Gili Freedman, assistant professor in psychology, has received a grant for $49,051 from the Spencer Foundation for her work on “Changing Attributions to Improve Persistence of Women in STEM.” Congratulations, Dr. Freedman!
Archives for 2018
Freedman Published in The Journal of Social Psychology
Congratulations to Dr. Gili Freedman on her recent publication, “Engaging in Social Rejection May be Riskier for Women?” in The Journal of Social Psychology.
In the article, Freedman investigates how women are perceived if they socially reject others in comparison to men.
Publisher link abstract: People often worry how others will perceive them if they socially reject others, but do women have more to fear than men? Although previous research has shown that women are perceived negatively for behaving in counter-stereotypical ways, research on backlash has focused on business settings. The present research applies backlash theory to examine how women are perceived for engaging in social rejection. The findings suggest that backlash may operate differently in social rejection because only men punish women for rejecting. Across four studies, the present research found that (1) women felt they were more likely to be penalized for engaging in social rejection than men, (2) women were less willing to endorse social rejection than men, and (3) men, but not women, viewed female rejectors in a more negative manner than male rejectors.
Read the article here!
Dr. Ayse Ikizler ’07 in the AMNEA-Psy Research Spotlight
Dr. Ayse Ikizler’s ’07 research is the focus of AMENA-Psy Research Spotlight: “Investigating Discrimination and Distress with Dr. Ikizler” by Minnah Farook.
Ikizler’s dissertation research, titled “Discrimination, religious and cultural factors, and Middle Eastern/Arab Americans’ psychological distress,” was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology (2018). In the article, Ikizler investigates the moderating role of religiosity (strong religious feeling or belief) in the link between religious affiliation and ethnic discrimination and also the roles of religiosity, ethnic identity, and family connectedness in the relations between ethnic discrimination and psychological distress.
The full article can be found here:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jclp.22584
Ikizler is co-founder and president-elect of the American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association.
News story originally posted here
Fernandez Accepted Into Mentoring Institute
Dr. Gina Fernandez was accepted into the 2018 Class of Mentoring Institute for Neuroscience Diversity Scholars (MINDS), which is funded by the NIH (specifically, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). The focus of the mentorship program is to increase the visibility and success of minority neuroscientists in both academia and industry. Over the next year, she will have the opportunities to participate in various related activities including a 3-day workshop in May and sponsored attendance to the 2018 Annual Society of Neuroscience meeting in November.
Congratulations to Dr. Fernandez on this great achievement!
Twelve Students Inducted into Psi Chi
On March 30, 2018, twelve students were inducted into the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology. Dr. Scott Mirabile gave an invited address to the new members.
Congratulations to Zoey Cain, Emily Coogan, Ceara Daugherty, Lillian Folts, Lara Holmes, Rebecca Rae Johnson, Mary Katherine Grace Meyers, Grace Papp, Tyler Paul, Sharon Phillips, Becca Sonnenberg, and Serena Zhang!
Pictured above: The inductee cohort along with current Psi Chi adviser Dr. James Mantell and speaker (as well as incoming adviser) Dr. Scott Mirabile
2017-2018 Psi Chi Officers: Whittni Pickens (Treasurer), Rita Druffner (President), and Ben Ertman (Vice President).
Photos by Angela Draheim
Foster Publishes in Learning and Instruction
Congratulations to Dr. Nathan Foster on his recent publication, “Self-regulated Learning of Principle-based Concepts: Do Students Prefer Worked Examples, Faded Examples, or Problem Solving?” in the journal Learning and Instruction.
In the article, Foster investigates regulation during learning through having participants in three different experiments learn to solve probability problems using worked examples, partial examples or problem solving.
Publisher link abstract: Acquisition of principle-based concepts involves learning how and when to apply a specific principle to different instances of the same problem type. Within this domain, learning is best achieved when practice involves studying worked examples followed by problem solving. When given the choice to use worked examples versus problem solving, how do people regulate their learning? Furthermore, do they use faded examples effectively when given the opportunity during learning? In three experiments, participants learned how to solve probability problems under practice conditions involving either (a) a combined schedule of worked examples, partial examples (Experiments 2 and 3), and problem solving, (b) problem solving only, or (c) self-regulated learning in which participants could choose a worked example, a partial example (Experiments 2 and 3), or problem solving on each trial. Self-regulated learners chose to study worked examples on fewer than 40% of the trials and seldom did so prior to problem solving. However, participants did regulate their learning effectively when they could use partial examples during practice. Participants also demonstrated some sophisticated problem solving, such as by studying worked examples more often after failed versus successful problem-solving attempts.
