Psychology Student Research

Sample list of our students’ Independent Study Project titles:

• A Study on Deception and Personality in Preschool Aged Children
• Sexualized Media and Gender Stereotyping
• How the Type of Facial Tattoos Affect Views of Defendants Who Vary in Age 
• The Lasting Effects of Divorce on Family Members
• Detecting Correlations between Attachment Styles and Moral Decision Making Using Realistic Hypothetical Scenarios 
• The Effects of Asian and African-American Stereotype Threats on the Ability to Solve Riddles
• The Effects of Bilingualism on Inhibition and Delay of Gratification
• Defining Normalcy in Today’s Context
• The Social and Creativity Differences in Those that Have Imaginary Friends and Those that Don’t
• Social Media Use and its Impact on Early Adolescents as Reported by Teachers and Students
• The Physical and Psychological Effects that Gymnastics has on Preschool Children
• Effects of the Level of Facial Femininity/Masculinity and Crime Type on Mock Juror Decisions
• Toys in a Therapy Setting vs. Toys in a Home Setting and Child Behavior
• Examining Side Effects and Emotional Blunting for Different Classes of Antidepressants
• What it Means to be an Adult: A Comparison of Three Age Groups
• Mandatory minimum sentencing: A Current State of Public Opinion 
• An Investigation of Sex Differences in the Decoding of Emotional Displays 
• How Suspect Race, Police Officer Race and Restraint Method Affect Decisions in a Police Brutality Scenario 
• Racial and Religious Differences on Stigma Associated with Mental Illness and Treatment Seeking Among College Students
• Evaluating Autism as a Subculture in the United States 
• The Effects in Engaging in Creative Tasks on Prosocial Behaviors and Employee Productivity
• Effects of Documentation Status on Judgments of Criminality
• An Examination of Perceived Discrimination and Political Views Among Muslin American Young Adults
• Voting Patterns among Young Adults
• Factors Driving the Lack of Youth Political Participation
• Behavioral Interventions for Problem Gambling
• Bullying and Physical Aggression in Schools
• Muslim American Youth: Navigating Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Associated with a Bicultural Identity

The annual Showcase in Psychology event provides advanced undergraduate and master’s-level students with an opportunity to present their research-informed projects in an inviting, interactive environment. Students showcase the breadth and versatility of their research designs and topics, which have included eye-witness testimony, imitation and play, grit and growth mindsets, and social media’s impact on mental health. Further, student presenters gain marketable, transferable skills in effectively communicating their research to a broad audience.  Our first-year student attendees also gain valuable exposure to faculty research interests as well as the research process, both of which we believe can encourage students to get involved in research early. This event is another example of the ways in which our students are offered hands-on opportunities outside of the classroom to enrich their learning.