For Students


Interested students should apply HERE.**

Why Our Research is Important

Findings from previous research consistently reveal that the short-term benefits of current treatment modalities rapidly wane once active treatment components (i.e., pharmacological or behavioral) are removed. These findings imply that DSM-5 defined core symptoms (e.g., inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity) may represent secondary features of the disorder, and current treatments (behavioral, pharmacological) target the disorder’s symptoms rather than underlying causes (i.e., core deficits). Interventions that effectively improve identified underlying core-neurocognitive deficits, in contrast, are likely to positively affect secondary, behavioral symptoms of the disorder (i.e., inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behavior), and once developed hold considerable promise for promoting long-term treatment gains. Consequently, effective treatment and prevention of ADHD is dependent upon a comprehensive understanding of its underlying core features.


Clinical Training of Graduate Students in the CRAB

The Center for Research of Attention and Behavior is a true scientist-practitioner research clinic. The CRAB offers free comprehensive assessments for children ages 8-12, whose parents suspect difficulties with attention, learning, memory, and concentration (including those previously diagnosed with or suspected of having ADHD). Of course, the Center for Research of Attention and Behavior also provides free evaluations for typically developing children. Evaluations consist of gathering historical information, a diagnostic interview, parent and teacher ratings, full scale intelligence testing, academic achievement testing, objective measurement of activity level, as well as measures of learning and memory.

Doctoral graduate students that work in the CRAB learn to administer, score, and interpret a complex battery of standardized ratings scales, clinical interview, and neuro-behavioral data. Although the CRAB’s primary mission is research, students are equally trained in clinical methods, as each research participant is also a clinical client in need of a psycho-educational evaluation. That is, the research and clinical activities occur simultaneously. Further, consistent with the scientist-practitioner model, knowledge gleaned from the CRAB’s research regularly informs clinical decisions, while unique/challenging clinical cases regularly lead to novel research ideas and projects.


Prospective Graduate Students

Testing Room

Students that are considering applying to the OSU doctoral program and are interested in working in our laboratory are encouraged to contact Dr. Matt Alderson or one of his graduate students for questions and additional information.  Students that are self-motivated, tenacious, eager to learn, and wish to ultimately pursue an academic career in the field of clinical psychology are preferred. For additional information about the doctoral program in clinical psychology at OSU, visit the home pages of the clinical program and the department of psychology.

 

Prospective Undergraduate Research Assistants

The Center for Research of Attention and Behavior regular accepts undergraduate research assistants that are interested in gaining valuable research experience and plan to apply to graduate school. Responsibilities primarily include assisting in data collection, data management, and literature searches. In addition, our highly motivated research assistants regularly co-author conference presentations and have received prestigious research grants and awards. All research assistants are asked to commit to working in the lab for a minimum of one year, although many choose to continue volunteering in the lab until graduation. Academic credit for undergraduate research is available and should be discussed with Dr. Alderson and each student’s academic advisor. Sophomores and juniors are particularly encouraged to apply, although all students will be considered.    

© Matt Alderson 2014