Read the article here!
Three Students Earn External Support for Their Research
Maxwell Madden ’18, a double major in biochemistry and psychology, and biology major Marilyn Steyert ’18 both received grants in support of their joint St. Mary’s Project in Psychology, “The Role of Fast-acting Antidepressant L-655,708 in the Hippocampus and Nucleus Accumbens,” which was mentored by Dr. Aileen Bailey. Max was awarded a $1,500 Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant and Marilyn received a $918 grant from the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. Read more here.
From the abstract: Depression is both extremely common and difficult to effectively treat. Even the most effective treatment options require multiple weeks to take effect and are ineffective in half of all patients. A new “excitatory synapse model” of depression has arisen and has led to the development of new, fast-acting drugs such as L-655,708. This study aimed to examine the specific location of L-655,708 action within the neurological circuit believed to be relevant to depression in rats. Following a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) procedure meant to induce depressive-like state, cannula surgeries were performed to allow localized infusions of L-655,708, lidocaine, or vehicle into the hippocampus and NAc. Depressive-like behavior was measured using a sucrose preference test, social interaction test, open field test, and novelty suppressed feeding test. While CUS did not appear to induce depressive-like behavior, we observed large though non-significant effects of L-655,708 and lidocaine upon measures of depressive-like behavior. Observed trends suggested that L-655,708 may have reduced depressive like behavior, and that lidocaine administered in either the hippocampus or nucleus accumbens had a pro-depressive effect which counteracted the modest antidepressant action of L-655,708. Further analysis of the glutamate receptor ratios by immunohistochemistry may reveal receptor-level differences between treatment groups may explain and validate the observed behavioral trends.
Rachel Thompson ’19, a double major in psychology and music, received a $400 Psi Chi Eastern Regional Research Award to present a poster at the Eastern Psychological Conference in Philadelphia, PA in March of 2018. Her study, “What’s That Song Again? The Influence of Pitch Memory on Singing Accuracy,” was originally started as a 2017 St. Mary’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) project conducted under the mentorship of Dr. James Mantell. The summer experience extended into directed research over the fall 2017 semester to prepare for the conference.
From the abstract: We investigated the role of memory in pitch perception and production with a singing experiment. Thirty participants imitated excerpts of 20 popular songs that varied in familiarity. We presented each excerpt in the original or a mistuned key. Preliminary results show that individuals performed familiar mistuned songs most accurately, suggesting that familiarity improves singing accuracy. However, participants’ long-term absolute pitch memories did not interfere with the working memory representations that support imitative production of song.
Rachel will continue working with Dr. Mantell for her St. Mary’s Project in AY18-19.
Congratulations, Max, Marilyn, Rachel and Drs. Bailey and Mantell!
9th Annual SMCM American Cancer Society Relay for Life
On March 3, 2018, the Psyched for Life Team consisting of Angie Draheim (captain), Aileen Bailey, Anne Marie Brady, Laraine Glidden, James Mantell, Kelly Muldoon, Scott Mirabile, Jennifer Tickle, Rachel Sonnenberg ’18 and numerous family members and friends participated in the 7-hour, 9th Annual SMCM American Cancer Society Relay for Life event. Overall, the team helped to raise general and brain cancer awareness as well as $4,759.17 for ACS research & patient support programs. The entire Relay event raised nearly $20,248.30.
As part of their pre-event and on-site fundraising, the team raffled off a handmade fleece tie blanket (created and donated by Eleanor Numera, Angie’s grandmother, and Angie herself). They were won by Bob Cobb, a supporter from Dameron Daycare II. At the event, the team also raffled off an end-table created by Scott Mirabile from hardwood found on Campus; it was won by local photographer Ron Bailey. A Target giftcard went to Taylor Merchant ’19.
Angie Draheim and her daughter Lorelei stayed all night (well, until it was over at 1am) for the fight!
Ikizler Publishes in Journal of Clinical Psychology
Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Psychology Ayşe Ikizler on her recent publication (which was based on her dissertation work), “Discrimination, Religious, and Cultural Factors, and Middle Eastern/Arab Americans & Psychological Distress,” in the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
In the article, Ikizler investigates the lessening role of religiosity in the link between religious affiliation and ethnic discrimination and the moderating roles of religiosity, ethnic identity, and family connectedness in the relations between ethnic discrimination and psychological distress. The research was completed by surveying 122 Middle Eastern/Arab Americans, ranging in age from 18 to 82 years old.
Read the abstract here.