Research Fellowship Opportunity

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is offering one two-year research fellowship (tuition waiver, yearly stipend of $26,000, and health insurance) and one scholarship (tuition waiver for the 1st year, 2nd year contingent on academic performance and funding availability) in its new Consumer Behavior and Decision Sciences Master of Science program starting in fall 2020. The program is designed for students with a background in the social sciences, business, and/or a quantitative field, seeking to master applied behavioral and consumer research methodologies and analytic techniques. Students learn to synthesize theory in order to perform applied behavioral research, evaluate data to uncover actionable insights, and leverage those insights to shape behavior in the real world. The program fosters innovation, focusing on emergent and advanced research methodologies and analytic techniques, providing graduates the skills necessary to stay competitive now and into the future. Through an applied research project in connection with industry, the public sector, or community organizations, students produce solid evidence of their ability to conduct transformative research, setting them apart from their peers as they enter the job market.

The research fellow will serve as the lab manager for Harrisburg University’s Consumer Insights Research Lab (CIRL), while the scholarship recipient will act as a part-time research assistant. CIRL’s mission is to deliver a superior experiential learning opportunity to students while meeting local industry and public sector need for applied behavioral and consumer research. Award recipients will be immersed in every aspect of CIRL’s operations, gaining unique experience in organizing and carrying out a variety of applied behavioral research projects for our industry and public sector partners.

Ideal candidates will be creative problem solvers, possess solid quantitative research skills (e.g., familiarity with research design, basic statistics, and experimental programming), and have a strong interest in using applied behavioral research to influence the world around them. To apply send an application packet containing a personal statement (two-pages maximum) summarizing your relevant experience and interest in applied behavioral and consumer research, your resume/cv, a copy of your transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable at this stage), and one letter of recommendation (referees can send letters directly if they prefer) by April 1st 2020 to nashby@harrisburgu.edu with “CIRL Research Fellowship” in the subject line. Candidates will be considered for both awards. Candidates must hold a BS/BA by July 1st, 2020 and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Psychology Students Present Research at APS

Three recent AU Psychology graduates presented research they conducted at while AU at the Association for Psychological Science Conference on May 25th. Natalie Bisignano, Hannah Drake, and Tiffany Pryce presented their work, "Women Endorse Their Own Stereotyped Preferences: A Replication of Conrad and Scheve (2017)" during the Saturday morning poster session. The conference was held in Washington, D.C. The students' travel was supported by a Provost Student Research Grant.

Student Publishes Article in Psi Chi Journal

Derek Baker, a psychology major who graduated from Ashland University in May 2017, recently published an article with Dr. Chris Chartier in the Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research.  The article, titled "Participant Attentiveness to Consent Forms" is available full-text and online by clicking here.  Derek is currently a student in the School Psychology graduate program at Miami University (OH).  Congratulations!! 

Students Present Their Work at MPA in Chicago

AU Psychology students Tiffany Pryce, Hannah Drake, and Natalie Bisignano presented their original research at the Midwestern Psychological Association annual conference in Chicago on April 12th. The students conducted their research as part of Dr. Bonfiglio’s Fall 2017 Research Methods course. They had the opportunity to connect with psychologists across the region to discuss their research interests, and were also able to spend some time exploring downtown Chicago. We are incredibly proud of these students!

AU Faculty Member and Student Publish Article

Dr. Chris Chartier (Associate Professor of Psychology) and Savannah Lewis (psychology major), along with Dr. Randy McCarthy (Northern Illinois University) recently published an article in Eye on Psi Chi.  The article is titled "Undergraduate Researchers Will Save Psychological Science" and details how undergraduate researchers have "been making significant contributions" to the discipline.  Click HERE to read the full transcript of the article.  

Announcing the Ashland University International Collaboration Research Center

Ashland University’s opening of an International Collaboration Research Center (AUICR) this fall gives further evidence that AU is emerging as a leader in the growing trend of collaborative social science. Click HERE to read a recent press release on the AUICR, and click HERE to visit the website for the center which contains information on student scholarships.  This is an exciting opportunity for psychology students to get further involved in the research process, and we congratulate Dr. Chris Chartier for leading the charge in getting the AUICR established!

