Students and members of the Tusculum Psychology Department recently participated in the Southeastern Psychological Association’s 59th Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
Kate Barford, left, and Paige Hudson discuss their research with a conference attendee.
Tusculum students presented five posters based upon original research they conducted during the 2012-2013 year. The topics they researched and shared ranged from Theo Oing’s work on prolonging those songs that get stuck in your head (mental music) to the very well-attended session on biological correlates of empathy, conducted by Kate Barford and Paige Hudson. Oing is a junior from Chattanooga, Barford is from Alpharetta, Ga., and Hudson is from Hixson.
Tusculum’s students capitalized on the conference experience. Latisha Stover, of Johnson City, ran into a friend she had made at a previous conference. “It was great to renew friendships and make new friends with others who are entering this field with me.”
Robert Arrowood, a junior from Erwin, added, “I found that I was researching questions that psychologists from all over the Southeast are interested in.” He elaborated enthusiastically, “I got several emails from people wanting to learn more about my project These will be good contacts that will certainly be beneficial when I go to graduate school.”
Oing has found that research enriches his education. Explaining, “If you’re being taught something, you might be interested in what being covered. But if you’re doing research, you’re definitely more engaged with the subject. You’re choosing what to study, and you’re discovering new information by virtue of your research in the field.”
Jenny Grant, above, and the other students were first authors on their papers.
This year students were first authors on all papers, while Jenny Grant, a senior from Franklin, blended her interest in sports and psychological research to be the sole researcher and author of “Predictors of Sport Commitment and Group Cohesion in College Athletes.”
“Being first author is a bit of an honor, and this group had a particularly strong handle on data analysis, enabling them to contribute so significantly to the work as to warrant being first author,” explained Dr. Brian Pope, assistant professor of psychology.
Tusculum psychology students routinely attend SEPA and have a long history of being well-represented at the annual meeting.
From left, Tusculum College students Kate Barford, Theo Oing, Latisha Stover and Robert Arrowood were among the Tusculum College students who presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association meeting in Atlanta. At right is Dr. Brian Pope, assistant professor of psychology.
From left, Tusculum College students Kate Barford, Theo Oing, Latisha Stover and Robert Arrowood were among the Tusculum College students who presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association meeting in Atlanta. At right is Dr. Brian Pope, assistant professor of psychology.