As a condition for earning the master's degree, students are required to complete either a thesis, an internship, or both. The thesis is an in-depth, original research project conducted under the direction of a faculty mentor and evaluated by a faculty committee. Students who anticipate continuing their education at the doctoral level are strongly encouraged to select the thesis option. Policies and procedures for the development of the thesis are outlined in the Department of Psychology Graduate Student Handbook.
Where to Start
- Research faculty research interests early to discover those with interests similar to yours
- Be sure to pick up a copy of the Handbook for Thesis Prep, which is available in the Psychology Department Office. This useful resource will serve as a guide for how to complete your thesis
Past and Current Thesis Topics
Quantifying Quality: Using Quantitative Methods To Evaluation Observation Quality And Its Impact On Incident Reduction (Riggs Matthews, Class of 2022)
Don’t Touch That: Manufacturing Management And Employee Risk Perceptions Directing Safety Strategies (Catherine Parks, Class of 2022)
Reading Between The Lines: A Text Analytics Exploration Of Social Emotional Learning (Scott Blackburn, Class of 2022)
The Role Of Race On The Prevalence Of And Perceived Response To Workplace Sexual Harassment ( Alexa Sterling, Class of 2022)
What’s The Damage? Covid-19 Academic Impact Among High School Students (Austin Melzer, Class of 2021)
Identification of At-Risk Behavior: Leader versus Employee Processes to Implement Task-Specific Behavioral Pinpoints. (Matt Laske; Class of 2020)
DART: A Data Analytics Readiness Assessment Tool for Use in Occupational Safety. (Maira Compagnone; Class of 2020)
Adult Attachment and Workplace Romance Motives: An Examination of the Association between Romantic Relationship Dynamics and Employee Work Outcomes. (Casher Belinda; Class of 2017)
Assessing the Efficacy of Training Targeting Contextual Comments in Behavioral Safety Observations. (Danielle Kretshcmer; Class of 2015)
Empathy as an antecedent of social justice behavior. (Matthew Cartabuke; Class of 2015)
The Influence of Candidate Gender, Incumbent Gender, and Job Position on Hiring Decisions in an Experimental Paradigm (Sarah Light; Class of 2014)
How Emotional Intelligence Affects LMX Relationships (Ian Head, Class of 2014)
Social Media and Employee Recruitment: Too Much Pain for Not Much Gain? (Yalcin Acikgoz, Class of 2013)
Increasing Sales By Managing The Interlocking Contingencies Between Sales Representatives And Customers Using Behavioral Self-Monitoring. (Jason Copeland; Class of 2013)
The Cost of Participation: Reducing Response Effort to Increase Participation and Quality in Peer-to-Peer Observations (Michael Boitnott; Class of 2012)
The Nomological Network of Fit: Where Do Different Fit Measurements Fit? (Heather Jackson; Class of 2011)
- Staffing a Major Academic Medical Center During a Long Term Disaster (Ariel Grosshuesch, Class of 2010)
Thinking of getting your doctorate?
Though most students come to Appalachian with the intention of entering the workforce after they earn their Master's degrees, our students have a strong record of continuing on to top doctoral programs. In recent years, 100% of our students who have chosen to continue at the doctoral level have been able to do so. Doctoral programs accepting our students in recent years have included the University of Akron, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Auburn University, UNC-Chapel Hill, University of Kansas, and the University of Arkansas.
Things to Keep in Mind
- It's important to get involved with research early.
- Contact faculty members early in during your time at ASU and inform them of your desire to attend a doctoral program. This will help them guide you on your path to a Ph.D. program, as well as provide useful contacts for research help, thesis guidance, and sources for letters of recommendation