Psi Chi Regional Research Award Posters
Conference: Psi Chi Midwestern Regional Convention Program (2008)
Psi Chi Regional Research Award PostersFriday, 10:00-11:30 Upper Exhibit Hall
BETSY L. MORGAN, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, Moderator
51
Recategorization Due to Disability Information: A Test of the Continuum
ModelMARISA BENICH, John Carroll University (JOHN YOST, Faculty Sponsor)
The present study examined the effect of having a disability on perceived
academic success and character evaluations of a target. Results support the
continuum model hypothesis of recategorization with regard to ratings of Self-
Reliance. Evaluations were highest when participants rated a physically
disabled target and this information was revealed last.
52
Psychosocial Correlates of Self-Injurious Behavior, Suicidality, Eating
Disorders, Body Dissatisfaction, and Sexual Orientation Surveyed from a
Small Midwestern Liberal Arts CollegeJOHN A. CAMPBELL, Illinois College (ELIZABETH RELLINGERZETTLER,
Faculty Sponsor)
Self-injurious behavior (SIB), eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, and other
phenomena of interest were surveyed in an undergraduate sample. Different
correlational patterns emerged for males and females. Additional analyses show
significant interactions between non-heterosexual orientation and body
dissatisfaction, eating disorders, SIB, and suicidality.
53
Exploring Learning Strategies During Training on a Truck Dispatcher
TaskDOROTHY CARTER, Wright State University (DEBRA STEELE-JOHNSON,
DRAGANA CLAFLIN, Faculty Sponsors)
In a series of three exploratory studies, we applied various measures of learning
to archival training research data. Results revealed the possibility of using
changes in the frequency and types of errors committed during training to
identify successful task strategies for improving task performance.
54
Perceptions of Gender and Alcoholic Beverage Type on AggressionJESSICA CHOU, AMBER SCHERER, MICHELLE HAMILTON & ASHLEY
MCCORMICK. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (DAN SEGRIST,
Faculty Sponsor)
This study measured the effect of alcoholic beverage type and target gender on
college students’ perceptions of aggression. Participants read one of four
vignettes featuring either a male or a female drinking beer or liquor. A
significant interaction was found between character gender and beverage type
for mild verbal aggression.
55
Actual Versus Desired Body Size: Comparing the Role of Mothers, Fathers,
Male Peers, and Female Peers in Young Adult Eating BehaviorsEMILY CRAIG, Eastern Illinois University (CARIDAD BRITO, Faculty
Sponsor)
This study examined the role of peer and parental factors for body image.
Differences between individuals identified as being at risk or not at risk for an
eating disorder were compared. Individuals at risk for an eating disorder
perceived themselves and male peers as desiring a smaller body size for them.
56
Smart and Sexy? Major and Clothing’s Influence on Perceptions of
IntelligenceTIFFANY GILLE & RACHEL MITTAG, University of Wisconsin—La Crosse
(CAROL OYSTER, Faculty Sponsor)
This study evaluated college students’ perceptions of intelligence based on
clothing style (provocative or conservative), and attributed major (maledominated
or female-dominated). Clothing style and attributed major showed
significant main effects and an interaction for ratings of intelligence. Females
were rated less intelligent when dressed provocatively and in a femaledominated
major.
57
Effects of Prime Sex, Prime Plural, and Prime Age on Decisions and
Reaction TimesSAMI HAYS, BRAD LANDRUM, REBECCA LEHMAN, JAYME
MORRISON, & TESSA WARNKE, Missouri Western State University
(BRIAN CRONK, Faculty Advisor)
This study measured the effects of primes representing different sexes (male,
female, neutral), ages (adult, child), and plurality (singular, plural), on reaction
times for targets from the Bem (1974) Sex Role Inventory. All were involved in
significant main effects or two-way interactions. Three and four way interactions
were not significant.
58
Forgiveness Through Altruism: The Emotional and Physiological Impact of
Suppression and Reappraisal Responses to a Real-life OffenseNOVA HINMAN & ROSS KNOLL, Hope College (CHARLOTTE WITVLIET,
Faculty Sponsor)
This study investigated the physiological, emotional, and forgiveness impact of
using emotion suppression versus altruistic reappraisal as an immediate coping
response to offense rumination. Both coping strategies stimulated positive
emotions, and reduced negative emotions, blood pressure, and skin conductance.
Although altruistic reappraisal was difficult, only it stimulated empathy and
forgiveness.
59
Relationship Uncertainty and the Input of Others: Influence on Romantic
Relationship CommitmentABBY HOWARD, Purdue University (CHRISTOPHER AGNEW, Faculty
Sponsor)
The present research proposes that relationship uncertainty leads members of
romantic relationships to seek network input from friends and family. Friends
and family either express approval or disapproval of the current romantic
relationship and this input affects people’s commitment and stability.
60
Could Attempts to Reduce the Effects of Inadmissible Evidence Go Too
Far?JUSTIN JOSEPH, John Carroll University (JANET LARSEN, Faculty Sponsor)
This study measured the effects of inadmissible evidence on juror verdicts.
There were no differences in verdicts across the conditions. The inadmissible
evidence was considered as more important in the conditions were it was
admissible and no warning was given about inadmissible evidence before the
trial.
61
Video Game Violence Exposure, Neural Responses to Violence, and
Aggressive Behavior: An Experimental Study of DesensitizationGEOFFREY T. KERR, University of Missouri- Columbia (BRUCE
BARTHOLOW, Faculty Advisor)
Participant’s event-related brains potentials (ERPs) and dimensions of
aggression were examined after participants played either a violent or nonviolent
video game. We predicted that both long term violent video game history and
short term violent video game exposure desensitize one to violence as well as
increase levels of aggression.
