Psychology - Research Experience

Students and faculty in the Department of Psychological Sciences engage in collaborative research through the Research Seminar course and Discovery projects. Often, students present their research at professional and undergraduate psychology conferences, and submit their research for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Such research experience at the undergraduate level is increasingly critical to acceptance into doctoral programs in psychology.

Recent research projects include:

Brandenburg, K., Maldonado, J., Pearson, C., Applegate, E., & Elmore, J. D. (2023). Oops!... I cognitively offloaded again: The effect of cognitive offloading and existing phone use on memory. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Brandenburg, K., & Posey, A. (2023). The “bad test-taker” notion: Perceived prevalence and co-occurring academic characteristics. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Brissett, C., & Elmore, J. D. (2023). The effects of Christian art: How style and valence influence mood and spirit. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Chesser, E., Connelly, L., Brungardt, G., Gillies, S., & Houlahan, S., (2023). The trestle in care of a dying patient: Understanding death in light of Father Giussani. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Neal, P., Methe., E., & Posey, A. (2023). The complete academic genealogy of current Benedictine College psychology students. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Bodoh, R. (2022). Need for achievement as it relates to birth order: Effect on achievement goals and academic performance. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas, Lawrence, KS.

Brandenburg, K. (2022). Examining the relationship between optimism and life satisfaction. Presented at the annual Great Plains Student Psychology Convention, Emporia, KS.

Dery, J., & Elmore, J. D. (2022). Evaluating white privilege: The effects of ingroup framing of minority members. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Methe, E. (2022). Assertiveness as it relates to gender. Presented at the annual Great Plains Student Psychology Convention, Emporia, KS.

Winger, S., Kirstein, K., Elmore, J. D., & Stubblefield, J. (2022). The missing piece. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Newbolds, S., Muehlebach, M., & Elmore, J. D. (2021). The effects of empathy on attitudes towards mask wearing. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Virtual.

Fassero, J., Newbolds, S., & Elmore, J. D. (2021). Color preference and politics: A longitudinal study. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Lingor, A., Marquard, A., Handley, B., & Posey, A. (2021). Flattening the curve: Exploring cultural worldview and trust in science as correlates of COVID – 19 responses. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Lingor, A., Marquard, A., & Handley, B. (2021). Flattening the curve: Correlates of COVID-19 attitudes, reactance, and helping. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (virtual).

Newbolds, S., Muehlebach, M., & Elmore, J. D. (2021). The effects of empathy on attitudes towards mask wearing. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Pokropski, L., Hermes, N., Sawin, C., & Elmore, J. D. (2021). The effects of foreign and native lyrical music on short-term memory. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Newbolds, S., Muehlebach, M., & Elmore, J. D. (2021). The effects of empathy on attitudes towards mask wearing. Presented at the Annual Great Plains Students’ Psychology Convention, Virtual.

Chen, E. C.-H., & Petruccelli, T. (2019). Incorporating cultural diversity into developmental psychology courses. Presented at the Developmental Science Teaching Institute, Baltimore, MD.

Posey, A., & Cushing, J. (2019). The little Freudian slippage: Coverage of the psychodynamic perspective in the undergraduate personality course. Teaching of Psychology, 46(3), 251-259. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628319853941

Boruch, C., Wilhelm, I., Roth, J., Restuccia, M., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2019). Turn up the heat: A study of religion and attractiveness. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Butler, J., & Elmore, J. D. (2019). Music's effects on self-control. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Farrell, E., Posey, A., & Salzmann, A. (2019). Does studying abroad affect personality? An examination of the Florence experience. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Finn, N., & Elmore, J. D. (2019). The effects of just world belief and primed religiosity on reactions to homelessness. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Gowasack, A., & Posey, A. (2019). The effect of gender and ideological similarity on perceptions of a persuasive source. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Gowasack, A. (2019). The effect of gender and ideological similarity on perceptions of a persuasive source. Presented at the Great Plains Student Psychology Convention, Springfield, MO.

Nguyen, A., Stotzer, G., & Posey, A. (2019). The heavy crown of perfection: Perfectionism and loneliness at Benedictine College. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas, Baldwin City, KS.

Roth, J., Restuccia, M., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2019). The beloved sinner effect. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Roush, Farrell, E., & Posey, A. (2019). Elmore project: The complete genealogy of Benedictine College psychology students. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Barnes, R., Boruch, C., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2018). Turn up the heat: A study on attractiveness. Presented at the joint conference of the Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK) and Nebraska Psychological Society (NPS), Emporia, KS.

Roush, J., & Posey, A. (2018). Does text message punctuation affect perceptions of personality and mood of the sender? Presented at the joint conference of the Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK) and Nebraska Psychological Society (NPS), Emporia, KS.

Roth, J., Restuccia, M., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2018). The beloved sinner effect. Presented at the joint conference of the Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK) and Nebraska Psychological Society (NPS), Emporia, KS.

Fitzgerald, F., Watry, K., White, S., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2018). Pathway to academic success: a study of factors that influence GPA. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Gilme, M., McBride, I., & Posey, A. (2018). The effect of a classroom pet on the education of Pre-K students. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Loosbrock, S., Pokorny, M., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2018). Shut up, you're wrong! Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Wittig, C., Dzurik, T., Starrs, S., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2018). If I die before I wake: fear, horror, and religiosity. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Frohlich, G., Ross, S., & Singer, K. (2017). Social Media: A neutral environment? Presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK), Atchison, KS.

Girard, E., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2017). Counseling resources in the third world. Presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK), Atchison, KS.

Loosbrock, S., Pokorny, M., Aaker, M., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2017). Shut up, you're wrong,”softening political extremism. Presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK), Atchison, KS.

Vinson, J., Farmer, C., Rickert, E., Russell, K., Wyatt, A., Zook., R., & Chen, E. C.-H. (2017).The effect of background music on an individual’s level of concentration of change of emotion. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Wittig, C., Dzurik, T., Starrs, S., & Buhman-Wiggs, A. (2017). If I die before I wake: fear, horror, and religiosity. Presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK), Atchison, KS.

Carson, M. (2015). Theoretical explanations for vaccine refusal. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK), Salina, KS.

McCance, T., Collart, B., & Chen, E. C.-H. (2014). The effects of green tea and coffee on mental performance. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Cook, M., Pasley, J., Pellarin, E., Medow, K. & Baltz, M. (2013). Construct validation of the five love languages. Journal of Psychological Inquiry, 18(2), 50-61.

Marek, S., Gross, A., & Posey, A. (2013). Creation and validation of an instrument to measure attitudes about adoption. Presented at the Discovery Day Symposium, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS.

Stec, H. M., Carlson, V. A., Farrell, L. M., & Rangel, R. (2013). The state of grace scale: Operationalizing a virtuous life. Presented at the Great Plains Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Omaha, NE.

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