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Westminster College Psychology Majors to Present Capstone Projects, Dec. 16

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Posted on Friday, December 4, 2015

Thirty Westminster College psychology, neuroscience, and human resource management majors, including two honors students and two research scholars, will present their capstone projects from 5:30 – 8 p.m., Dec. 16 in the Hoyt Science Resource Center, rooms 150, 152, and 166.   

The capstone is a four-semester-hour course within the major providing an opportunity for students to evaluate and assess the strengths and limitations of their major field. During the course, students conduct a two-semester research project. Students in the research scholars program complete a more in-depth, three-semester research project. In addition to the capstone presentations, psychology and neuroscience students present their data at appropriate regional or national conferences.

Among the presentations are: “The Effects of Leader Member Exchange Quality and Differentiation on Individual and Group Performance” by Kayleigh Gill, advised by Dr. Stephanie Richman, assistant professor, and “Sharing: A Factor in the Relationship between Theory of Mind and Social Preference” by Sarah Rea, advised by Dr. Mandy Medvin, professor and chair of the program.

Additional advisors for the capstone projects are: Dr. Deanne Buffalari, assistant professor; Dr. Sherri Pataki, associate professor; and Dr. Sandra Webster, professor.

The capstone experience permits structured reflection on the value of education in and beyond the classroom and provides an opportunity to strengthen communication and problem-solving skills. Additionally, students may publish research as a product of the capstone course, maximizing and driving career opportunities. 

Contact Medvin at (724) 946-7360 or email medvinm@westminster.edu for more information.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE STUDENT RESEARCHERS

Christina James, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Louis and Cheryl James and a graduate of Hatboro-Horsham High School. She will present, “Evaluating the Effects of Optimism and Expectations on Pain Tolerance.”

Emily Brune, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Michael Brune and Georgiana Willetts and a graduate of Carlynton High School. She will present, “Why do people help: Self-monitoring and Self-Sacrificing.”

Joshua Wentz, a senior psychology major, is a son of Mitchell and Angela Wentz and a graduate of Seneca Valley High School. He will present, “Perfectionism within Romantic Relationships.”

Caitlyn Barry, a junior psychology major, is a daughter of Martin and Madison Barry and a graduate of Dallas High School. She will present, “The Effect of Innocuous Factors on Client Ratings of Satisfaction with Psychotherapy.”

Joanna Moreno, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Maurice and Kristine Moreno and a graduate of Stroudsburg High School. She will present, “Hope Contagion: Can you Catch Hope from Friends?”

Amanda Sobieski, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Sharon LeBlanc and a graduate of Blackhawk High School. She will present, “An evaluation of pain tolerance in individuals with or without sub-clinical obsessive-compulsive behavior

Sarah Rea, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of John and Kathleen Rea and a graduate of Fairview High School. She will present, “Sharing: A Factor in the Relationship between Theory of Mind and Social Preference.”

Ryan Dunn, a senior psychology major, is a son of John and Kelly Dunn and a graduate of Freeport Area High School. He will present, “Gun Familiarity and its Impact on the Weapon Focus Effect and Eyewitness Testimony.”

Jacqueline Tyszkiewicz, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Ronald and Deborah Tyszkiewicz and a graduate of South Allegheny High School. She will present, “Effect of Setting on Acceptability and Reasoning behind the Exclusion of Children with Disabilities.”

Zachary Schramm, a senior neuroscience major, is a son of Carrie Schramm and a graduate of Penn-Trafford High School. He will present, “Environmental Enrichment’s Modulation of Nicotine Reinforcement Enhancement in Long Evans Hooded Rats.”

Kierstin Barker, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Michael and Melissa Barker and a graduate of West Shamokin High School. She will present “Relationships between Father's Masculinity, Emotion Socialization Strategies, and Son's Future Emotional Expression.”

