Unrelated Research Experience on a CV?

[i/o hopeful]

As I'm putting together my CV/Resume to send out to schools (I'm applying for Social and I/O PhD programs), I'm wondering what sorts of things people emphasize, and if I'm supposed to stick to 1 page like a standard resume, or if it can be longer? The main reason I'm asking is that I've spent the last year working as a tech (then promoted to lab manager!) in a chemical engineering lab, and have been involved enough in several projects to have my name on a few papers. None are accepted yet, but most will at least be submitted by the time apps are due. Should I include these papers on my CV? On the one hand, they show I understand and have been involved with the research process, but on the other hand, they have no bearing whatsoever to topics I want to pursue!

Unfortunately, aside from these papers, I don't have any other papers that are psych-related (though I did present a poster for my senior thesis at the undergraduate research conference for my school).

Thoughts? Also, should I try to explain what I'm doing in this engineering lab in my SOP, or is it not that big a deal to be working somewhere completely unrelated?

[neuropsych76]

As I'm putting together my CV/Resume to send out to schools (I'm applying for Social and I/O PhD programs), I'm wondering what sorts of things people emphasize, and if I'm supposed to stick to 1 page like a standard resume, or if it can be longer? The main reason I'm asking is that I've spent the last year working as a tech (then promoted to lab manager!) in a chemical engineering lab, and have been involved enough in several projects to have my name on a few papers. None are accepted yet, but most will at least be submitted by the time apps are due. Should I include these papers on my CV? On the one hand, they show I understand and have been involved with the research process, but on the other hand, they have no bearing whatsoever to topics I want to pursue!

Unfortunately, aside from these papers, I don't have any other papers that are psych-related (though I did present a poster for my senior thesis at the undergraduate research conference for my school).

Thoughts? Also, should I try to explain what I'm doing in this engineering lab in my SOP, or is it not that big a deal to be working somewhere completely unrelated?

Any research experience is valuable for PhD programs. I'm not sure if it matters how long a CV is. (I hope it doesn't, mine is 5 pages) I would definitely include the research experience on your CV and maybe mention it in your PS if you can make it fit well.

[schoolpsych_hopeful]

I agree with neuropsych76. Any research experience is good. and should be included. Also, don't worry about going over a page on your resume/CV. Make it as long as it needs to be (within reason) to include all of your experience and qualifications.