Some Northerly Thoughts on Undergraduate Psychology Research Conferences

Abstract

Although we agree with Carsrud, Palladino, Tanke, Aubrecht, and Huber's (1984) emphasis on the educational importance of undergraduate psychology research conferences (UPRCs), and recognize the value of the information provided by them for prospective organizers, we question the following assumptions: (a) that UPRCs are more favored by and more suited to undergraduate level institutions rather than “larger, research- oriented universities”; (b) that a senior faculty speaker is an essential, or even a desirable, component of a successful UPRC; (c) that speakers should never read their papers; and (d) that practice sessions should only have “reasonable questions” posed to the speaker.