Tag: PSY

Shaneesa Applegate

Benefits Physical Activity has in K-12 Public Schools 

Physical activity (PA) is defined as bodily movements caused by skeletal muscles that require energy use. PA improves children’s minds and bodies. Children in public schools, kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) have experienced a substantial reduction in PA during the school day. In some cases, children are given no PA whatsoever in order to accommodate the demands of the federal Every Child Succeeds Act. Teachers are forced to reduce physical activities such as recess, physical education classes, playtime, and outdoor activities every day. This presentation addresses the importance of consistent child participation in PA, and how PA may result in psychological and physiological benefits for children in K-12 public schools. The researchers explored in this synthesis-based presentation stress four critical themes regarding the inclusion of PA for K-12 students throughout the school day: the potential academic benefits of incorporating physical activity into teachers’ lesson plans, the physiological benefits children may derive from PA, the potential benefits of PA for children with special needs, and finally, ways in which parents and teachers may support children in increasing their PA participation. 

Keywords: Physical activity, psychological, physiological, K-12, Public School

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

PFB 114

2:00 – 2:30 PM

Alegra Aviña, Janieve Boyles, Trevyn DuBois, Kelsey Hansen, Kaitlyn Moore, Karen Reynolds, Emily Sanders, Chelsea Stone & Chelsea Taylor

What’s going on in there?

The brain is a marvelous structure containing billions of cells making trillions of connections so that we may think, act, and feel. One might ask, “What’s going on in there?” And the response is, “A lot!” Students from a biological psychology course will present current empirical evidence about the brain on topics such as dreaming, attraction, touch insensitivity, smell, dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and marijuana use.

PSY 390, Biological Psychology

Nani Skaggs

PFB 103

10:00 – 11:00 AM

Kristin Fulbright

A Serious Indiscernible Athletic Injury: Sports Related Concussions

Sports related concussions are a serious issue for athletes. Between 1.6 and 3.8 million athletes in the United States suffer a sports related concussion every year. Measuring concussions can be tricky because a concussion is not something that is seen with the naked eye; fortunately, however, there are various tests that can diagnose concussions. Concussions result in a variety of symptoms, both short term and long term, and can impact an athlete’s life permanently if not treated properly. The first and most important step post-concussion is recovery, which begins with rest and plenty of sleep, allowing the brain to relax and recover. Research on sports related concussions has increased significantly within the last few decades; however, there is still a lot of research that needs to be done to understand concussions, its treatments, and return to play.

PSY 499, Capstone

Nani Skaggs

PFB 103

Noon – 12:30 PM

Candis Hatfield

Exercise Effects on Stress

Stress has been known to have many negative effects on one’s health. When faced with stress, many people turn to behaviors that can actually be more detrimental, rather than beneficial to their mental and physical wellbeing. There are positive ways to manage stress. One behavior that has been shown to have a positive impact on stress is exercise. Research has shown that even small amounts of exercise can have a positive effect on mental and physical health. The positive impact that exercise has, promotes better coping mechanisms, and healthier behaviors. 

PSY 499, Capstone

Nani Skaggs

PFB 103

12:30 – 1:00 PM

Jessica Hirte

Behavior Modification

Behavioral modification is the process of changing a behavior based on principles of operant conditioning. A target behavior can be changed through reinforcement or punishment. Behavior modification can be used to decrease behaviors, such as running in the road, or increase behaviors, like holding someone’s hand. The current project attempted to modify the dangerous behavior of running in the road using a schedule of reinforcement called differential reinforcement for an incompatible behavior. The child was reinforced for holding hands, which is incompatible with running in the road. This new behavior was formed by reinforcing closer approximations of the wanted behavior until the desired behavior was performed. 

