The Mississippi State University psychology department will soon host the second annual Psychology Research Forum. The forum, co-sponsored by the office of the dean of arts and sciences and the office of research, will highlight student presentation posters of their faculty-sponsored research projects.
Both graduate and upper level undergraduate students studying psychology have entered posters reflecting the research they have been doing this semester. These posters will be on display in the second and third faculty wings of Magruder Hall, Thrusday through April 24. On the final day of display, students will be present from 5:30 until 6:40 to answer questions and explain their findings. At 6:45, a ceremony will be held in 100 Magruder Hall to award students for best effort at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
The head of the psychology department, Dr. Stephen Klein, sees this event as an opportunity for not only the student researchers, but also for other students in the department who may do research in the future.
“We have a large number of undergraduate and graduate students involved in research projects in the department,” Klein said. “We felt that this would be an opportunity for the students who are doing research to showcase what they have learned and for the other students in our program to be able to see what opportunities are available, what their fellow students are doing, get an educational experience that’s slightly different from the classroom and hopefully become excited enough to become involved in research themselves,” he added.
The event will also help prepare students to go to conferences and present their work at conferences.
Senior psychology major Amber Hall is one of the students participating in the event. She explained why she chose to present her research.
“I work for Dr. Jacquin doing research in the lab,” Hall said. “Also, it looks good on your vita when applying for grad school.”
Hall’s research concerned the jury decision-making process. Physical evidence and witness testimony are just a few of the aspects she looked at when researching.
“I thought it was a lot of fun. I didn’t realize how much work it was going to be though,” Hall said.
According to Klein, many contributors made this opportunity for students possible. He said that because the first research forum was such a success, a second one seemed inevitable.
“I think it [last year’s forum] was quite successful. We had over two dozen posters, and each poster had several students as co-authors,” Klein said. “We had a very large number of our undergraduate and graduate students who attended the forum, asked questions and learned a little bit more about what research is being done in the department.”
Faculty members, including the dean of arts and sciences, Dr. Philip Oldham, attended. Klein was pleased with its success. Klein said the event is also made possible due to a collective effort on the part of the MSU psychology department. From organizing the actual event to sponsoring student research, the entire faculty has participated in some way.
Each poster had to be sponsored by one of the psychology faculty members.
“The students work in faculty labs, so the faculty are mentoring the students’ research experience,” Klein said. “But the posters reflect the student’s research and their ability to present that research in a coherent way.”
There are several research topics that will be presented at the forum, including jury trials, child psychology, creativity, aging, prejudice and violence.
Klein said that the presentation is an excellent educational opportunity.
“We feel like this is a wonderful, educational opportunity for the students who participate in the forum and also for the students who are not involved in research to learn about what their fellow students are doing. Everyone is welcome to attend,” Klein said.