AU Psychology Major Presents at the 31st Annual OUPRC

Emily Civittolo presented at the 31st Annual Ohio Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference hosted by John Carroll University.  Her presentation was titled, "College Students' Attitudes Towards Mental Illness", and Dr. Curt Ickes was her faculty sponsor.  This was Emily's third research presentation of the semester, as she also presented at the Ashland University's Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium and at the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago.  Congratulations!!

Eleven Psychology Majors Present Research in Chicago

Eleven Psychology majors recently presented their research at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago on April 20th and 21st.  Ashland University was well-represented by Derek Baker, Danielle Bruno, Kate Budzik, Emily Civitollo, Elizabeth Kemp, Danny Lawson, Lydia Smith, Morgan Snyder, Melanie Ward, Muslimah Williams, and Emily Wirtz, all who did poster presentations of research they completed in the department over the past year.  These students join a long list of student researchers from the Psychology Department who have presented their findings at conferences in places like Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Antonio.  Great job!

 Danny Lawson

 Lydia Smith

  Kate Budzik and Melanie Ward

Emily Wirtz and Danielle Bruno Win Regional Research Award

Congratulations to Emily Wirtz and Danielle Bruno who were presented with a "regional research award" from Psi Chi at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago on April 20th!  Their research project, titled The Effects of Aggression on Ability, was one of 20 award winners out of 600 research abstracts that were submitted to the MPA conference.  In addition to being recognized at a banquet in Chicago, they were awarded a certificate and $400.  Nice job!

Grant Opportunity!

The Department of Psychology is excited to announce a new competitive grant program to fund undergraduate research activities. Students can apply for up to $150 to support their research. The list of possible expenses to be funded include but are not limited to:  experimental computer software, equipment, incentives for participant performance, and recruitment of participants outside of the SONA system. The Department plans to award 3-4 grants per year and each student can win only one award per year. To apply, discuss the opportunity with a faculty member and complete the application form.

Eleven Psychology Students to Present Research at Regional Conference

Congratulations to eleven of our psychology students who were informed that their research was accepted to present at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association this coming April in Chicago!  Two of these students, Emily Wirtz and Danielle Bruno, also found out that their research project was one of 24 (out of over 600) to receive a regional research award!  Click here for an Ashland University press release highlighting our student's accomplishments.

Summary of Psychology Department Research Activities, Fall 2016

The fall 2016 semester was a busy one for the Psychology Department. Over the course of the semester 13 researchers (both students and faculty) collected data from 178 participants (PSYC 101 students) who make up our participant pool. The department ran a total of 14 different research projects and, overall, our participants earned 1,333 research 'credits'. As one credit amounts to 15 minutes worth of research participation, this equates to more than 330 continuous hours of data collection over the course of the semester. Students that were involved in this research were doing data collection as part of a class (PSYC 310), as a research assistant to one of our departmental faculty, or as an independent study (PSYC 498). The results of many of these studies will be presented at URCA and the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association in the spring of 2017. Overall, it was a productive semester in the research lab!

Why You Should Do Research If You're A Psychology Major...

Many of our students get engaged in research experiences during their time at Ashland University, and these activities have, for many years, been a hallmark of our department.  Some students get involved in the lab as early as their freshman year, allowing them to accumulate a good deal of experience by the time they graduate.  Considering that the vast majority of our students who successfully gain admittance to graduate school have these experiences in common, those students who want to take the 'next step' in their academic career should consider the opportunities that are in front of them.  Click HERE to read an article that discusses the positive benefits of doing research in the psychology lab.  The article provides insight from Mitchell Metzger and Gary Lewandowski (who gave a talk at our campus a few years ago).  Enjoy! 

