The Psychology & Counseling Research Lab at Governors State University is dedicated to educating and training students in the research process. The labs produce multifaceted research to increase knowledge in various fields with applied relevance for researchers, students, the community, and our world.

The Psychology & Counseling Research Lab at Governors State University will become a model for the integration of teaching and research by creating a responsible research community dedicated to solving problems in our region and beyond.

The faculty are committed to fostering intellectual curiosity and teaching the necessary skills, attitudes, and ethical standards to prepare students to become proficient researchers in continuing studies and the workforce. The Psychology & Counseling Research Lab supports the mission of Governors State University.

A. Support the mission and vision of Governors State University.

1. Produce research relevant to a global society.


2. Distribute research in an accessible manner to the academic community and beyond.


3. Maintain rigorous academic and research standards consistent with those of the university.

B. Provide opportunity for the student to participate in various aspects of the research process.

1. Provide the student with opportunities to grow ethically and professionally regarding the standards of their field and of research.


2. Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration to investigate applied and theoretical problems.


3. Provide the student with a supportive environment to accept various research and leadership roles.

As a student in psychology, it is important to understand research ethics and to participate in research studies. Here you will find links to explore available research studies that qualify for your research participation credits.

Coming soon.

• Psychological Research on the Net


• Social Psychology Network

If you choose to participate in a research study, you have the right:

• To have enough time to decide whether or not to participate in the research study, and to make that decision without any pressure from the people who are conducting the research.


• To refuse to participate in the study at all, or to stop participating at any time after you begin the study.


• To be told what the study is trying to find out, what will happen to you, and what you will be asked to do if you are in the study.


• To be told about the reasonably foreseeable risks of being in the study.


• To be told about the possible benefits of the study.


• To be told whether there are any costs associated with being in the study and whether you will be compensated for participating in the study.


• To be told who will have access to information collected about you, and how your confidentiality will be protected.


• To be told whom to contact with questions about the research, about research-related injury, and about your rights as a research subject. If the study involves treatment or therapy.


• To be told about the other non-research treatment choices you have.


• To be told where treatment is available should you have a research-related injury, and who will pay for research-related treatment.


• To ask any questions you may have.

Scientific research is how we come to know and understand the world around us. Science is needed to gather evidence that supports or contradicts basic claims or beliefs. Research is a tool to build knowledge and facilitate learning and to increase public awareness of issues, treatments, or phenomenon. Via the internet, more information is available to people than ever before. However, not all information is equal. Much of the information presented online is inaccurate at best. Professional research, which includes replication, is crucial to the discovery, comprehension, and dissemination of reliable information. Psychological research focuses on understanding human thought or behavior through a variety of methods. There are several subfields of psychological research and limitless opportunities for discovery.

GSU strictly follows federal guidelines for ethical research. For more information, please visit the Institutional Review Board page.

Coming soon.

Visit our faculty members' individual research lab pages:

• Dr. Cervantes' Cognition Lab
• Dr. Cipra's Social Development Lab

View the publications our faculty have contributed to:

• Dr. Ahmet Can
• Dr. Sasha Cervantes
• Dr. Alli Cipra
• Dr. Figen Karadogan
• Dr. Sohad Murrar
• Dr. Lamise Shawahin
• Dr. Eman Tadros
• Dr. Al Tuskenis