PSY 330, Psychology of Learning

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1:00 – 3:00 PM

Jessica Hirte

Traumatic Experiences May Negatively Impact Military Members’ Personal Moral Values 

This synthesis-based presentation examines the role of moral injury in American service men and women. Moral injury has increasingly become a focus of discussion and research. This document specifically aims to assess the role of traumatic military experiences and the impact on morality. In the seminal work of Litz, et al. (2009) moral injury is defined as an act of transgression that shatters moral and ethical expectations rooted in spiritual, cultural-based, organizational, and group based rules about fairness and the value of life. The most commonly identified transgressions include betrayals, incidents involving injury or harm to civilians, within-rank violence, inability to prevent death or suffering, and ethical dilemmas or moral conflicts. Researchers have empirically demonstrated the potential damage that moral injuries have on American soldiers. The transgressions illustrated by Drescher, et al. (2011) showed behaviors such as destructive anger, alienation, social withdrawal, depression, and suicidal ideation. Finally, moral injury can negatively impact functioning and quality of life for both affected soldier or veteran and their family members. Future direction for theory and intervention research, highlighting the importance of repairing moral injury, are proposed.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

PFB 114

1:30 – 2:00 PM

Kaitlyn Moore

Perceived Stress in Athletes, Exercisers, and Non-Exercisers

Stress, a state of mental or emotional strain or tension, affects the well-being of individuals, especially college students. Exercise, which has a positive impact on physical health, has been shown to also help relieve stress. While exercise can be used to relieve stress, exercise may be a source of stress in student-athletes. Student-athletes experience stress even though they participate in physical activity daily. In the present study, it was hypothesized that recreational athletes, as well as exercisers, would report less stress than competitive athletes and non-exercisers. For this study, traditional undergraduate students at Northwest Christian University were recruited. To measure stress levels, students filled out a combination of a Perceived Stress Survey and College Student-Athletes’ Life Stress Scale. Results will be discussed.

PSY 499, Capstone

Nani Skaggs

PFB 103

11:30 AM – Noon

Karen D. Reynolds

Capstone Presentation

Optimism plays a significant role in a person’s overall health and well-being. This presentation will review four major themes focusing on the value of having an optimistic outlook on life. The themes include the power of optimism to heal, the incorporation of optimism into one’s life, the development of a healthy life balance, and the genetic factors that play a role in one’s happiness baseline. Researchers identified important findings regarding optimism. For example, scientists reported that optimism may improve performance, increase longevity and ward off adverse effects of stress. Further, optimism may assist in constructive future planning as well as augmenting improvement of activities of daily living. Moreover, scientists found that when prompted to think optimistically about stressors, participants with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder may have experienced the mitigation of negative symptoms. Conversely, researchers reported that having an extreme preference for optimism may be linked to Bipolar Disorder, and they observed that excessively optimistic people often engage in overly risky behaviors. 

Keywords: Optimism, well-being, happiness, positive thinking, health, stress, cortisol.

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

PFB 114

12:30 – 1:00 PM

Darcy Snyder

Multiple Trauma Exposure: How First Responders Survive

When an emergency medical event, fire, or police intervention occurs, first responders may experience trauma. They are the first trained professionals to respond to emergencies and may turn chaotic and potentially life threatening situations into ones that are structured and life saving. The ability to do this, however, comes at a steep price for firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel. This presentation explores research focused on the ways in which firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel may cope with repeated trauma through both internal and external mechanisms. These mechanisms include length of professional service, which may predict individuals’ levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; neurobiological and biological markers, which may also predict Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; and resiliency, which may be key to long term survival in first responder professions. 

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

PFB 114

2:30 – 3:00 PM

Emily Svendsen-McLean

Prevelance of Eating Disorders

Feeding and Eating disorders (FED) are aptly defined as chronic diseases. The two most studied and well known forms of eating disorders are Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa (Kontic et al., 2012). High mortality and morbidity rates, as well as the spread of the disorders into new areas that previously had not dealt with the condition, make for increased research efforts (Kontic et al., 2012). The characteristics of eating disorders include intentionally restricting food to an extreme degree, overeating, self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise habits, and misusing laxatives and diuretics in an effort to maintain or reduce body weight (Kontic et al., 2012). Two key factors that may increase the propensity for developing feeding and eating disorders are gender and involvement with athletics. The purpose of this paper is to define FED, determine the correlation of gender and FED, and to what extent athletics play in the development of FED. 