Summary of Psychology Department Research, Spring 2016

The spring 2016 semester was a busy one for the Psychology Department faculty and students.  Over the course of the semester 16 researchers collected data from 161 participants (PSYC 101 students) who make up our participant pool.  The department ran a total of 13 different research projects, with three of those projects being online surveys that were delivered via Sona Systems or Survey Monkey.  Overall, our participants earned 1,563 research 'credits'.  As one credit amounts to 15 minutes worth of research participation, this means that our department gathered approximately 390 continuous hours of data collection over the course of the semester.  Students that were involved in this research were doing data collection as part of a class (PSYC 310), as a research assistant to one of our departmental faculty, or as an independent study (PSYC 498).  Overall, it was a productive semester in the research lab!

Psychology Student Presents at Conference

Dan Whitacre, a junior psychology major, presented at the 30^th Annual Ohio Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference recently held at Lorain Community College.  The research, co-authored by Derek Baker with Drs. Ickes and Chartier serving as faculty sponsors, was titled “The Effect of Color on Athletic Performance.” The study explored whether or not the color of a golf putter impacted performance on a putting task.  Subjective ratings of emotional calmness were also analyzed.  Congratulations, Dan!

Summary of Psychology Department Research, Fall 2015 Semester

Students and faculty in the Ashland University Psychology Department were busy during the Fall 2015 semester gathering data for a variety of research projects.  Sixteen student and faculty researchers completed 15 different studies this semester, with 11 of those studies being traditional laboratory studies and 4  being online studies.  Student participants earned 1,237 credits by participating in research, and as each credit amounts to 15 minutes of research participation, the department gathered 309 continuous hours of data this semester.  Many of these research projects have been submitted for presentation at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association this spring in Chicago, while others have been included in manuscripts that have been submitted for publication.  All in all, it was another productive and fruitful semester for both our students and faculty alike!

Ball State University Undergraduate Research Conference

Ball State University is hosting a one-day undergraduate psychology research conference, with the goal to engage advanced undergraduate researchers interested in psychology (particularly those interested in Educational, Developmental, and School Psychology) in a professional experience. Students are invited to present completed, ongoing, or planned research, and individual or group presentations are invited. If travel to  BSU is problematic, they will be able to support virtual as well as live participation. Students will be able to submit their proposals through our online form starting Monday August 24 (the proposal will be a short summary of what they hope to present ~ 200 words).  In addition to sharing research that is being conducted, students will be given an opportunity to learn more about various graduate programs in the region, in the event they are considering masters or doctoral work in the field. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jeremy Cassady at jccassady@bsu.edu.

Summary of Research Activities, Spring 2015 Semester

Over the course of the spring semester the students and faculty in the Psychology Department were busy with data collection.  A total of 21 researchers (both students and faculty) collected data from participants in our pool, which amounted to over 375 total hours of data collection.  Data were gathered for 18 different studies, including studies where data was gathered "face to face" and others where online data collection procedures were used.  Overall, it was a fruitful semester in the laboratory, which resulted in a number of student presentations at the spring URCA symposium and presentations by both students and faculty at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago.

Psychology Students Present at URCA

The Psychology Department was well-represented at the 6th annual College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) symposium that was held on April 8th.  Students who presented were Amanda Mayes, Ashley Keres, Melissa Smith, Sara Amato, Edie Henthorne, Nicole Brigham, Jimmy Lentine, Emily Shrider, Sara Lautzenhiser, Olivia Perna, Emily Embrescia, and Mary Moeller.  Congratulations on a job well done!!

Amanda Mayes 

Nicole Brigham and Jimmy Lentine

Psychology Students to Defend Honors Program Theses

Senior Psychology majors Amanda Mayes and Mary Moeller will be defending their Honors Program theses in April. Amanda will be defending her thesis, "The Affective Forecasting Error: Predicting Negative Affect," on Thursday, April 9th at 6:00 p.m. in Schar 104. Mary will be defending her thesis, "Factors that Affect Peer Grading," on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00 p.m. in the Ronk Auditorium. Both of these events are open to students, faculty, family, and friends. Please consider coming out to show your support as Amanda and Mary present their work!