Title: The psychology of a chess player: A re-assessment
Authors: Dillinger, D. L.
Institution: Florida State University
Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Joiner, Ph.D.
Award: 3rd Place-Category 61 (Social and Interpersonal Relationships)
Abstract: Perhaps the most prominent work on psychology and chess players, was written by Dr. Reuben Fine. He wrote about chess being a facilitator of certain behavior as well as expressing the symptoms of our inner psychology. Dr. Fine's paper, Psychoanalytic Observations on Chess and Chess Masters, was originally published in 1956 and was republished in book form as The Psychology of the Chess Player in 1967. Fine wrote on a number of elements about the chess player's psyche. The two main elements he focused on were narcissism and chess being a corollary to homosexual behavior. This paper examines Fine's observations in light of his own experiences as a chess player.
Title: Influencing the autokinetic effect: The effects of color and distance on autokinetic movement
Authors: Buxell, S.
Institution: University of Portland
Faculty Sponsor: Susan Baillet, Ph.D.
Abstract: The autokinetic effect is an illusion of movement easily produced by fixating a point of light in a dark room. Research on the effects of color and distance on autokinetic movement have been inconclusive. Twenty-seven undergraduates were tested for the autokinetic effect with red or green lights and at a near (5 ½ ft.) Or far (ll ft.) distance. The independent variables were the number of movements and the distance moved. For both variables there was a significant effect of color and color/distance interaction, with the red far condition showing the greatest effect of illusion. The results are interpreted in terms of the Purkinje shift.
Title: Detail and credibility: Separate factors effcting sentencing
Authors: Haw, R. M., & Murphy, R. O.
Institution: Western Washington University
Faculty Sponsor: Louis G. Lippman, Ph.D.
Abstract: Previous research (Bell & Loftus, 1988; Bell and Loftus, 1989) suggests that jury members use the detail of eyewitness testimony and the perceived credibility of witnesses to determine the relative importance of evidence. The two variables, detail and credibility, have been explored as a single combined factor. By combining the two variables into a single factor, previous research was not able to determine if significant results were a function of one or both of the variables. The present research examines detail and credibility as separate independent variables, and in doing so, separates their influences on the outcome of a mock sentencing procedure. Subjects were university students who participated by reading a crime scenario, labeled as testimony. Detail was manipulated between two levels in a similar way to the Bell and Loftus (1989) study by adding trivial detail to one scenario (i.e. “I heard five rapid gun shots”, instead of “I heard shots”). Credibility of the eyewitness was also manipulated on three levels, low, medium and high credibility. A significant main effect was found for detail, such that higher levels of detail resulted in longer sentences on average. No significance was found for credibility, nor was their significant interaction between the factors. Future research should look further into the influence of detail on testimony to determine if sentences are being determined on trivial detail. Also, eyewitness credibility should be more clearly manipulated to determine if credibility persuades sentencing outcomes independent of detail or if there is only an interaction between the two variables.
Title: A global-local Stroop task: Pilot study
Authors: Mangelsdorf, J.
Institution: George Fox University
Faculty Sponsor: Christopher Koch, Ph.D.
Abstract: The Stroop task requires subjects to respond to the color print of a color word. When the color and word are the same (i.e., congruent) facilitation typically occurs. However, interference occurs when the color (e.g., blue) and word (e.g., RED) are incongruent. Although most explanations of the Stroop effect focus on the importance of the word information, an alternative explanation may exist. The present study examines the Stroop task in a global-local paradigm. The results from this pilot study suggest that the Stroop task and global-local tasks may have one common explanation.
Title: Interhemispheric response time differences in adults with attention deficit disorder
Authors: Vavold, J., Schubart-Andrews, G., & Imlah, J. R.
Institution: Northwest Nazarene College
Faculty Sponsor: Glena Schubarth-Andrews, Ph.D.
