Psychology

Get first-hand research experience focusing on ground-breaking technology and science in Psychology.

Eye Tracking Technology  –

Eye tracking utilizes equipment that can follow a person’s eye movements and precisely locate what a person is focusing on at any given moment. Cognitive science uses this to study how our vision helps us function in our environment. The technology is also applied in other areas. Marketing professionals have applied this research to create better packages, ads and web design, etc. Both a portable and a stationary units are available for Simpson faculty and student research and teaching.

Psychophysiology –

The Cognitive Neuroscience Lab has a Biopac MP150 measurement system that is used to study physiological processes and how they relate to behavior. Current capabilities include measures of skin temperature, muscle tension and skin conductance. These measures are often used to study reactions to events that elicit emotions or cause stress.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) –

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a measure of brain activity that can be used to study brain functions or to detect problems such as sleep disorders or epilepsy. It has been used on campus to evaluate how distractions affect attention and slow reactions to important information, i.e., texting and driving.

Our students have landed great internships working directly with brain injury rehabilitation, at-risk children and teens, youth emergency shelters, educational programs for young women and many more. Our location near Des Moines opens up great opportunities.

Here are a list of recent internships:

Broadlawn’s Medical Center

Responsibilities

• Co-facilitate groups
• Provide clients with information and resources
• Shadow and assist the full time social worker at group homes

Indianola Middle School – School Counselor

Responsibilities

• Help schedule and plan events
• Observe meetings with students
• Collaborate with other counselors, schools staff and administration

West Des Moines Police Department

Responsibilities

• Shadow law enforcement professionals including officer and detectives
• Assist in evidence and suggest ways to improve organization and efficiency
• Organize information for intelligence meetings

Treatment Coordinator at Newton Correctional Facility

Responsibilities

• Assist in group therapy services for substance abuse within the prison
• Use a cognitive-behavior approach to improve cognitive, social, emotional and coping skills among offenders

The Village – Skilled care facility in Indianola

Responsibilities

• Aids in planning, implementing, and evaluating activities for nursing home, hospice and memory care residents
• Designs programs to encourage socializations, provide entertainment, relaxation and fulfillment and improve daily living skills

Central Iowa Shelter Services

Responsibilities

• Attending to client’s needs both physically and emotionally
• Answer questions and manage the front desk
• Create resource packets for clients

Connect with a community of students who share your interest in studying psychology.

Psychology Club –

The Simpson College Psychology Club is a student-led organization that promotes social and educational activities for psychology students. Psychology Club events provide information on topics such as graduate school and getting a job, foster productive relationships with faculty mentors and explore new and interesting topics in psychology.

Psi Chi Honor Society –

Psi Chi is the international honor society in psychology. Membership recognizes academic excellence in psychology and is worth sharing on resumes, applications for employment and applications for graduate school. Students are invited to join the Simpson College chapter of Psi Chi each spring.