In summary, students who take part in this course and the research apprenticeship are given a thorough introduction to behavioral science research while at the same time learning about sleep and circadian rhythms physiology, acquiring lab skills, participating in ongoing research, and having the opportunity to consider a career in behavioral research through spending a summer participating in research at the sleep and chronobiology lab. Students engaged in independent study projects at the Sleep Lab are expected to meet the following guidelines. In general, students previously engaged in research with an ongoing sleep lab project continue that involvement during the term of the independent study project. In no instance shall independent study work interfere with students' involvement in other lab projects. In certain instances, students working on a project for pay may change to the academic program by registering for independent study.
Students also attend a mandatory weekly lab meeting.
This notebook includes a log of research and academic activities, including date, time, and description. For example, the log might list the specific research activity, the name of a data file created, notes from literature reading, commands and algorithms used in data analyses, output from analyses, and so forth. Depending on the nature of the material in this log, a loose-leaf binder or spiral journal should be used as appropriate. Before midsemester, independent study students read the Basics of Sleep Behavior, as well as readings relating to the specific research project of the independent study. For example, the grant application research plan and associated primary source articles are typically included in the reading list.