PhD Psi Chi Eastern Regional Vice-President Saint Peter's College P si Chi was founded to advance the science of psychology and to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship. To that end, Psi Chi serves two major goals, the first to recognize academic excellence, and the second to develop a climate for creative development. Encouragement of student research is a method of achieving the goals and mission of Psi Chi.
Chapters provide programs to augment and enhance the traditional curriculum.
The regional and national conventions where members present their work and interact with others provide a sample of the practical experience expected of professional psychologists. The award was designed to advance the professional development of members, to encourage active involvement among members, to use behavioral research to address policy questions, and to stimulate research-based reports for Psi Chi publications. One question posed by the National Council at the 1996 midwinter meeting concerned the tangible impact of student presentations on student researchers. This report describes the findings of a survey supported by a 1997 Thelma Hunt search Award. T o answer the question, several groups of Psi Chi members were surveyed in 1997.