Ithaca College

Jeff Holmes, assistant professor of psychology, and department chair Barney Beins published an article, "Psychology Is a Science: At Least Some Students Think So," in the journal Teaching of Psychology.

The study investigated issues such as the increase in scientific literacy in students across their undergraduate years and different components of students' interest in careers involving research and mental health issues.

Results showed a polarization of interests among students to gravitate either toward scientific or applied areas in psychology. These tendencies are associated with stable personality characteristics. Such findings have implications for teaching the scientific aspects of psychology at the undergraduate level.

Source: Holmes, J. D., & Beins, B. C. (2009). Psychology is a science: At least some students think so. Teaching of Psychology, 36 (1), 5-11.