Westminster College Senior Research Presented at Conference

Lisa Santoriella, a 2005 Westminster College graduate, presented her senior capstone research to the Midwest Psychological Association meeting in Chicago.

 "This is an excellent example of the faculty/student collaborative research process," said Dr. Sandra Webster, professor of psychology at Westminster College.

 "Lisa's research was on how groups are perceived as real or not.   For example a family group is more real than a group waiting for a bus," said Dr. Jamie McMinn, assistant professor of psychology, faculty advisor of the research, and co-author of the presentation.  "Since she was a sorority member, Lisa chose to research sororities because it was easier to get permission and collect data."

 Santoriella asked three questions each of the three times she surveyed the sororities.  She wanted to know how each sorority evaluated their own social integration and the integration of other sororities, and if these perceptions were associated with social identification with their sororities.

 "We worked together on her capstone meeting together to discuss articles related to perceptions of groups.  We also discussed her project during these meetings," McMinn said.  "She found that as the months progressed, the groups thought themselves less integrated and less identified with their own group."

 Contact McMinn at (724) 946-7121 or e-mail mcminnjg@westminster.edu for more information.

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