62
Effects of Linguistic Context in the Grammatical Classification ProcessWHITNEY KNOPF & SARAH MARCUM, Grinnell College (JANET
GIBSON, Faculty Sponsor)
This study manipulated the linguistic context components of noun and verb
targets in a grammatical classification task to explore the roles of phonology,
morphology, and semantics in the grammatical classification process. Response
time and accuracy data indicate that each linguistic context component aids
grammatical class identification.
63
The Relationship of Self-Esteem, Parenting Practices and Gender to
Externalizing Behaviors Among Latino AdolescentsKRISTA MEHARI, MEGAN KLEINHEKSEL & KIM BOELKINS, Hope
College (LORNA HERNANDEZ JARVIS, PATRICIA ROEHLING, Faculty
Sponsors)
We examined the relationship of parenting practices, gender and self-esteem to
conduct disorder and alcohol abuse among Latino adolescents. Self-esteem and
parenting practices were related to both dependent variables. Self-esteem
moderated the relationship between parenting practices and conduct disorder,
whereas gender moderated the relationship between alcohol abuse and parenting
practice.
64
How Teaching Styles Affect Word Learning in InfantsNICOLE PUCCI, Purdue University (GEORGE HOLLICH, Faculty Sponsor)
This study examined whether certain educational practices are more effective in
teaching vocabulary to infants. 14 and 20-month-olds were taught and tested on
novel words using three teaching methods: repetition, variation across
exemplars, or quizzing. Results suggest that quizzing produced the most robust
word learning in infants.
65
Prevention of Kanamycin Ototoxicity with Dietary AntioxidantsCANDICE R. RISO, JACOB PRITCHARD & ALICIA ATKINS, Western
Illinois University (SANDRA L. MCFADDEN, Faculty Sponsor)
The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventative qualities of diets
enriched with antioxidants (vitamin C, "-lipoic acid) against drug-induced
hearing loss. Adult CBA mice were injected with kanamycin, an ototoxic
antibiotic, and hearing loss was determined by measuring auditory brainstem
responses. Antioxidant-enriched diets provided significant protection.
66
Empathy: Victim Impact Panels and DWI OffendersKATHERINE SCHAAF, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (BETSY L.
MORGAN, Faculty Sponsor)
This study assessed the relationship between Victim Impact Panels, empathy and
DWI offenders. Average empathy levels significantly increased for 61
participants after attending the VIP. In a follow-up study, I will be evaluating the
effects that severity of injury, age and sex have on potential victim empathy
using an experimental design.
67
The Mediating and Moderating Effects of Self-concealment and Need for
Approval in the Social Support and Stress RelationshipSARA SCHWATKEN, Dominican University (REBECCA PLISKE, Faculty
Sponsor)
This study surveyed 144 undergraduates to determine if any potential mediating
or moderating relationships were present among social support, selfconcealment,
need for approval, and perceived stress. Self-concealment
significantly mediated the relationship between social support and stress whereas
need for approval did not significantly mediate social support and stress, or
moderate self-concealment and stress.
68
The Role of Social Norms in Predicting Sexual Aggression in College Men:
A Prospective StudyJEN SEGULA, Ohio University (LINDSAY M. ORCHOWSKI, CHRISTINE A.
GIDYCZ, & CATHERINE LOH, Faculty Sponsors)
Based on the social norms model, the current study examined the relationship
between college men’s (N=315) perceptions of their peers’ sexual activity and
sexual aggression over a 3-month follow-up. Results suggested viewing other
men as having more frequent sexual activity was positively associated with
perpetration of rape over the follow-up.
69
Cross-Cultural Comparison of Altruism and Competitiveness in Brazil and
the United StatesSAWA SENZAKI, LAURA DEBROUX, University of Wisconsin–Superior;
DANIELA NAVAES, University of Ruy Barbosa; DIOGO CAVALCANTI,
Federal University of Bahia (KATHLEEN STETTER, Faculty Sponsor)
Employing scenario questionnaires, we examined cultural difference of altruism
between Brazil and the U.S., and the influence of individual’s competitiveness
and risk-involvement in helping. Brazilian participants were significantly more
likely to help in-groups (e.g. friends) than out-groups (e.g. stranger). Results
may contribute to increase cultural awareness of such personal traits.
70
When Outgroup Becomes Ingroup: Self-Stereotyping as a Function of
Cross-Race FriendshipJOHN OLIVER SIY, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign &
ELIZABETH PAGE-GOULD, University of California – Berkeley (RODOLFO
MENDOZA-DENTON, Faculty Sponsor)
This study investigates the possibility of including outgroup characteristics into
the self, specifically through the mechanism of self-stereotyping. Reaction time
data, in conjunction with self-report measures, suggest that individuals’ selfevaluations
catered to the stereotypes associated with their cross-race friend’s
race to the extent that the cross-race friendship was made salient.
71
Investigating Time Pressure’s Effect on Adherence to the Take the Best
Heuristic’s Discrimination RuleANTHONY TARESCAVAGE, John Carroll University (JANET LARSEN,
Faculty Sponsor)
This study examined the discrimination rule, a component of the take the best
heuristic of binary choice decision making. Participants guessed the larger of
two cities both under and not under time pressure. Their behavior is consistent
with the model, though modifications are suggested based on the results.