Faculty Research Interests
Dr. Corrine C. Bertram
WRI 228, x1298
Research Interests:
- Psychology of women and gender: currently working on a large qualitative research study students and teachers of burlesque, but other topical areas are possible including rape avoidance behaviors
- Psychology of social (in)justice: power and privilege in the context of disability, representations of disability in medias
- Sexuality: women’s sexual identities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or queer identities
Students’ Role:
May assist with ongoing projects or develop new projects. Gather research literature; write literature reviews; develop/design research questions/projects; data collection/transcribing (interviews and/or focus groups); analyze quantitative data; code and analyze qualitative data; write and present research articles, reports, or posters; and/or submitting manuscripts for publication.
Requirements:
Ideally students should have taken PSY 365 or PSY 410 Psychology and Women and Gender, but other students will be considered. Students must make a one-year commitment and meet bi-weekly with me and/or research team members.
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students receiving credit
- Undergraduates who are volunteering
- Graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. Jamonn Campbell
WRI 225, x1146
Research Interests:
- Computer-mediated Communication: Interests include problem solving, decision making, impression formation and social identity in CMC groups
- Psychology of the internet: Interests include privacy, computer usage (e.g. gender gap, digital divide, etc.), and unrealistic optimism
- Sport Fans: Interests include sport fan identification, gender differences in motivation and behaviors of sport fans
Students’ Roles:
Students participating as a member of the research team will be responsible for:
- Research theory and development
- Writing research proposals
- Data collection
- Data entry and analysis
- Presenting results at university, regional, and national conferences
Requirements:
Students who are thinking about joining the research team should be interested in one or more of the project areas. Students should be self – motivated, comfortable working in groups, and familiar with computers and major statistical packages (e.g. SPSS, Excel, etc.).
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students receiving credit
- Undergraduates who are volunteering
- Graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. Mengzhu Fu
WRI 236
Research Interests:
My research explores different aspects of human visual cognition, including visual attention, human perception, and memory. A primary focus of my research interest centers on understanding how the visual system operates within dynamic visual environments and the factors that influence our performance. Within this context, I use various cognitive paradigms to study the functioning of fundamental cognitive processes in settings that resemble real-world scenarios. My research uses a range of behavioral methods, including computer-based tasks, eye-tracking studies, and virtual reality techniques.
Students’ Roles:
Student roles vary. Students who participate in my research group will have the opportunity to participate in some or all aspects of the research process, including but not limited to:
- Literature review
- Project design
- Stimuli development/programming
- Data collection
- Data entry & analysis
- Preparing conference presentations
- Preparing journal manuscripts
- Independent research projects, including honor theses
Requirements:
- Must be self-motivated and interested in one of the project areas mentioned above
- Must be willing to commit to 5-8 hours per week in research-related activities, and a two-semester commitment is required
- Prefer students with some familiarity with major statistical packages (e.g., SPSS, JASP, R, Excel, etc.)
- Prefer students who have taken RD&S I and II and received a B or higher
- Prefer students who plan on pursuing graduate work
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students receiving credit
- Undergraduates who are volunteering
- Graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. James Griffith
WRI 230, x1374
Research Interests:
- Forensic/Legal: Topics of interest include mock jury decision making, judge/attorney/juror opinions of trial consultants and expert witnesses, comprehension of legalese and technical/complicated expert evidence
- Program Evaluation: Topics of interest include conducting evaluations (e.g., process, outcome, and cost) on programs across a variety of domains including legal, criminal justice, drug/alcohol, education, health/medical, mental health, and many small community programs
- Risk-taking Behavior: Topics include examining psychological differences among a variety of recreational risk-takers (e.g., skydivers, BASE jumpers, paraglider pilots, whitewater kayakers, etc.)
Students’ roles:
Students who work with me will be working on my ongoing projects. Students will have the opportunity to participate in all of the research process that includes:
- Preparing conference presentations
- Preparing journal manuscripts
- Project design
- Literature Reviews
- Stimuli development
- Data analysis
- Data collection and entry
Requirements:
I prefer to work with students who have some familiarity with SPSS and an intention to go on to graduate or professional program of study. In addition, my expectation is for students in my lab to put in 5 to 10 hours/week.
