USAO Students Win at Statewide Psychology Competition
 

CHICKASHA – Four students at the University of Science and Arts beat out nearly 100 students for top winnings at a recent psychology research conference, earning three of six awards given for research projects across the state.

Ten USAO students joined Dr. Tina Winn, associate professor of psychology and chair of the division of business and social science, and Dr. Chris Walker, assistant professor of education and psychology, for the annual Oklahoma Psychology Society research conference in Edmond on April 13.

Approximately 100 undergraduate and graduate students presented research at the conference, representing the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, the University of Tulsa, the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma Christian University, Langston, Cameron, East Central University and USAO.

Awards were given to the top six undergraduate posters; four USAO students won awards for their presentations.

“Dr. Winn and I are very proud of each one of these students who attended and presented their research,” Walker said.

Noble psychology junior Stephanie Cambell earned third place in the undergraduate award competition for her presentation, “Social Confidence and Personal Relationships: The Impact of Early Parent-Child Relationships.”

Sociology senior Tasha Alexander of Pocasset teamed up with psychology senior Leona Richardson of Chickasha to present, “The Relationship Between Conflict Resolution, Self-Esteem and Relationship Satisfaction.” The project earned them fifth place.

Psychology senior Nindi Espinosa of Lovington, N.M. won sixth place for her project, “Do Epistemological Beliefs Predict the Acceptance of Civil Liberties Restrictions?”

“These 10 students began their quest by enrolling in my Research Methods course in the fall 2006 semester,” Walker said. “The goal was that by Christmas, each student in the class would have conceptualized a study, performed a comprehensive literature review and proposed methods for data collection and analysis.”

Approximately 35 students successfully completed Walker’s research methods course. Those students who wished to complete their proposed study then enrolled in his Advanced Research Methods course in the spring.

“Those brave and intrepid students began their data collection this January and have worked throughout this semester to analyze and write up their results,” he said. “We couldn’t be prouder of these hard-working students.”

The conference was held on the campus of Oklahoma Christian University in the Garvey Center & Davisson American Heritage building.

NEWS RELEASE       May 1, 2007
UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA - CHICKASHA
CONTACT MICHAEL BENDURE, News Bureau, 405-574-1362, mbendure@usao.edu
RANDY TALLEY: Public Relations, 405-574-1337, rtalley@usao.edu
LAURA HARRISON: Public Relations, 405-574-1318, lharrison@usao.edu
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