Thanks to all the responses. I am so glad I don't have to grow up to remain legitimate. I always thought it was a bit of an affectation but even in my postdoc over 25 years ago the lab had a name. It seemed to me at that time that coming of a no-name lab, going to a named lab meant I had moved up a small notch in life. Haha.
Lately when students ask me how to list their research assistantship onto their resume, they will try to "help me" by saying something like, "Professor X at ABC University listed it as...Some Type of Psychological Research Lab, under the supervision of Dr. X, ABC University...." I think the students think this sounds more impressive on a CV or resume, and if they are applying for jobs in the business world it might. So I might go ahead and name my lab something very generic just to help the folks in business who cannot see beyond an affected, pretentious title. Or maybe they just don't have the expertise to know that the lab title is irrelevant to the work. At any rate, thanks for verifying what I was thinking...I really don't want to grow up if it means playing more games than I already have to play. Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. Professor, Psychological Sciences University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 [email protected] ________________________________________ From: Brandon, Paul K [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 7:35 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] naming labs I always favored 'Das Rathaus'. On Oct 4, 2011, at 8:56 PM, Ken Steele wrote: > > Hi Annette: > > As far as I can figure, people just pick a name that sounds good and cool and > catchy and go with with it. > > Personally, I have found many lab names to be pretentious. (It's a room with > 4 freaking computers!) and the title is laden with demand characteristics. > What is one to think about people who show up to studies in lab names like > "Anxiety Prevention Lab" or "Fat Fear Lab" or "Relationship Anxiety Lab." > (Names slightly changed to hide actual lab name.) > > I ran an online participant recruitment program that picked intro psych > students at random and offered them to particpate in studies labeled "#1, #2, > #3..." > > Faculty hated the program. Students would sign up for the program but > "standard effects" would not be found. Hmmm. > > Ken > > PS - I have worked in some "name labs" and their history was such that I felt > honored to have walked in the building but they are very few and far. > > Typically, there was no "name" on the famous-name lab door. You were either > in the know or you didn't know. But the effects happened without the name on > the lab ddor. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a21b0&n=T&l=tips&o=13147 or send a blank email to leave-13147-13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a2...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=13155 or send a blank email to leave-13155-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