This capstone will concentrate on the different types of feeding and eating disorders. Seeking to find if and what makes an individual more “prone” to suffering from these disorders such as sex, athletics, personality type. It will also try to explain what these particular individuals seek when experiencing these types of disorders. 

PSY 499, Capstone

Nani Skaggs

PFB 103

11:00 – 11:30 AM

Jacob Wathen

Same-Sex Parents: Think of the Children

Same-sex relationships have become more commonplace in today’s society. In 2012, 110,000 US same-sex couples reported that they were raising children. That number has since grown exponentially and researchers have attempted to understand the implications of same-sex parenting for children. One aspect of same-sex parenting that may indirectly damage children is the stigma associated with same gender parents. Although the effects of this discrimination are prevalent in the children of same-sex couples, researchers have indicated that the overall wellbeing of these children may be more robust than that of children of mixed-gender parents. Another common concern with same-sex parenting is that children are inherently in danger due to the parents’ sexual orientation. Researchers have determined, however, that laws prohibiting same-sex parenting may be more damaging to children than same-sex parental relationships themselves. Further, researchers have found that the home environment of children with same-sex parents may be similar to or stronger than that of heterosexual parents. This may be due to researchers’ finding that same-sex parents may spend a more balanced amount of time with their children compared to heterosexual couples, which may contribute to healthy social development in children and foster parental satisfaction. Finally, researchers determined that when children of homosexual individuals perceived stronger bonding with their parents, they may reflect positively on their experiences. Presently, researchers in the field of same-sex parenting have found that children of same-gender couples face no more risks than those prevalent among children of heterosexual parents. 

PSY 499, Capstone

Mary Ann Winter-Messiers

PFB 114

1:00 – 1:30 PM

Shaneesa Applegate, Kristin Fulbright & Hayley Leno

The Effects of Physical Activity on Learning

Exercise may be beneficial in the learning process by helping students focus on the task at hand. The following study was conducted to determine if physical activity before a math test would help improve scores. Students from an introductory psychology class at Northwest Christian University were recruited. The participants were split into two groups. One group was asked to walk for ten minutes, and the other was asked to rest quietly in the room for ten minutes. After this, they were given a ten question high school level math test. The hypothesis was those that went for a walk would perform at a higher level in answering math problems than those who did not walk.

PSY 350 Research Methods

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Chasity Castañeda-Estrada, Jessica Hirte & Karen Reynolds

The Effects of Priming Analytical Thinking on Performance on a Cognitive Task

Priming, a technique used to influence how one thinks, has been shown to affect an individual’s performance on cognitive tasks that depend on either analytical or intuitive thinking. Using pictures of famous statues the Thinker and the Discus Thrower, the aim of the present study was to prime participants to think either intuitively or analytically. Undergraduate students from an introductory psychology class from Northwest Christian University were asked to participate. The hypothesis was that priming participants to think analytically would increase scores on a cognitive reflection task that required analytical, as opposed to intuitive, thinking.

PSY 350 Research Methods

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Haley Cochell, Trevyn DuBois, & Darcy Snyder

Bias Towards Dogs on Euthanasia Decisions

The goal of this study was to measure potential bias towards a certain dog breed, particularly Pit Bulls. In the current study participants were asked to read a description of a dogfight. They were shown one of three pictures of a dog (a Dachshund, Labrador Retriever, or a Pit Bull). Participants were asked to rate how likely they would be to support the euthanasia of the dog that began the fight. It was hypothesized that a higher percentage of people would have a prejudice against a Pit Bull as opposed to the Dachshund or Labrador Retriever.

