Honors Projects

Many psychological science majors choose to complete an Honors project on a topic of their interest. Most or all of the work associated with an Honors project is done in the senior year, though it may be earlier.

  • Hudson Baker '23: The Damoclean Threat of Climate Catastrophe: The Impacts of Climate Cafés on Eco-Anxiety
    Emily Fisher, Adviser
  • Greta Weiss '23: The Influence of Group Discussion on Moral Decisions
    Emily Fisher, Adviser
  • Travis Schneider '21: Cognitive Distortions as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Dispositional Mindfulness and Psychological Distress
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Runzhong Zhang '21: Covid-19 Adult Mental Wellbeing Study in Academia
    Daniel Graham, Adviser
  • Khanh Le '20: Establishing the Psychometrics of IPARTheory Measures in Vietnam
    Brien Ashdown, Adviser
  • Sarah Burstein '19: Facets of Mindfulness and Health among a Low Income Community Sample
    Jamie Bodenlos, Adviser
  • Cailey Mastrangelo '19: The Efficacy of a Long-Term Sex Education Program in the Highlands of Guatemala
    Brien K. Ashdown, Adviser
  • Megan Blanchfield '19: How Studying Abroad Influences Cultural Identity, Global Identity, Global Perspectives, and Social and Health Behaviors
    Brien K. Ashdown, Adviser
  • Marilyn Buck '17: Perceptions of Short-Term Volunteer Workers in Guatemala
    Brien Ashdown, Adviser
  • Andrew P. Malordy '15: Consumption Stereotyping, Materialism and Brand Engagement in a College Setting
    Emily Fisher, Adviser
  • Rachel N. Smith '15: Song Preference and Context Dependency: The Effects on Memory
    Michelle Rizzella, Adviser

Undergraduate Research

Many psychological science majors choose to enroll in an independent study course each semester, which requires them to actively engage in a research project.

Heres a recent sampling of undergraduate research projects completed by psychology majors:

  • Hannah Lax '24: “Simulations of brain network communication models in schizophrenia,” Summer, 2023
    Daniel Graham, Adviser
  • Alexandra Brind '22: “How Character Knowledge Influences Comprehension Processing.” Work presented at 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Text & Discourse, July 2022
    Michelle Rizzella, Adviser
  • Kayla McEachern '19 & Samantha Buckenmaier '20: “The Effect of Context on the Comprehension of Semantic Anomalies.” Work presented at 31nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Text & Discourse, July 2022
    Michelle Rizzella, Adviser
  • Katherine Brown '23, Avery Palmer, '23 & Cassidy Piza-Taylor, '23: “The Role of Reading Skill in the Processing of Misinformation.” Fall 2022
    Michelle Rizzella, Adviser
  • Katherine Brown, '23, Isabelle Friedman, '23, & Travis Schneider, '21: “Dispositional Mindfulness, Anxiety, and Depression Predicting College Students’ Sleep during COVID-19.” Work presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, March 2023
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Molly Moore '22 & Travis Schneider, '21: “Cognitive Distortions as a Mediator of the Relationship between Dispositional Mindfulness and Psychological Distress.” Work presented at the virtual annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, November 2021
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Claire Joshi, '21, Emma Kelly, '21, Molly Moore, '22, & Travis Schneider, '21: “Mindfulness, Gratitude, and Resilience Predicting Psychological Distress and Well-Being among College Students during Covid-19.” Work presented at the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood virtual conference, April 2021
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Travis Schneider '21: “Dispositional Mindfulness and Sleep: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Distortions.” Work presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine virtual conference, April 2021
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Mara Sindoni, '19 & Travis Schneider, '21: “Dispositional Mindfulness Predicting Psychological Adjustment among College students: The Role of Rumination and Gender.” Work presented at the virtual biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, March 2021
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Eileen Rath '20: “Belief Change in Response to Evidence: Predictors and Persistence Over Time.” Work presented at virtual Society for Personality and Social Psychology Convention, February, 2021
    Stephanie Anglin, Adviser
  • Jennifer Yuodsnukis '21 & Nicole Miller '22: “(In)sensitivity to Evidence Strength in Changing Beliefs in Response to Polarized Science.” Work presented at the virtual Society for Personality and Social Psychology Convention, February, 2022
    Stephanie Anglin, Adviser
  • Eileen Rath '20, Jennifer Yuodsnukis '21, Nicole Miller '22, Marlendy Eylsee '21, Jack Daley '21, & Alexandra Deku '21: “Beliefs and Receptiveness vs. Resistance to Evidence.” 2020-2021
    Stephanie Anglin, Adviser
  • Allison Feder '22: “Measuring Scientific Uncertainty.” Spring 2022
    Stephanie Anglin, Adviser
  • Allison Feder '22, Alexandra Deku '21, & Nicole Miller '22: “Public and Scientist Perceptions of Problems in Scientific Research.” 2021-2022
    Stephanie Anglin, Adviser
  • Emily Leonard '22: “Media Communication of Science.” Fall 2021
    Stephanie Anglin, Adviser
  • Leland Barclay '20, Julia Serin '19, Jacqueline Steinman '20: How does Perceived Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection Influence Spying and Stalking Behaviors in Romantic Relationships?
    Brien K. Ashdown, Adviser
  • Alyssa Sanito '19, Abbey Brown '20, Mara Sindoni '19, Mackenzie Tamblin '19: Mindfulness and Health Research Project
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Kathryn Peglow '20, Rachael Piercy '20: Cognitive Fusion and Domains of Health in College Students
    Jamie Bodenlos, Adviser
  • Sarah Burstein '19: Facets of Mindfulness and Health in a Low-Income Community
    Jamie Bodenlos, Adviser
  • Megan Blanchfield '19: Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Appetite Hormones
    Jamie Bodenlos, Adviser
  • Elizabeth Hawes '19, Sarah Burstein '19 and Kelsey Arroyo '18: Role of Cognitive Fusion in Well-Being and Health
    Jamie Bodenlos, Adviser
  • Jessica Lathrop '18: Dispositional Mindfulness and Social Support Predicting Psychological Adjustment Among College Students
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Jessica Lathrop '18: Reading and the Development of Empathy and Prosocial Behavior
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Sarah Burstein '19, Mengqi Liu '18: Mindfulness in the College Classroom
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Maureen Milmoe '18: Middle School Transition Research Project
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Emily Robinson '18: Sex Offenders: Extended Literature Review
    Julie Kingery, Adviser
  • Elena Parkins '18, Kelsey Arroyo '18, and Melanie Patterson '17: How does Coloring affect Mood, Mindfulness, and Stress
    Jamie Bodenlos, Adviser
  • Marilyn Buck '17 and Tyler Sutherland '18: Perceptions of Short-Term Volunteer Workers in Guatemala
    Brien Ashdown, Adviser
  • Hannah Nichols '17: Ecology and Psychology in the Lake Atitln Region of Guatemala
    Brien Ashdown, Adviser
  • Cailey Mastrangelo '19: Assessing a Model Classroom Program in Guatemala
    Brien Ashdown, Adviser
  • Shenguan Sharon Tong '18: Assessing a Model Classroom Program in Guatemala
    Brien Ashdown, Adviser
  • Kathryn Lyle '17 and Juliana Heffern '17: The relationship of internet addiction and health in college students and the role of mindfulness in this relationship
    Jamie Bodenlos, Adviser
  • Olivia Hanno '16: Sex Education and Gender Roles in Guatemala
    Brien Ashdown, Adviser
  • Catherine Forman '16: Facial Representation in Masks
    Daniel Graham, Adviser
  • Cameron Pugach '15: Aesthetic Stability Across the Life-Span
    Daniel Graham, Adviser
  • Shani Saul '15: Design Preferences: Synthesis of Environmental Psychology, Personality and Architectural Design
    Daniel Graham, Adviser
  • Taylor Amico '15: Influence of Target Ethnicity on Perceptions about Alcohol Use
    Brien Ashdown, Adviser
  • Rachel Smith '15: Media and Political Knowledge
    Emily Fisher, Adviser
  • Jessica Kemp '15, Aubreyanne Mayrsohn '15 and Rachel Smith '15: How does the Biggest Loser Television Program affect Eating Behavior?
    Jamie Bodenlos, Adviser
 

Faculty and Student Conference Presentations

Students and faculty often engage in collaborative research projects and present their findings during a national conference. HWS faculty and students have presented original research at conferences of the Society for Research and Child Development, the Association for Psychological Science and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, just to name a few.

Here are several recent conference presentations given by faculty and students:

Bodenlos, J.S., Peglow, K., & Piercey, R. (April 2020). Cognitive Fusion and fatigue in college students. Poster session at the annual meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, CA.

Kingery, J.N., Bodenlos, J. S., Peltz, J., *Sindoni, M., *Schneider, T.I. (2020, March). Dispositional mindfulness predicting psychological adjustment among college students: The role of rumination and gender. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Diego, CA.

Burstein, S. M., Bodenlos, J. S., Hawes, E. S., & Arroyo, K. M. (2020, March). Difference in trait mindfulness between meditators and non-meditators. Poster session presented at the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Peltz, J., Kingery, J.N., Bodenlos, J. S., & Rogge, R. D. (March, 2020). The moderating role of financial strain in college students work hours, sleep, and mental health. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Diego, CA.