Madeline Frech, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Kerry and Martha Frech and a graduate of Kiski Area High School. She will present, “Detection of Anger, Fear and Happiness through Olfactory Cues.”

Elizabeth Barnhart, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Jeffry and Debra Barnhart and a graduate of Saegertown High School. She will present, “Nonverbal Processing Deficits among Children Who Display Proactive and Reactive Aggression.”

Alicia Nuzzo, a junior psychology major, is a daughter of Anthony and Cynthia Nuzzo and a graduate of Neshannock High School. She will present, “The Physiological Effects of Appraisal of a Challenge or Threat State on Collegiate Athletes' Performance.”

Sarah Waszyn, a senior neuroscience major, is a daughter of Andrew and Cheryl Waszyn and a graduate of Norwin High School. She will present, “The Effects of Estrogen, Caffeine, and Their Interaction on a 6-OHDA Model of Parkinson's Disease in Rats.”

Taylor Casteel, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Robert and Tracy Casteel and a graduate of Plum High School. She will present, “What Leads to Sexism? The Implications of Traditional Masculinity and Self-Concept Clarity.”

Samantha DiCaprio, a junior psychology major, is a daughter of Anna DiCaprio and a graduate of Northgate High School. She will present, “How Comfort Food Affects Pain Tolerance.”

Samantha Thomas, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Jeanette Davis and a graduate of Beaver Falls High School. She will present, “A Vote of Confidence: The Effects of Confidence on Conformity in Eyewitness Testimony.”

Nicole Viviano, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of James and Carmela Viviano and a graduate of Mount Lebanon High School. She will present, “The Stigma of Drug Addiction and Responsibility: Influences on Likeableness and Facial Attractiveness.

Benjamin Walters, a senior psychology major, is a son of Doug Walters and a graduate of Lincoln High School. He will present, “The Effect of Pre-exposure to Sucrose on a Lever Pressing Task.”

Alexis Sheffer, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Rodney and Rhonda Sheffer and a graduate of Cranberry Area High School. She will present, “Pet Affinity and Adjustment in First Year College Students.”

Carly Zandier, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Donald and Kimberly Zandier and a graduate of South Park High School. She will present, “The Relationship among Anticipated Pain as it Relates to Personality.”

Selena Dasari, a senior neuroscience major, is a daughter of Amar Dasari and Melissa Rocci and a graduate of Canfield High School. She will present, “Strength of social buffering on behavioral depression in familiar versus non-familiar socializing rats.”

Paul Nicol, a junior psychology major, is a son of Paul and Delores Nicol and a graduate of Liberty High School. He will present, “Physiological Differences between Social and Romantic Rejection.”

Gretchen Schwarz, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Fred and Diane Schwarz and a graduate of Hudson High School. She will present, “Perceived Parental Support, Optimistic Explanatory Style, and Coping Strategies in First-Year College Students.”

Rachel Gibbs, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Michael Gibbs and a graduate of Mathews High School. She will present, “A Cross-Cultural Study of Humor and the Effect of Relationship Type on the Perception of Sarcasm.”

Alexander Bennett, a senior neuroscience major, is a son of Aaron and Marla Bennett and a graduate of Oak Glen High School. He will present, “The Effect of Facial Emotion Expression and Facial Ethnicity on Sexual Attraction.”

Kayleigh Gill, a senior psychology human resources major, is a daughter of Thomas and Joy Gill and a graduate of Liberty High School. She will present, “The Effects of Leader Member Exchange Quality and Differentiation on Individual and Group Performance.”

Samantha Croteau, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Thomas and Shannon Croteau and a graduate of Pinkerton Academy. She will present, “An Exploratory Study: First Year Women’s Social Identity Development as Related to use of Social Networking Sites.”

Brenna Guard, a senior neuroscience major, is a daughter of Alan and Molly Guard and a graduate of Davenport Central High School. She will present, “The Role of Acetylcholine During Expression of Amphetamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference in a Rat Model of Addiction.”