PSY 350 Research Methods

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Mishayla Bertelsen

Learning Abilities and Memory in Typical and Atypical Children

Learning abilities have a major impact on memory, which combined, play a dominate role in a child’s development. Different learning abilities can affect memory in typically developing students as well as those with learning disabilities like dyslexia and autism. Dyslexic children have a phonological impairment which affects reading and comprehension, therefore making retaining information challenging. On the other hand, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have basic memory processes, but show impairment of organizational and complex processes. Research on the interaction of learning abilities and memory are important for understanding typical and atypical development.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P103

10:30 – 11 AM

Allie Kelsey

Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment.

Substance abuse has steadily increased among adolescents in recent years. Current research has focused on treatment methods and important factors for effective treatment of adolescents. Family-based treatment methods such as Multidimensional Family Therapy and evidence based family interventions are beneficial because of the focus on family. In addition, treatment methods focusing on adolescent strengths, motivational interviewing, and self-teaching workbooks can provide some advantages. The need for adolescents to be committed, disciplined, and focused to treatment is crucial. Research shows that families, friends, and schools play a significant role by offering support and empathy for youth.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P103

10 – 10:30 AM

Patricia Martinez

The Influence of High Neuroticism and Low Self-Esteem on Disordered Eating Behaviors

Research suggests that there are many different psychological traits that may influence disordered eating behaviors which include anger suppression, negative affectivity, obsessive compulsive disorder, high neuroticism, and low self-esteem. Research shows that there is a strong positive correlation between disordered eating behavior and high levels of neuroticism or low self-esteem. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are each influenced by a combination of high neuroticism and low self-esteem. These risk factors in combination with social influences may lead certain individuals to gravitate toward a disordered eating lifestyle. 

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P103

9 – 9:30 AM

Rebekah Rossberg

The Correlation between Attachment Style and Approach to Conflict

People have many ways of approaching conflict and of attaching to one another. This study investigates four attachment styles and five conflict styles. Attachment styles are based on the levels of anxiety and avoidance one typically has in a relationship. Conflict styles are based on the level of concern one has for the good of self and others when solving interpersonal conflicts. It is predicted that those who are avoidant in attachments will be avoiding in conflicts and those who are secure in attachments will be integrating in conflicts.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P103

9:30 – 10 AM

Denise Barrett, Patricia Martinez & Jacob Wathen

Does Gender Influence Bystander’s Willingness to Help?

The more people who witness someone needing help, the less likely they are to offer assistance. This is known as the bystander effect which is due to the diffusion of responsibility. Passersby assume someone else will offer assistance. In the United States, females are often viewed as more helpless than males and receive more assistance. Based on this assumption an observational study was done to see if a female would receive more assistance than a male who posed as a homeless panhandler for one hour.

PSY 350, Research Methods

Nani Skaggs

Sabrina Biggers

Autism: Detection and Cognitive Differences

Autism is a developmental disability characterized by social and cognitive impairments. Symptoms of Autism include but are not limited to challenges in communication, difficulty in focusing on stimuli, and repetitive behavior. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is measured on a scale from highly functioning to low functioning. Current research in the diagnosis and screening of Autism has found that tools used to measure Autism are effective. Further, research has found cognitive variation between individuals with ASD and non-ASD individuals. Research on Autism provides insight on the best practices needed for early detection and success of individuals with ASD.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

Kristin Fulbright, Kaitlyn Moore & Emily Svendsen-McLean

Perceived Stress of Student-Athletes and Non-Athletes

Stress is experienced by everyone, especially college students. Research suggests that student-athletes may experience stress uniquely than their non-athlete peers. Student-athletes have the additional stress of competing, preventing injuries, disappointment, pressure from coaches and time management. The present study compared stress in student-athletes to non-athletes. It was expected that student-athletes would experience more stress than non-athlete students and that student-athletes would have additional stress because of their sport.

