Research Opportunities
Students majoring in psychology have the unique opportunity to complete individual research projects under the supervision of a psychology department professor.
All psychology majors are required to take PSYC 210 (Research Methods in Psychology), in which they are given an introduction to psychological research and methodology. In addition to lecture, readings, and tests, students complete a research proposal in which they design a semester-long project that conforms to what they have learned in the PSYC 210 class.
After successful completion of PSYC 210, career track students are required to enroll in PSYC 310 (Advanced Research In Psychology). In fact, many general track students take this course even though it is not a requirement for the general track! In PSYC 310, the student expands their knowledge and experience by implementing the project that they proposed in PSYC 210. During the semester that students are enrolled in PSYC 310 they will submit a protocol and receive HSRB (Human Subject Review Board) approval, collect and analyze data for their experiment, write a research paper of their results, and give an oral presentation of their findings at the end of the semester. The majority of students find this to be an exciting, unique, and knowledgeable experience for them, becuase they have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a hands-on way.
Students enrolled in PSYC 310 also have an opportunity that many undergraduates at other institutions do not have access to. Many students, after completion of their project, submit their findings to be presented at regional psychology conferences. In the past four years, AU psychology majors have presented fifteen research projects at psychology conferences in Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago. This is a major accomplishment, and these students should be proud of their efforts! Listed below are the students who presented, and the title of their research project.
EASTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (Philadelphia, March, 2007)
Lisa Burg
Media and body image: The media's effect on young women
Melissa Hemmig, Samantha Himes, and Kay Matej
Serving size estimates of snack foods in college students: Do they over or underestimate?
MIDWESTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (Chicago, May, 2006)
Stephanie Istanich
Music effects on mirror drawing and word recall
Alyssa Berthiaume
Does color affect the gender-stereotyping of concrete objects?
Jessica Groth
Color and memory: The effect on spatial recall and word recall
MIDWESTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (Chicago, May, 2005)
Kristen Nowak
Development in child reasoning using various syllogisms.
Ashley Bielewicz and Stephanie Shear
Fictitious story affects on trait judgments.
Erin Schlacks and Elizabeth Greene
Will the verbal overshadowing effect differ in the recognition of distinct versus typical faces?
Mary Pat Comes
The affect of olfaction on cognition.
Brittina Helgeson
The effectiveness of provocative and non-provocative magazine advertisements.
EASTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (Boston, March, 2005)
Jessica York and Mallorie Miller
The relationship between early childhood memories and adult adjustment.
Kristen Nowak
Development in child reasoning using various syllogisms.
MIDWESTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (Chicago, April, 2004)
Adam Iarussi and Elizabeth Tully
Screening for depression: An examination of online methods.
Keith Christie and Sarah Savage
Gender differences in mate selection.
Carrie Wilson
Gum chewing does not enhance performance on the Stroop Task.