Microcomputers in undergraduate laboratory training in psychology

Goals for undergraduate training in psychology are reviewed, and a survey is reported to suggest ways in which computers are being used to meet these goals. Currently computers primarily aid data collection and analysis. Computer-based literature searching and word processing are becoming more common. The true challenge of laboratory training, however, is inquiry training: helping students generate and frame research questions and interpret their results. Are we using the time we have gained through computer data collection and analysis to meet these goals? Are there ways in which the computer can directly help us meet these goals? The new generation of flexible experiment-generator software may provide direct help of this sort, as may effective simulations of theory.