2006 Cousins National Chapter Award Winner
Experimenting with Success (How to Build a Successful Psi Chi Chapter)
University of Mary Washington (VA):
Molly Hurt (chapter co-president)
Laura Ramsey (chapter co-president)
Nina Damgaard (chapter secretary)
Katelyn Pulito (chapter treasurer)
Dr. Miriam Liss (chapter advisor)
Before becoming a member of Psi Chi, one must exhibit excellence in the field of psychology. One essential aspect of this field is the experimental method. Becoming a successful chapter is much like completing a successful psycho-logical experiment. Careful observations, a well designed plan, and adequate execution of the plan are required before a chapter can succeed. Furthermore, this process must be replicated many times in order to continually excel and build upon the results. As psychologists, we are well-versed in the scientific method, and we can use this analogy to understand the necessary persistence in the pursuit of success as a Psi Chi chapter.
In order to investigate a problem using the scientific method, it is essential to have researched the relevant theoretical background to guide the development of the experiment. In the case of investigating how to build a successful chapter of Psi Chi, we may look to the Psi Chi's Purpose Statement for guidance, which clearly articulates the goals for the organization. Each chapter should strive to "encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship, as well as advance the science of psychology." Continual focus on this purpose is the minimal requirement for a successful chapter. However, experimentation is required to optimally operationalize these guidelines into practice.
All budding psychologists who have completed their first methods course know that experimentation begins with observation. Psi Chi chapters should continually be observing their psychology department, their college or university, and their community to see where the chapter fits in and how to respond to their needs. We may notice that there is a need in the community going unfulfilled. Perhaps there are students who do not know what it means to be a member of Psi Chi. Through diligent observation, we may be able to develop ideas about how our Psi Chi chapter may be more successful.
Proper observation invariably leads to questions and hypotheses. For instance, would psychology students benefit from more information about graduate schools? Could the chapter contribute to local charities through fundraisers? Would the psychology department benefit from an undergraduate research symposium? The chapter may view these questions as research questions in need of testing.
Next the methodology must be formulated. Perhaps new programming is the solution, or the development of new initiatives. The chapter should implement its course of action in the efforts to meet the need that it has chosen. Before a psychologist begins collecting data, he or she must identify the participants and the tools that will be involved in the experiment. Necessary participants include active members, officers, and a faculty advisor. Others may include faculty and students of the psychology department and the greater campus community. Essential tools may consist of a balanced budget, publicity of chapter events, leadership, and traditions. Each of these tools and participants are needed to act upon our methodology in pursuit of a successful Psi Chi chapter.
Once members, officers, and advisors have initiated and followed through with specific methodology to meet the needs of their chapter, then they must assess the effects of their actions. Did they effectively satisfy the need? We may use statistics or examine numbers to assess the effectiveness of our experiment. How much money did we raise? Did we increase our attendance to the graduate school forum last year? Do we have more members than five years ago? Are participants in our prep course performing better than average on the GRE? In addition to number crunching, we may also look at qualitative data. Obtaining feedback from various chapter members and involved parties is essential. Success of the chapter hinges on the satisfaction of the department, campus, and community.
Often the most difficult part of any experiment is discussing the results and assigning meaning to the facts we have gathered. Perhaps we were unsuccessful. What went wrong? Perhaps we need to abandon our original hypothesis and search for a new way to answer the research question. Maybe we need more publicity for well-planned events. Or maybe we need more participants in order to increase the level of significance of our endeavors.
Alternatively, what if our experiment was successful? What made it successful? Are students producing more research and sharing more ideas about psychology? Did the chapter raise funds for a local charity? Whatever the successes achieved, each study must also acknowledge its limitations. Thus, regardless of any single success, a successful chapter will strive forward to seek innovative solutions to possible deficits around them. A successful chapter is always growing, just as research in psychology is expanded upon everyday.
Finally, results must be disseminated. Publication of successful results is essential to enhance visibility of your chapter and increase communication with your peers. Publishing chapter activities in Eye of Psi Chi allows one chapter to communicate successful results of its experiments with others.
Will experimental research work for your chapter of Psi Chi? As most studies assert, future research is needed.
Above: Nina Damgaard, Molly Hurt, and Laura Ramsey (University of Mary Washington) accept the Ruth Hubbard Cousins National Chapter Award at the 2006 APA Convention on behalf of the University of Mary Washington (VA) Psi Chi Chapter.