10 Psychology Research Opportunities for High School Students
A vastly interesting discipline, psychology presents many compelling research opportunities. A common problem high school students face is sifting through the long lists of research opportunities to find those that apply to their interest in psychology. In this discipline-specific list, we present 10 research opportunities in psychology for high school students.
Doing research in high school is a great way to demonstrate your interest in psychology to college admissions officers. Contributing to a research project can help you build skills that will serve you well as an undergraduate. While some of the programs on this list charge tuition, others are free. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Here are 10 research opportunities in psychology for high school students:
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program—Psychology track
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — You can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
This virtual program takes place over 5 days, and rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible. The dates are July 11th to 15th. The program involves approximately 17.5 hours of live sessions via Zoom. You will spend most of the week in small groups, complemented with a few larger whole camp sessions. Each session will involve lectures, discussions, activities, and demonstrations. Instructors will answer questions about college, careers, and research.
Cost: $350
In EXPLO Psychology + Neuroscience, you will explore the tools used by psychologists for diagnosis and learn from experts on the role of psychology in the interrogation of criminal suspects. You will also complete an original research project and receive feedback from psychologists and industry experts in fields such as clinical psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and criminal and organizational psychology. At the end-of-session Brain Summit Symposium, you will present your findings to professional clinicians, who will provide feedback. The program is open to students in grades 10th to 12th.
Cost: $3,250
This 8-week pre-college course is taught by SU faculty and instructors, and classes are structured like real college classes. The program is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The course is an introduction to social psychology and its experimental approach. You will attend classes and explore research on topics such as social influence, conformity, social perception, attitude changes, small groups, and collective behavior.
Cost: $695
The Summer Science Institute offers opportunities to participate in research investigations in psychology. The institute is open to students entering grades 10-12. In addition to the field, you will learn about collecting data, testing hypotheses, using statistical software, writing code, etc.
Cost: $20 Registration Fee
The goal of HiSTEP is to expand the pipeline of students interested in biomedical and healthcare careers by expanding opportunities for high school students. The program is open to current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. As a HiSTEP student, you will explore the breadth of the scientific enterprise, the importance of biomedical research, and various STEM-M careers. You will receive a stipend of $2,150 for the 5-week program.
Cost: None
The Recruitment & Training Program for Under-represented Populations is an intramural program that provides training opportunities for students interested in the scientific basis of drug abuse. The program prioritizes students from underrepresented communities. You will attend classes and learn about research practices as part of the Intramural Research Program (IRP).
Cost: None
In this program, you will be introduced to the field of psychology, including basic psychological principles, overarching theories, and simple research design. You will engage in a week-long project where you will collect data, conduct statistical analyses using Jamovi software, and present your findings to classmates. You will also have the chance to learn from current Illinois Tech graduate students and faculty with unique specialties. The program is open to rising 10th to 12th graders.
Cost: $795
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) is an intensive summer program offered by Stanford University. Students in their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school are eligible. You will attend a two-week session with introductory exposure to fascinating neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology topics. You will also have the opportunity to complete a collaborative research project.
Cost: $2,590
The University of Chicago offers immersive preview courses in theory and research in psychology. The course is 10 weeks long and open to students who are currently in their freshman, sophomore, and junior years of high school. Students must be 14 years old at the time of application. The program offers courses in developmental psychology and the psychology of learning.
Cost: $7,775
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.