ASPS Spring 2021 Program
Talk sessions are available on Zoom. The Zoom access information is available on your Eventbrite registration and will be emailed to all Eventbrite registered attendees (click here to register) on Friday, April 23. Please check the email used when registering on Eventbrite for the Zoom access information.
If you have not registered for the ASPS on Eventbrite, please do so as soon as possible (NOTE: PSYC 3340 students at UCA are registered by the psychology department).
The Impact of Prior Knowledge on State Shame
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM – Room #1
Cheyenne Williams*, Katelyn Hawkins*, Makenna Roehr*, & Trevor Durey*
Harding University
Faculty Sponsor: Jeremiah Sullins
Poster Available: No
AbstractThe current study sought to explore the impact of prior knowledge on levels of state shame. The data consisted of 70 participants from two previous studies. All participants in the current analysis completed a pretest on either the human circulatory system or physics (depending on the study). Additionally, all participants were exposed to a shame induction protocol. The shame induction protocol used has been shown in numerous studies to successfully elicit state shame. Results revealed that participants with low prior knowledge experienced significantly higher levels of state shame after a perceived failure.
Healthcare System Threat influences Racial Attitudes and System Justification
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM – Room #2
Dai Johnson, Colton Dillion, Miranda Henderson, & Macey Moore-Cobley
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mollie A. Price-Blackshear
Poster Available: YES
AbstractSystem justification theory suggests that people are motivated to believe their society is fair for all groups, and a legitimate, justified structure. SJT posits that people are motivated to believe the status quo is good and fair, because to think otherwise would lead to cognitive dissonance. This study explored how threatening the legitimacy of the social system (i.e., the healthcare discrepancies and health disparities African Americans face in relation to White Americans) influences endorsement of the system and subsequent attitudes toward members of different racial groups. We predicted that people under a system threat condition would report lower positive attitudes toward racial outgroups, and more defensive support for the system, as compared to those in a control condition.
An Analysis of Social Media and Social Awareness
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM – Room #1
Emily Tillman*, Lilly Daughtery, & Brooke Brasel
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Ken Sobel*
Poster Available: NO
AbstractThis research is based on the proverb, “Out of sight, out of mind.” We applied this concept to social media in correlation with social awareness. Specifically, we hypothesized that visual stimulation of social media will increase emotional response and awareness to social issues. To test this, participants completed a survey about social media usage. The data collected reveals participants’ level of social awareness, time spent on social media, and emotional response to different forms of stimulation (written and graphic). Our results have shown a higher emotional response from graphic images overwritten headlines.
Effects of Different Levels of Self-Disclosure on Expected Student-Instructor Rapport
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM – Room #2
Sydney Kellybrew, Mary Kennedy Jackson, & Scarlett King
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. William Lammers*
Poster Available: YES
AbstractOne method instructors can use to connect with their students and build rapport is through disclosing personal information about themselves to the students, anything from goals, family life, dreams, etc. This can be described as self disclosure. Instructors who use self disclosure may give a better first impression, and influence evaluation of the instructor. The purpose of this study is to look deeper into the effects self disclosure has on student-instructor rapport by manipulating two welcome emails from professors. One email only includes information about the class and where to find assignments, and the other email is identical, but includes self-disclosure. We hypothesize that appropriate self disclosure from instructors will positively affect expected student instructor rapport.
Does the Tone of an Integrity Statement Impact Data Quality in Online Research?
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM – Room #1
Carlin Arp, Erin Sullivan, & Ariel Wesley
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Darshon Reed*
Poster Available: NO
AbstractQuestionnaires and surveys have been an integral part of the world of research for as long as research has been conducted. Due to recent world events, researchers have been limited in their ability to collect data using questionnaires and surveys in a laboratory setting. The purpose of this study was to examine if varying tones of integrity statements would impact data quality in online research. Integrity statements were manipulated in terms of tone (neutral, friendly, or aggressive) and questionnaires differed in length (15 questions or 30 questions). It was hypothesized that if participants received a more aggressive integrity statement, then the quality of results received will be better than those who received an integrity statement that was more friendly or neutral in nature. Results and implications of this study will be discussed further.
Criminal Justice System Threat predicts Outgroup Attitudes and System Justification
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM – Room #2
Kendrix Bryant, Kenzie Smith, Diamond Blades, & Anna Passmore
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mollie A. Price-Blackshear
Poster Available: YES
AbstractSystem justification theory posits that people are motivated to believe their society is fair, legitimate, & justified for all groups. SJT posits that people are motivated to defend the status quo, believing that current hierarchies among groups are fair. This study explored how threatening the legitimacy of relationships between White and African Americans (i.e., describing unfair treatment of African Americans in the criminal justice system) influences endorsement of the system and subsequent attitudes toward members of different racial groups. We predicted that participants who were exposed to system threat would report lower positive attitudes toward racial outgroups, and more defensive support for the system, as compared to those in a control condition.