PSY 350, Research Methods

Nani Skaggs

Wendie Green

Fear and Memory in the Context of Trauma

Our brains and bodies are designed to remember the things that happen to us, yet some traumatic memories are buried in our subconscious and beg to be released. Combat trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are significantly linked through unique combinations of fear conditioning and memory encoding. Forgetting the trauma, intrusive thoughts, and rumination often disrupt the lives of those diagnosed with PTSD. The common denominator in these phenomena appears to be the initial fear experienced during the moment of trauma. Understanding this link between fear and memory can give insight into helping PTSD patients experience more complete recovery from trauma.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

Linsey Johnson

Comparing Religious Strengths of Athletes and Non-Athletes at a Christian University

College students face many daily stressors, and student-athletes add more pressure and stress on themselves through sports. In past studies collegiate athletes reported higher degrees of religiosity and religious faith compared to non-athletes at public universities (Storch, Roberti, Bravata, & Storch, 2004). The present study looks at the religious strengths, the level of religiosity, the perceived stress, and the coping process of athletes and non-athletes at a private Christian university.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

Sharaya Moretti

Exploring Religiosity and Spirituality of Men and Women

A major portion of research suggests that women tend to be more religious than men. Biological, cognitive, cultural, behavioral, and environmental influences may support the increased religiosity in women as compared to men. Women are most often more social than men; they value praying and reading religious texts in groups in contrast to men. Innate preferences for social activities may lead women to naturally be more religious considering religiousness is often measured by the amount of social activities centered on faith. It is important to consider these gender differences because religiousness relates to better health and well-being.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

Amy Drummer

Specific Learning Disorder Affecting Literacy: The Biological & Environmental Factors, Assessment, & Intervention 

Reading is a skill that is important in academic achievement, socioeconomic status, & overall mental health. Reading combines both biological & environmental factors. Curriculum based classroom assessments measure fluency, accuracy, & comprehension. Brain scans indicate poor readers activate alternate paths in phonological processing, after intensive intervention the same students scans show paths comparable to average readers. Early intervention reduces the gap between average & poor readers. Effects of impaired reading follow children through adulthood as individuals create thought patterns & coping strategies to compensate for their impairment. Individualized interventions incorporating socioemotional skills are most effective.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P114

9 – 9:30 AM

Samuel Eymann

The Effects of Social Acceptance & Rejection on Disabled Individuals

Humans are a social species: acceptance & rejection have significant effects on well-being. Social acceptance tends to have positive effects on people’s mood & outlook on life, whereas social rejection tends to have negative effects. Individuals with disabilities, such as Down syndrome have shown decreases in happiness. The decline of happiness in disabled individuals may be related to social rejection by peers. 

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P114

9:30 – 10 PM

Jenny Maupin

The Power of Baby Sign Language

The benefits of teaching infants to sign includes improved spatial reasoning & executive function, reduction of stress in the parent-child relationship, a calmer academic environment that creates harmony & a universal language in the classroom, enhancing a child’s innate ability to gesture as a form of communication, promote better relations with daycare providers, improve the quality of life of families in stressful low socioeconomic circumstances, & assisting developmentally, physically, &/or medically delayed children who struggle with language & communication to ameliorate their circumstances. Baby boosts language acquisition & learning & increases a child’s confidence that their needs will be met.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P114

10 – 10:30 AM

Jordan Miller

Relational Motivation

Relationships influence our lives; how we use those influences as motivation towards a goal is referred to as relational motivation. Research on relational motivation shows that motivations are increased when there are clear goals & a strong positive relationship. Relationships influence goal attainment by providing a support system. Research has shown that relationships motivate. Autonomy plays a big role in motivation. If autonomy is taken away, so is motivation. Understanding how relationships motivate adolescents could lead to better futures. 

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P114

10:30 – 11 AM

Allyssa Mittleider

The Engagement of Students & their Success in School

Engagement in school is something that not many students view as important to their success in their classes. Recently, researchers have begun using a three-component model that includes relational, cognitive & behavioral engagement. It is important to look at all three of these components carefully to gain a better understanding of their effect on a student’s success. To test the hypothesis that higher GPA is correlated with higher engagement throughout all three areas of engagement in school, an Analysis of Variance will be used. 

