Research students in the Psychology Department have outstanding achievements this year, bringing recognition to themselves and Worcester State University. Several students are lead presenters, having had their work accepted at major conferences in the discipline: the Eastern Psychological Association conference; the Association for Psychological Science conference; the Society for Research on Child Development conference; and the American Psychological Association conference.
Faculty members in the Psychology Department provide an array of research opportunities to students. Juniors and seniors can develop original research studies and present this work as first authors, alongside graduate students and faculty at conferences. This kind of work occurs in Independent Study: Advanced Research in Psychology (PS 407). Another option is for students to engage in ongoing projects as research assistants. The latter is facilitated by taking Independent Study: Research in Psychology (PS 297), where students may earn authorship based on their relative contribution to the project.
The following presentations will be made this spring:
Eastern Psychological Association Annual Conference, New York, N.Y., March 1-4:
Amber Goulart and Seth Surgan – “Symmetry and self-esteem: The changing dynamics of social comparison among college women”
Samuel Lapoint and Champika K. Soysa – “Great Expectations: Perfectionism and Locus of Control Predict College Adjustment”
Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Conference, Seattle, Wash., April 18-20:
Amber Goulart and Seth Surgan – “Judging oneself while judging others? Paradoxical effects of facial symmetry judgment on self-esteem among college women”
Vrinda Kalia, Erin Donohue, *Maria L. Valdes, and *Makeba P. Wilbourn – “The frog jumped on his head…” Examining perspective-taking, language development, and executive function in dual language learners”
*Duke University
Association for Psychological Science Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., May 23-26
Matthew Pageau and Seth Surgan – “Do we have fun when time flies?”
Samuel Lapoint and Champika K. Soysa – “Great Expectations: Perfectionism and locus of control as social-cognitive predictors of college adjustment”
Daniel Rowland, Erin Donohue, Krystina Manley, and Vrinda Kalia – “Who’s to blame? Examining the effects of cognitive reappraisal on decision-making about blame”
Carolyn Wilcomb, Colleen McKenna, Samuel Lapoint, and Champika K. Soysa – “Mindfulness and self-compassion, but not self-efficacy, predict depression and anxiety: Gendered patterns”
American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii, July 31-August 4
Samuel Lapoint, Champika K. Soysa, Colleen McKenna, Ashley Kabasinsky, and Kalena Wheeler – “Dissatisfaction and high standards not locus of control predict stress and well-being”
Champika K. Soysa, Samuel Lapoint, *Keith Lahikainen, *Paula Fitzpatrick, and Colleen McKenna – “Psycho-educational outcomes in underprivileged students: Cultural-capital and self-esteem.”
*Assumption College
Achievers
Worcester State Theatre Performed its First Student-Directed Play
“Boom,” a smart, clever comedy by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, was the first student-directed and student-designed play presented by Worcester State Theatre and Worcester State University’s Visual and . . .