Emotional Contagion in Different Settings
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM – Room #1
Kate Johnson, Kylee Beetch & Marissa Monk
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kenith Sobel*
Poster Available: NO
AbstractEmotional Contagion refers to how transferable emotions are from one person to another person. This study examines how easily emotions can be transferred from one person to the next in various social situations. Participants responded to a questionnaire utilizing The Emotional Contagion Scale (Doherty, 1997) along with situational questions and images to measure the transferability of emotions.
Creating Videos in Media
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM – Room #2
Meagan Wilson, Carley Marsh & Kaitlin Kirkendoll
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Marc Sestir
Poster Available: NO
AbstractThis study’s purpose is to look at how social media can affect someone’s social comparison, self esteem and motivation. The study examines the effects of confidence levels presented through videos on self esteem and motivation. The participants were randomly & evenly assigned one condition when beginning the study. The conditions were differing levels of confidence: low, medium and high. The video was someone completing a task under these conditions. They completed a self esteem and motivation questionnaire afterwards. Results are not available yet, but will be discussed.
Can Frequent Social Media Engagement Help Individuals Achieve Their Goals?
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM – Room #1
Mikayla Mullen, Hayden Cantrell, & Deven Long
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Darshon Reed*
Poster Available: NO
AbstractGoals are how we move forward and challenge ourselves to grow. Social media has become a large and complex platform that is used globally. Feedback from social media posts, whether it be mental thoughts or public judgement, is influential to the individual’s aspirations for their goals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact social media has on an individual’s goals and how they reach those goals. Individuals that participated in the experiment were directed to fill out a questionnaire that consisted of demographic information and questions that focused on the frequency of social media posting to evaluate the effect on goal pursuit. We hypothesized that the frequency of social media engagement would influence an individual’s goal pursuit in a positive way. The results of this study and implication will be discussed further.
Pop Culture Fluency and Its Predictive Association with Instructor Age and Student-Instructor Rapport
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM – Room #2
Lucy Griswold, Andrew Hill*, & Tyler Hunt
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. William Lammers*
Poster Available: YES
AbstractPop culture is becoming a more common and useful teaching method in the classroom to help students understand new material; however, there are currently very few studies that measure the success of using pop culture references in the classroom. This study will examine how pop culture references can be a predictor of instructor age and build student-instructor rapport. We used two scales in this study. We used our own scale, the Original Pop Culture Use and Effectiveness Scale, and the Student-Instructor Rapport Scale-9 (SIRS-9) by Lammers and Gillaspy (2013). We intend to find out if a specific age group is more successful using pop culture references, and if pop culture helps build student-instructor rapport.
Are You Who You Think You Are?
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM – Room #1
Chloe Mason, Brooks Beyerlein & Akena Holliman
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kenith Sobel*
Poster Available: NO
AbstractMost people have heard of the proverb that claims that ‘misery loves company.’ We wondered if this is true. To test the validity of the expression, we will survey people’s self-reported comfort levels in different social scenarios. This idea is based on existing research that we read about after forming the main question of our study.
Social Media and Self-Evaluation
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM – Room #2
Holly Smuck & Konnor McCasland
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Marc Sestir
Poster Available: NO
AbstractWe researched how social media influencers impact how a person’s self-esteem and their physical self-attractiveness. All participants filled out a body dissatisfaction scale and the Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale before and after they viewed an Instagram page. We have no results yet.
Effects of Big Five Personality on Expected Student-Instructor Rapport
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM – Room #1
Morgan Wunder, Tasia Miller, & Erica Reaser*
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. William Lammers*
Poster Available: YES
AbstractOur study seeks to examine the relationships between students’ big five personality and instructors’ big five personality and student-instructor rapport. Participants include students from the University of Central Arkansas who completed an online survey. After answering demographic questions, we instructed students to think of either a positive or negative instructor they have had in the past year in an online class. They then answered the Big Five Inventory-44 for how they thought it best fit that instructor’s personality. Students then answered questions from the Student-Instructor Rapport Scale on their rapport with that instructor. Lastly, students answered the Big Five inventory for their own personalities. We will examine whether there’s any correlation between students’ and instructors’ personalities and student-instructor rapport.
The Power of Hate: Examining the Relationship Between Negative Emotions, Moral Justification, and Power Differentials
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM – Room #2
Hali Wilder, Olivia Stevens & Alexis Ozden*
Hendrix College
Faculty Sponsor: Carmen Merrick
Poster Available: NO
AbstractPrevious research has primarily examined hate in relation to out-group identification. Our study explores the relationship between moral justification and hate, and whether the level of reported hatred varies when power-relations are controlled for. Additionally, our study seeks to differentiate hate from anger and dislike by determining if the relationship between power and hate differs from the relationship between power and these other negative emotions. Vignettes with and without power differentials were used to examine how morally justifiable participants viewed actions taken by victims and perpetrators in scenarios, and the extent that they felt hate, anger, and dislike toward each. We predict that hate will be more strongly reported in vignettes displaying power differentials compared to anger and dislike.