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P113

1 – 1:30 PM

Amber Osbourn

Cognitive Dissonance in the LGBT Christian

When faced with the tension that arises out of the conflict between the church & society on the issue of homosexuality, the homosexual Christian is faced with a proverbial dead-man’s land not only outwardly, but internally. This internal conflict between one’s sexuality & religious beliefs is operationally explored through the theory of cognitive dissonance which states that when at least two cognitions are seemingly counterintuitive, there is a drive to resolve the dissonance between them. Resolution strategies include leaving the church permanently, finding one that is accepting, or choosing to live with the dissonance. When faced with the tension that arises out of the conflict between the church & society on the issue of homosexuality, the homosexual Christian is faced with a proverbial dead-man’s land not only outwardly, but internally. This internal conflict between one’s sexuality & religious beliefs is operationally explored through the theory of cognitive dissonance which states that when at least two cognitions are seemingly counterintuitive, there is a drive to resolve the dissonance between them. Resolution strategies include leaving the church permanently, finding one that is accepting, or choosing to live with the dissonance.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P114

1:30 – 2 PM

Emmelene Romer

Effective Therapeutic Treatments for Incarcerated Juveniles

Recidivism rates in juvenile offenders warrant a reevaluation by professionals of current rehabilitation. It was reported that there were approximately 61,000 incarcerated juveniles in the last census. Therapeutic measures are administered in correctional facilities to promote mental well-being among juveniles. To reduce recidivism, the population of juvenile offenders is addressed to evaluate three commonly used therapies: Family-Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, & Multi-systemic Therapy. Educational success & vocational training are two preventative measures that decrease the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior. Current research shows that multi-systemic therapy is the most effective treatment for reducing recidivism. Recidivism rates in juvenile offenders warrant a reevaluation by professionals of current rehabilitation. It was reported that there were approximately 61,000 incarcerated juveniles in the last census. Therapeutic measures are administered in correctional facilities to promote mental well-being among juveniles. To reduce recidivism, the population of juvenile offenders is addressed to evaluate three commonly used therapies: Family-Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, & Multi-systemic Therapy. Educational success & vocational training are two preventative measures that decrease the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior. Current research shows that multi-systemic therapy is the most effective treatment for reducing recidivism.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P114

2 – 2:30 PM

Joshua Alvarado

Academic Dishonesty

Because cheating is viewed as dishonest and goes against biblical teaching, it was hypothesized that NCU students who attend church regularly would have lower rates of cheating compared to those who do not attend church. Participants were asked if they ever cheated in an academic setting including tests, assignments, or papers. In addition, participants were asked to report emotions experienced after cheating or choosing not to cheat. The results showed that most participants reported cheating at least once even if they reported attending church regularly. Results on emotional experiences and conclusions will be discussed.

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Joshua Alvarado

Academic Dishonesty

This study examined academic dishonesty and the emotions that follow in college students. Students at NCU were used in this data collection. There are tremendous pressures to succeed in college and many will cheat over their time on a college campus. Also included in the survey was if the individual attended church regularly or not. Our emotions can drive us to act in many different ways. The results of this study indicated that college students will admit to cheating in school and show that being honest has no negatives attached to it.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

L203

9 – 9:30 AM

Sabrina Biggers

Analytical Thinking Promotes Religious Disbelief

The present study is a replication of Gervais and Norenzayan (2012). Participants will be recruited from a Christian school to see if analytical thinking promotes religious disbelief. Participants will view pictures then answer questions on belief in supernatural agents and

intrinsic religiosity. It is expected that this study will show analytical thinking will diminish religious belief.