Bodenlos, J. S., Peltz, J., Kingery, J, & Oswald, K. (April, 2020). Mindfulness, problematic internet use, and emotional health among college students. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, CA.

Ashdown, B. K., Hackathorn J., *Barclay, L., & *Browning, H. (2020, February). Spying on Romantic Partners in the USA [Paper presentation]. Annual Meeting of the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, Seattle, WA, USA.

*Owens, G., *Zhang, Y., & Ashdown, B. K. (2020, February). Guatemalan teenagers aspirations for 15 years in the future: A qualitative study of desired futures [Poster presentation]. Annual conference of The Society for Cross-Cultural Research, Seattle, WA, USA.

*Le, K., *Lin, X., *Uddin, M., & Ashdown, B. K. (2020, February). The relationship between parental, teacher acceptance-rejection and resiliency in Guatemalan adolescents[Poster presentation]. Annual conference of The Society for Cross-Cultural Research, Seattle, WA, USA.

*Le, K. & Ashdown, B. K. (2020, February). Examining the reliability and validity of interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory (IPARTheory) in Vietnamese adolescents [Poster presentation]. Annual conference of The Society for Cross-Cultural Research, Seattle, WA, USA.

*Mastrangelo, C., Ashdown, B. K., *Banta, S. (2019, February). Adolescent sex education in the highlands of Guaetmala. Paper presented at the annual conference for the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, Jacksonville, FL.

*DiPhilippo, A., Ashdown, B. K., & *Owens, G. (2019, February). Guatemalan teenagers hopes and dreams for the future: A qualitative study of goals and characteristics for future selves. Paper presented at the annual conference for the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, Jacksonville, FL.

*Blanchfield, M., *Barclay, L., & Ashdown, B. K. (2019, February). Effect of developing a global perspective and a cultural identity on students social and health behaviors while studying abroad. Paper presented at the annual conference for the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, Jacksonville, FL

*Buck, M., Ashdown, B. K., *Sutherland, T., & *Guerrero, G. (2017, March). Can helping hurt? Voluntourism in Guatemala. Paper presented at the annual conference for the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, New Orleans, LA.

*Nichols, H., Ashdown, B. K., Brown, M. & *Guerrero, G. (2017, March). Pollution at Lake Atitln. Paper presented at the annual conference for the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, New Orleans, LA.

Kingery, J.N., Bodenlos, J. S., Peltz, J., *Sindoni, M., *Schneider, T.I. (2020, March). Dispositional mindfulness predicting psychological adjustment among college students: The role of rumination and gender. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Diego, CA.

Bodenlos, J. S., Peltz, J., Kingery, J.N., & *Oswald, K. (2020, April). Mindfulness, problematic internet use, and emotional health among college students. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, CA.

*Burstein, S., *Arroyo, K., *Hawes, E., & Bodenlos, J.S. (March, 2019). Facets of mindfulness and emotional health among a predominantly low income community sample. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Washington, D.C.

Peltz, J., Kingery, J.N., *Sindoni, M., *Tamblin, M., & *Brown, A. (2019, March). Adolescents sleep variability mediates parent-child conflict and adolescents anxiety/depressive symptoms. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, MD.

 

Faculty and Student Publications

Here are several recent publications co-authored by faculty and students:

Kingery, J.N., *Lathrop, J., *Liu, M., & *Burstein, S.M. (2019). Mindfulness practices in a developmental psychology seminar: Student outcomes, practical strategies, and future directions. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 5, 305-311. doi: 10.1037/stl0000148

Kingery, J.N., Bodenlos, J., & *Lathrop, J.A. (2019). Facets of dispositional mindfulness and domains of social support predicting psychological adjustment among college students. Journal of American College Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2019.1574801

Kingery, J.N., *Gaskell, M.E., *Toner, S.R., *Rice, S.E., *Gray, M.L., Milligan, J.A., & *Milmoe, M.H. (2018). Active learning in a child psychology course: Observing play behavior at a childrens museum. Psychology Learning and Teaching, 17, 209-218.

Ashdown, B. K., Bodenlos, J. S., Arroyo, K.*, Parkins, E.*, Patterson, M.*, Burstein, S.* (2018). How does coloring affect mood, stress and mindfulness? Journal of Integrated Social Sciences

Bodenlos, J. S., Strang, K.*, Gray-Bauer, R.*, Faherty, A.* & Ashdown, B. K. (2017). Male representation in mindfulness based therapy clinical trials. Mindfulness, 8, 259-265. DOI 10.1007/s12671-016-0646-1