Covid-19 Related Anxiety & its Impact on Student-Teacher Rapport
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM – Room #1
Kailey Bausch, Emily Busby, & Jordan Beshears
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. William Lammers*
Poster Available: YES
AbstractThis study was conducted in order to find the relationship between COVID-19 related anxiety and student-instructor rapport. Participants utilized by UCA’s Sona System answered demographic questions as well as randomly selected a professor in their current semester. Researchers used Lammers and Gillaspy’s (2013) SIRS-9 scale to score the participant’s measure of student-instructor rapport. Participants were then asked to take the COVID-19 Psychological Distress Scale (Feng, et al., 2020) to evaluate their COVID-19 related anxiety. We found no significant correlation between COVID-19 related anxiety and a student’s rapport with their instructor.
The Effects of Self-Affirmation on Immigrant Attitudes, Realistic and Symbolic Threats
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM – Room #2
Steven Darling, Emma Bailey, Hannah Cornett, & Lauren Ward
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mollie A. Price-Blackshear
Poster Available: YES
AbstractSelf-affirmation theory suggests that people are motivated to maintain their sense of self-worth. If a person has the opportunity to affirm values important to them, this affirmed self-esteem may lead to improved attitudes toward outgroup members. In addition, self-affirmation may reduce the tendency to perceive outgroup members are a symbolic and realistic threat to the ingroup. This study examined whether self-affirmation improves attitudes toward a stigmatized group in the U.S. (Immigrants). We predicted that participants engaged in self-affirmation would indicate more positive attitudes toward immigrants, and perceive immigrants as lower in symbolic and realistic threats, as compared to those in a control condition.
Reactions to Birthday Parties: Social Media SES and Social Comparisons
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM – Room #1
Destiny Cato, Calista Criswell, & Jada Oler
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Marc Sestir
Poster Available: NO
AbstractOur study uses social media posts about birthday parties to investigate the effects that upward, lateral, and downward SES social comparisons through social media can have on life satisfaction and depression. We tested high, median, and low SES depictions. We predict that making upward comparisons in the high SES group will result in lower life satisfaction and higher levels of depression as compared with the other treatment groups. Results are not currently available but will be discussed at the presentation.
If and How we Abide by Covid-19 Health Guidelines May Depend on our Cultural Orientation
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM – Room #2
Alisha Jackson, Kamrin Peters, & Madison Ruth
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Darshon Reed*
Poster Available: NO
AbstractThe Covid-19 pandemic has changed all of our daily lives over the past year. The CDC has given us new guidelines to live by including social distancing, wearing masks in public and being vigilant about handwashing and monitoring symptoms. This study focused on investigating the factors that influence compliance to the CDC Covid-19 guidelines. In particular, we wanted to look at how culture may influence one’s willingness to adhere to the guidelines when out of public view (in settings where the guidelines are not mandatory). To investigate this, we asked participants to complete the Cultural Orientation Scale (Triandis, 1988) in order to determine their levels of individualism and collectivism. Then participants read a series of scenarios that address life changes during Covid-19 and their public and private responses/behaviors. Results and implications of this research will be discussed further.
Effect of Emotional Tone on Social Comparison and Self-Esteem
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM – Room #1
Cameron Steed, Matt Peyton, Kimberly Monteilh, & Elizabeth Sperry
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Marc Sestir
Poster Available: NO
AbstractWe hypothesized that narrative articles with a positive connotation would result in upward social comparisons on the dimension of popularity and higher self-esteem. Also, narrative articles with a negative connotation would result in downward social comparisons on the dimension of popularity and lower self-esteem. The control group was given a neutral narrative (mix of positive and negative connotations) to read. Participants were shown Instagram profiles and instructed to pick one. The profiles had a low follower count, high follower count, and an average follower count. Then, participants were given a self-esteem scale. Results for the study have not been collected yet.
Personalities of Children in Divorced and Intact Households
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM – Room #2
Nishka Desai, Payton Nipps, & Renae Ringwald
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kenith Sobel*
Poster Available: NO
AbstractThe purpose of the study was to determine whether or not there were differences in personality traits between those of divorced parents and those of intact families. This was done by measuring participants’ outlook (optimism vs. pessimism), temperament, and overall well-being. To measure this, 83 participants were administered the HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-PI-R) and the Life Orientation Test. Results showed that those whose parents had divorced showed lower scores on agreeableness, extraversion, and optimism than those from intact families. A possible explanation for this difference is that the participants were not exposed to a parental relationship that expressed these traits, as an inability to cooperate and pessimism are commonly associated with the idea of divorce.
