RA Information

Expectations for lab work

Overview of Research Experience

Undergraduate research assistants who work in the Cornell Play and Learning Lab participate actively in ongoing research activities. Students gain first-hand experience in conducting many aspects of a research project, from its inception to its submission for presentation at a conference or publication in an academic journal. In particular, students learn about the research questions that our studies explore. Students actively participate in learning to code behavioral data and may assist with participant recruitment and testing. Our most advanced undergraduate students, particularly those conducting honors theses, assist with data analysis and the presentation or publication of results.

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Lab Spring 2020 Syallbus.docx

Lab Syllabus Sp. 2020

Lab Expectations

• Lab shifts

  • Students are expected to commit 3 credit hours (10 hours per week) to working in the lab.

    • 9 hours: Lab work

    • 1 hour: Group Lab meeting

  • At the beginning of each semester, students sign up for weekly shifts to complete their assigned lab work. These shifts are times when the student can be present in the lab each week, and cannot be altered after the add-drop period ends.

  • Students who focus on coding must sign up to complete their shifts in HEB 201. This is a shared lab space, and sign-ups are limited to 5 RA's per shift.

  • Failure to attend your shifts may result in a reduction in your semester grade. If you cannot attend your shift you must email Deaven ASAP and schedule a time for your make-up shift. Make-up shifts may be completed on weekends, and must be completed within 2 weeks.

• Lab assignments

  • Students are assigned to a specific project in the lab and meet with their team leader each week. Example lab assignments are coding, stimulus creation, data uploading, social media coordination, etc.

  • Lab work will be assigned on a weekly basis.

  • Students are required to submit their weekly hours in the shift log by 8pm every Sunday night. Failure to make-up missed work hours within 2 weeks of your missed shift may result in a reduction in your grade. Any hours worked outside of shifts must be scheduled and approved by the lab manager.

  • In addition to lab work, students are also required to read articles assigned weekly in preparation for lab meeting discussions.

  • Final presentations: Final presentations occur in lab meeting during the last 2 weeks of the semester. Final presentations consist of a 5-10 minute PowerPoint discussing your project, your contributions, and how your work contributes to the broader research community. These may be done in groups or independently. Alternatively, students may submit a 3 page paper (double spaced) discussing their lab work and directions for future research. APA Citations are required.

• Lab Meetings

  • Small group lab meetings occur on a weekly basis. If you are unable to attend your lab meeting you must coordinate another time to meet with your project leader.

  • The Play & Learning lab meets as a large group twice a month.

    • Lab meetings are required.

    • Meetings will consist of general check-ins, project discussions, graduate student presentations, and reading discussions.

  • Group Lab Meeting Absences:

    • Students are permitted one excused absence in our large group lab meeting.

    • A second absence in lab meeting will require a 1 page response on the assigned readings. Students should not simply summarize, but rather should offer thoughtful insights regarding the readings. Any additional absences from lab meeting will affect your grade. Responses should be uploaded to the CISL Google Drive under Lab Assignments.

    • Students who cannot attend lab meetings because of schedule conflicts must submit a response on the assigned reading (1 page) and review the meeting notes. One missed submission is permitted. Additional missed submissions will result in a reduction in your final grade.

• Work Quality

  • RA work is the backbone of our success as a research lab. RA's are expected to treat participation in the lab with the same level of dedication as a class or a job. Students who do not maintain our expected quality of work will not be asked to return to the lab in future semesters.

• A successful RA is:

  • Inquisitive

  • Self-directed

  • Engaged

  • Curious

  • Friendly

  • Hard-working

  • Detail-oriented

  • Patient

  • Focused

  • Cares about child development and wants to contribute to the scientific community