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students who are receiving credit
- Undergraduates who are volunteering
- Graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. Steve Haase
WRI 223, x1160
Research Interests:
- Individual differences in visual object recognition. Typically, perception research uncovers basic, generalizable principles, which is an important first step toward advancing our knowledge. Often, individual differences in a process are only studied later in this area. Examples can include variations in how we evaluate our perceptions (such as where we might draw the line between seeing and object and saying we didn’t see it when presented on a display—an insight provided by Signal Detection Theory). The research can also include basic individual difference variables as well as personality variables.
- Research that connects psychology with sustainability (both from and environmental and social perspective). These tend to be more “applied” interests but could involve basic research as well. I am an Affiliate Scholar with SU’s Center for Land Use and Sustainability (CLUS).
Students’ roles:
Students participating in a research group will take part in some or all aspects of a project, including:
- Project development/literature reviews
- Testing participants and Data analysis
- Presentation of results
- Projects that apply psychological research to improve communities
Requirements:
Students should have completed Experimental Psychology. Students should also be interested in research and the quest for new understanding.
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduates who are receiving credit (student will need to draft a “project goals” statement prior to the start of the project)
- Undergraduates who are volunteering
- Graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. Robert Hale
WRI 213, x1177
Research Interests:
Psychophysiology (“Mind-body” research)
- Evolutionary Adaptations in Humans
- High-risk Drinking Behavior
Students’ roles:
Students typically write small grants, funded by the SU Foundation. All students present completed research at the university and state level, with occasional opportunities to present at the national and international levels. All students are also expected to produce an APA style manuscript at the end of their research projects. Students are given co – authorship on all presentations and resulting publications.
Requirements:
Advanced undergraduates are encouraged (but not required) to participate for credit in PSY 374 and 375.
- Prefer students who have taken RD&S II and received a B or higher
- Prefer undergraduates who plan on pursuing graduate work
- Prefer students making multiple semester commitments
- Must be willing to make a 5-hour/week commitment
- Must be available for once-weekly meetings
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students volunteering or planning to receive credit
- for PSY 374 or 375
Dr. Thomas Hatvany
WRI 234, x1514
Research Interests:
My research interests are focused on how certain aspects of our lives such as goals or groups become “fused” with the self-concept and how this influences motivation. I am also interested in different motivationally relevant individual differences, such as differences in what one finds tempting, self-control, motivational intensity, etc. influence motivation.
Students’ roles:
- Generating research questions
- Literature reviews
- Research design and preparation (which may include IRB preparation and grant writing)
- Data collection and entry
- Data analysis
- Reporting results (preparing publications and presentations at conferences)
- Productive students can earn co-authorship on presentations and publications
Requirements:
- Prefer students who have taken RD&S II and received a B or higher
- Prefer undergraduates who plan on pursuing graduate work
- Prefer students making multiple semester commitments
- Must be willing to make a 6 hour a week commitment
- Must be self-motivated and consistently responsible
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students who are receiving credit
- Undergraduates who are volunteering
- Graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. Sue Morin
WRI 202, x1538
Research Interests:
My research is primarily focused on adolescents and children. My research interests include studies in the following areas: a) issues related to divorce/remarriage and the impact on adolescents and children, b.) adolescents’ perceptions of parental discipline strategies and parent- child interactions, and c.) the perceptions of adolescents on growing up with a parent who is disabled.
Students’ Roles:
Students’ roles vary. Some students will be major participants from the beginning of the research idea to completion and presenting at conferences. Others prefer to collect data and write up results. The role of the student will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Requirements:
Prefer students who have taken RDS2 and received an A or B. Students must commit for two or more semesters and be prepared to present at conferences. Students will have to do a semester of readings on the topic before they are able to actively participate in other phases of the project (such as data collection, etc.).
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students who are receiving credit
- Undergraduates who are volunteering
- Graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. Amber Norwood
WRI 231, x1581
Research Interests:
My research interests fall within the diverse yet connected areas of severe mental illness (particularly treatment outcome effectiveness studies), forensic psychology (community reintegration, competency/insanity), and health psychology and health behavior change (integrated primary care, psychosocial factors influencing health, intentional change of addictive disorders).