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Travis Brown

Stressed Upon Student Athletes

Stress is a state of mental or emotional tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. Stress has been shown to negatively affect physical health, mental processing, and emotional well-being. Research has shown a unique contribution of stressful events on collegiate athletes as compared to traditional undergraduate students. Collegiate athletes experience a wide range of stress because of the demands of their sport which affects academics, well-being, and athletic performance. College athletes have significantly less time to work on academics due to year-long training (in and out of season), tight scheduling, traveling, tough competition and lack of down time. Learning to cope with these additional stressors is important for the collegiate athlete’s well-being and performance.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

L203

9:30 – 10 AM

Amy Dummer & Wendie Green

The Influence of a Persuasive Message

Drawing from existing research that shows attitude change is associated with higher source credibility, it was expected that an expert would exert more influence in changing attitudes on learning styles than a non-expert. Undergraduates at NCU were recruited to participate in an experiment. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: expert and non-expert. Participants watched a video presentation, but told the source of the video was a student or an expert. The results showed that the message was effective in changing attitudes. However, there was no significant difference between the expert and non-expert groups.

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Belinda Kinkade & Sharaya Moretti

The Effects of Color When Purchasing Chocolate

Colors are influential as each color is believed to evoke specific emotions and feelings. Research has shown that males and females like the color blue. This study measured the impact of color on decisions to purchase chocolate bars. It was expected that participants would select the blue wrapped chocolate bar more frequently. Students from NCU (n = 31) completed a questionnaire rating quality and attractiveness of chocolate bars in colored wrappers. The result showed that brown was the preferred color wrapper. Understanding the effect of color perception on decision making is important for marketing. 

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Jenny Maupin

My Mother’s Quilts: Quilting for Good Mental Health

Quilters, in general, appear to have good mental health primarily because they quilt. A two-part questionnaire was conducted with the Emerald Valley Quilters Guild. Part one included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and part two was more geared toward necessary demographic information, levels of happiness, satisfaction with life, and love of quilting. Any identifying references were removed from BDI and it was labeled “Well-Being Inventory Part I.” The goal was to achieve a negative correlation between depression (i.e., low depression scores) and life satisfaction and enjoyment of quilting (i.e., high scores).

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Amber Osbourn, Taylor Richardson & Emmelene Romer

The Effects of Self-Reflection on Happiness

Previous studies have shown that self-reflection can affect an individual’s happiness level. In this study two different modes of self-reflection were used: prayer and journaling. The hypothesis was that level of happiness would be different after self-reflection through prayer or journaling, and prayer would result in higher happiness levels. Participants were NCU students (n=29) who were randomly assigned to pray or journal for 5 minutes then answer a Daily Mood Form. The results showed a statistically significant difference between groups; participants had higher levels of happiness in the prayer group as compared to the journaling group.

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Taylor Richardson

Do Self-Reflection Techniques Promote Happiness?

Self-reflection, such as prayer, meditation, or journaling has been found to have an effect on well-being. In the current study it was hypothesized that self-reflection would contribute to feelings of happiness. Two types of self-reflection techniques, prayer and journaling, were tested to see the impact on happiness. Participants completed the Fordyce Emotions Questionnaire before starting the self-reflection task. Participants spent 20 minutes each day for seven days in one of three tasks: prayer, journaling, or reading a textbook. It is expected that happiness scores will be higher in the prayer and journaling group than the textbook group. Spending time in self-reflection tasks may be beneficial by promoting feelings of happiness.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

L203

10 – 10:30 AM

Jolene Rogers

Correlation Between Study Habits and Test Anxiety

Anxiety is a sense of unease, feelings of dread, or feelings of worry. Symptoms of anxiety can have a large influence on productivity and happiness by affecting daily living. There are methods in which anxiety can be lessened. The current study addresses if and what correlation exists between study habits and test anxiety. It was hypothesized that better study habits would correlate to show lower levels of anxiety. This study resulted in no correlation between the two variables.

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Jolene Rogers

Effects of Art Therapy on Symptoms of Depression

Symptoms of depression affect a large portion of the population. These symptoms affect people not only on a personal level but on a cognitive and social level. There are multiple forms of therapy which have been effective in helping lessen symptoms of depression. Research for this paper looked into the effectiveness of art therapy in helping with symptoms of depression.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

L203

10:30 – 11 AM