail: nucogsci@gmail.com

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Website: http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/psych/
Undergraduate Assistant: Brenda Robertson b-robertson@northwestern.edu
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Karl Rosengren k-rosengren@northwestern.edu
Labs Needing a Research Assistant:
http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/psych/research/become_a_research_assistant/ (not inclusive)
List of faculty: http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/psych/people/

DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS
Website: http://www.linguistics.northwestern.edu/
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Stefan Kaufmann kaufmann@northwestern.edu
Department Administrator: Irene Sakk i-sakk@northwestern.edu
List of faculty: http://www.linguistics.northwestern.edu/people/faculty.html

DEPARTMENT OF LEARNING SCIENCES

Website: http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/ls/
List of major research projects in the department: http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/ls/projects/

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL E NGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE (“EECS”)

Website: http://www.eecs.northwestern.edu/
List of research groups: http://www.eecs.northwestern.edu/research/faculty_groups/
Undergraduate research stories: http://www.eecs.northwestern.edu/research/ugrad_research/
Undergraduate Director: Professor Alan Sahakian sahakian@eecs.northwestern.edu

MUSIC COGNITION AT NORTHWESTERN

Website: http://kodaly.music.northwestern.edu/index.html
Coordinator: Professor Richard Ashley r-ashley@northwestern.edu

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS

Website: http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/csd/
List of faculty: http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/csd/faculty/directory.php
List of labs: http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/csd/research/
COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AT NORTHWESTERN
Website: http://cogns.northwestern.edu/
List of faculty, including research interests: http://cogns.northwestern.edu/faculty/
Director: Professor Ken Paller kap@northwestern.edu

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
Website: http://www.philosophy.northwestern.edu
Mind and Language Research: http://www.philosophy.northwestern.edu/research/MindandLanguage.htm
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Rachel Zuckert r-zuckert@northwestern.edu

Written by: TWS

Thanks to: LK, AD, DT, & SF