Students’ Roles:
When possible, students will work with me as part of a research group/cohort, and we will meet to discuss projects and set goals. Student roles will vary and will be determined on an individual basis. Potential roles include, but are not limited to: literature review, research design (may include IRB preparation/submission), data collection & entry, data analysis, interpretation of findings, and reporting of results. There is a potential for students to present at conferences and/or co-author research papers for submission.
Requirements:
Students must have a genuine interest and enthusiasm for one of the above-mentioned project areas. It is my expectation that students commit to 5-8 hours per week in research-related activities. Students must also be self-motivated and able to manage deadlines. Additionally, I have a preference to work with students who have taken RD&S I and II and received a B or higher, students interested in pursuing graduate work in clinical psychology, and students willing to commit to 2 consecutive semesters of research.
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students who are receiving credit
- Undergraduate and graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. Kathryn Potoczak
WRI 211, x1372
Research Interests:
- The development of innovative, hands-on experiments using non-humans to teach fundamental principles of behavior
- Translational research on extinction and schedules of reinforcement
- Applying behavior analysis in the teaching of college students
Students’ roles:
Students may either assist me or another student with an ongoing project or conduct a project of their own. In either case, the student’s role may include (but not be limited to) the following:
- Reviewing the research literature
- Generating a research question
- Designing an experiment
- Collecting and analyzing data
- Interpreting the results
- Writing up a report
- Presenting the results at a conference and/or submitting for publication
- Applying for funding via grant
Requirements:
Students who have taken PSY 235 with me and earned either an A or B are eligible, and enthusiasm is essential. In addition, students must be able to attend biweekly research meetings and be available at other times to conduct experimental sessions.
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students who are receiving credit
- Undergraduates who are volunteering
- Graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. Toru Sato
WRI 221, x1352
Research Interests:
Students are welcome to study personality and consciousness from the perspective of Depth and Transpersonal Psychology. We will have weekly meetings, research the media, explore our own minds through introspection, and share creative work in the form of writing or other forms of art. Undergraduate students may receive 3 credits for PSY 374 or 375. Students are also welcomed to collaborate on presenting at a conference as a co-author if new and interesting discoveries are made.
Students’ roles:
- Literature and Media search, reading, viewing, listening
- Introspection (e.g., meditation, dreamwork, active imagination)
- Sharing introspections and creative work (e.g., poetry, stories, drawing) and discussing how they relate to personality and consciousness
- Presenting at conferences (rarely but occurs occasionally)
Requirements:
- Must be committed to spend at least 2.5 hours a week in meetings and another 3.5 hours per week on work outside meetings
- Must be committed to meet weekly at a specified time determined in the previous semester before scheduling
Willing to work with:
- Undergraduate students volunteering or planning to receive credit for PSY 374 or 375
- Graduate students volunteering
Dr. Ashley Seibert
WRI 227, x1203
Research Interests:
My research interests are focused on children’s social and emotional development. I am particularly interested in how parent-child relationships impact children’s emotional development as well as their peer relationships and friendships. I am currently interested in exploring emotion regulation as a possible mechanism that may explain how parent-child relationships and peer relationships are associated with one another.
Students’ Role:
Students may either assist me with an ongoing project or conduct a project of their own (individually or in a research group).
Student roles typically include:
- Literature review
- Forming a research question
- Research design
- Data collection
- Data analysis
- Interpreting results
- Presentation or written report of results
Requirements:
I prefer to work with students who have taken a class with me and received an A or B. Students should have an interest in research, be motivated and responsible. Students must be willing to attend research meetings and be available for data collection.
Willing to work with:
Undergraduate students who are receiving credit
- Undergraduate students who are volunteering
- Graduate students who are volunteering
Dr. Kim Weikel
WRI 226, x1482
Research Interests:
- Burnout among human services workers
- Peer Support for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness
- Psychiatric rehabilitation services (services for individuals with serious and persistent mental illnesses such as schizophrenia)
Students’ roles:
Students may work individually or participate in a research group. Students will take part in all aspects of a project, including:
- Literature review
- Research design
- Data collection
- Data analysis
- Presentation/written report of results
Requirements:
Students should be interested in research and have the time to participate in all the above-mentioned aspects of the project.
Willing to work with:
Undergraduate students who are receiving credit
- Undergraduates and graduate students who are volunteering