Reflecting on College Research Projects: Interview with Jacob Schatz '15
Jacob Schatz: A Journey through Independent Psychology Research
Jacob Schatz, a Princeton University alumnus, has embarked on an inspiring journey in the field of psychology research. His journey, marked by perseverance and mentorship, has led him to pursue a graduate degree in Applied Psychology at New York University.
During his time at Princeton, Schatz worked at the Temple University Infant and Child Lab in Philadelphia. His work focused on a massive multimedia vocabulary intervention for preschoolers in Head Start schools. This experience, along with his internship at Alison Gopnik's Cognitive Development Lab at the University of California, Berkeley, significantly shaped his research interests and exposed him to the immense groundwork needed to execute a single study.
Schatz's senior thesis research at Princeton was a testament to his dedication. His research question, inspired by his work at Berkeley and a final paper for his Psychology of Social Influence class, aimed to investigate what and how children learn from pedagogical narratives. Specifically, he looked at the impact of fantasy elements on narrative recall, comprehension, and understanding of the moral of the story.
Navigating the challenges associated with research rigor and personal wellbeing was not unfamiliar to Schatz. He encountered difficulties in developing a research idea before his assignment to a thesis adviser, having to fully conceptualize a research design and submit a study proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) before data collection in the summer. However, he encourages students who feel unprepared to remember that their research interests are worthwhile and they will find a way to make it work.
Schatz advises current students to begin conceptualizing their thesis research in the middle of their junior year, to plan to have data collection done well before the end of their first semester of senior year, and to design a study with as specific a research question as possible, with as few independent variable manipulations as possible. He also emphasizes the importance of creating a close relationship with your adviser.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Catherine Tamis-LeMonda, Schatz is now pursuing his interests in parent-child language interactions during play. His journey through independent psychology research at Princeton has been a transformative experience, combining cutting-edge resources, demanding intellectual engagement, and a supportive community that collectively shaped his academic and professional trajectories.
Schatz's advice for independent work can be applied to research in any field. He encourages students to start thinking about research as soon as possible and to seek out valuable mentors like Dr. Casey Lew-Williams, who guided him through his work even over the summer and was an immeasurably valuable mentor to him. He also highlights the significance of finding supportive mentors and peer networks to thrive academically and emotionally during independent research.
In conclusion, Schatz's journey through independent psychology research at Princeton is a testament to the transformative power of academic engagement, mentorship, and community support. His experiences and advice serve as a beacon for students embarking on their own research journeys.
- Jacob Schatz's senior thesis research at Princeton, focused on the impact of fantasy elements on narrative recall, comprehension, and understanding of the moral of the story, demonstrates his commitment to independent work and undergraduate research.
- Schatz's current research, pursued under the mentorship of Dr. Catherine Tamis-LeMonda at New York University, investigates parent-child language interactions during play, continuing his exploration in education-and-self-development and personal-growth that began during his time at Princeton.
- Schatz's advice for students involves starting research conceptualization early, planning for timely data collection, and seeking out valuable mentors for learning and personal growth in any research field, thereby fostering self-development and educational advancement.