The Effect of Timed Tests on Stress in Undergraduate Students
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM – Room #1
Kristen North* & Christine Donakey
Hendrix College
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Lindsay Kennedy*
Poster Available: NO
AbstractMany undergraduate stressors are related to self-imposed academic pressures within the context of a changing social environment. Timed course exams are one of the many stress-inducing experiences for college students. This study aimed to examine how multiple timed exam conditions affected perceived stress during the exam and exam performance. We hypothesized that participants in a timing notified, timer not present condition would exhibit the highest exam performance relative to other timing conditions. We concluded that participants in the no time pressures condition attempted significantly less questions on the exam than the two timing notified conditions but did not perform significantly better. There was also no significant effect of timing condition on perceived stress.
Workout Partners Matter, So Choose the Right One!
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM – Room #2
Jayla Morris, McKensy Patrick, & Lamontranique Stanback
University of Central Arkansas
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Darshon Reed*
Poster Available: NO
AbstractPeople often go to the gym lacking courage and support when it comes to completing fitness goals. Different types of workout partners may have an effect on work out time and work out performance. This research study was conducted to discover the effects of different fitness partners on goal pursuit. We hypothesize that many of the participants’ goal pursuit will increase when working with people similar to them demographically and that the positive mindset would increase the likelihood of goal completion. The participants completed a short demographic questionnaire followed by survey questions involving different types of individuals that they would be most comfortable working out with, and ending with the likelihood that the participant would be to work out with someone close, distant, or a complete stranger. Results and implications of this study will be conducted further.
Poster Presentations
Click on the presentation title to access the poster PDF
Gender Differences in Extrinsic Motivation
Rhianna Rich, Devin Bourque*, Seth Tackett*, & Janelle McDaniel*
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Faculty Sponsor: Seth Tackett* & Janelle McDaniel*
AbstractExtrinsic motivation is an external drive to help an individual complete a goal. The purpose of this study was to examine the gender differences as it relates to intrinsic motivation. The study included 310 participants that filled out a brief consent and demographics form, followed by a questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of the Academic Motivation Scale, Survey Items of Factors Influencing the Choice of Major, Survey Items for Enjoyment of the Major, Survey of Perceived Employment Opportunities After Graduation, the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE). The results show that gender had a significant impact on intrinsic motivation (F(1,303) = 16.739, p=0.01. with females scoring higher than males.
Personality Traits that Predict Vulnerable Narcissism
Claire Sholar, Megan Dibenedetto*, Seth Tackett*, & Janelle McDaniel*
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Faculty Sponsor: Seth Tackett* & Janelle McDaniel*
AbstractIn recent years, Narcissism has been widely researched as part of the Dark Triad, however, it is becoming more common to split Narcissism into two separate constructs, grandiose and vulnerable. Vulnerable narcissism can be seen more as a defensive and fragile grandiosity that may help mask feelings of inadequacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the personality traits that predicted vulnerable narcissism. The study consisted of 181 undergraduate students who filled out a consent and demographics form and a questionnaire. The questionnaire included the HEXACO Personality Inventory (HEXACO-PI),the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale, the MACH-IV, the Costly Signal Questionnaire (CSQ), the Basic Empathy Scale (BES), and the Self Report Altruism Scale (SRAS). The results of the regression indicated that six predictors explained 46.5% of the variance (R^2 = .465, F (6, 175) = 10.898, p = .01). This indicated that SocialSelfEsteem, Modesty, Emotionality, GreedAvoidance, Prudence, Unconventionality were predictors of vulnerable narcissism.
Keynote Address
The Superpowers of Psychology Majors
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Dr. Stephen L. Chew
Being a psychology major means putting up with peoples’ snide comments about the “common sense” content of the major and its bleak job prospects. Little do they know that behind the mild-mannered disguise, psychology majors develop superpowers that will enable them to grow and excel in their lives and careers.
Biographical Sketch
Stephen L. Chew has been a professor of psychology at Samford University since 1993. Trained as a cognitive psychologist, one of his primary research areas is the cognitive basis of effective teaching and learning. His research interests include the use of examples in teaching, the impact of cognitive load on learning, and the tenacious misconceptions that students bring with them into the classroom. He is the creator of a groundbreaking series of YouTube videos for students on how to study effectively in college (http://www.samford.edu/how-to-study/) which have been viewed three million times and are in wide use from high schools to professional schools.
Chew received the Robert S. Daniel Teaching Excellence Award from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology In 2005 as the outstanding teacher of psychology at four-year colleges and universities. He was named the 2011 Outstanding Master’s Universities and Colleges U.S. Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. In 2018 he received the Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award from the American Psychological Foundation. He is an APA Fellow and a Distinguished Member of Psi Chi.