Abstract: Corpus collosum dysfunction is one possible reason for difficulties with attention and concentration. Interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) is one method used to assess the corpus callosum transfer of information between hemispheres. It has been suggested that adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have brain dysfunction. This study investigated the relationship between IHTT and ADHD. Participants (n=30) were recruited from the community and the campus of a private four year liberal arts college. Participants were put into one of four groups: ADHD predominantly hyperactive (n=4), ADHD predominantly inattentive (n=11), ADHD combined type (n=5) or control (n=10) based on information gathered from a personal history interview, the WAIS-R and the ADHD checklists adapted from Weiss (1997). There were 19 males and 16 females who were all right- handed. There was no significant difference in age or IQ between groups. The data of four participants were not used because of a large discrepancy between verbal and performance IQ’s indicating a possible learning disability. The cross-uncrossed differences task (CUD), which measures the differences in reaction time between responses that must be transferred across the corpus callosum versus responses that are not transferred, was administered to each participant. The CUD requires only a simple eye to hand response following the tachistoscophic presentation of a stimulus. Each ADHD group was compared with the ADHD groups and with the control group using a 4 (diagnosis) x 2 (left/right hand response) x 2 (left/right visual field) Repeated measures ANOVA to determine if there was an increase in IHTT for any of the ADHD groups or if the CUD would differentiate between the diagnoses. It was found that the CUD does not differentiate between diagnoses nor does it show any difference in IHTT between ADHD and controls. Interestingly, however, a main effect for hand response time was found. In all groups, right hand response was significantly slower than left hand response (p= .003). These results support the idea that in simple tasks, people with ADHD will perform at the same level as those without the diagnosis.
Title: Bilateral field advantage using letters and dot patterns in adults with attention deficit disorder
Authors: Imlah, J. R., Schubart-Andrews, G., & Vavold, J.
Institution: Northwest Nazarene College
Faculty Sponsor: Glena Schubarth-Andrews, Ph.D.
Abstract: Recent studies have supported brain dysfunction in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Epstein, Conners, Erhardt, March & Swanson 1997; Wilens, Biederman & Spencer, 1998). Persons with callosal dysfunction show some behaviors that overlap with ADHD suggesting interference in the transfer of information across the corpus callosum. Interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) is one method of assessing the efficiency of the transfer of information across the corpus callosum (Ludlow, 1995). This study investigated IHTT of adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). Thirty participants (mean age= 28.4) completed the study, 4 were diagnosed ADHD- predominately hyperactive (ADHD- H), 11 were diagnosed ADHD - predominately inattention (ADHD-I), 5 were diagnosed ADHD- combined type (ADHD-Com), and 10 established a control group.Diagnoses were established using the DMS- IV adult ADHD criteria. There were no significant differences in IQ scores as determined by the WAIS-R. A letter and dot pattern matching task, originating from Posner, was used to record interhemispheric transfer time. Position (4) W Match (2) X Diagnosis (4) Repeated Measure ANOVA was completed assessing accuracy and reaction time for letter and dot pattern matching tasks. The ADHD- Com group benefits from bilateral presentation and transfer of information across hemispheres, whereas the ADHD-I group does not. In letter- matching tasks, the ADHD-I group made significantly more errors (M= 15.87) than the control group (M= 4.71) regardless of position or match conditions (p<.03). There was a main effect on the letter-matching task for position (p<.002) and for response time (p<.05). In dot-pattern matching tasks, no significant difference was found between diagnoses, errors or response time. It is theorized that moderately complex tasks are more likely to differentiate cognitive dysfunctions in individuals with ADHD. As the task complexity increases, the performance or decision- making differences between ADHD individuals and controls is no longer apparent, explaining the lack of significance for the dot- pattern task. Overall, the ADHD-H and ADHD- Com groups had no significant differences as compared to controls, indicating that individuals with hyperactivity may have less interhemispheric brain impairment than their inattentive counterparts.
Title: Individual differences in bilateral field advantage
Authors: Bennett, J. C., & Moes, P.
Institution: Seattle Pacific University
Faculty Sponsor: M. Kathleen B. Lustyk, Ph.D.
Abstract: Current research is focused on how the cerebral hemispheres cooperate to produce a unified cognitive experience. One method of measuring inter-hemispheric processing is the bilateral field advantage (BFA). A BFA indicates that it is more advantageous to present part of some visual information to each hemisphere than to present all of the information to one hemisphere. The present study builds on previous research by investigating the BFA on a color-matching task that can be interpreted as either a nonverbal or a verbal task. To determine which type of processing occurs, subtests were given the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) which includes both nonverbal and verbal subjects. It was hypothesized that the color- matching task would be processed verbally indicated by a positive correlation between BFA and the verbal subtests of K-BIT. Individual sex and handedness differences were also examined. Psychology students from Dordt College (n = 75) and students from the University of Notre Dame (n = 13) participated. Of the 88 total subjects, 59 were female, 29 were male, 75 were right-handed, and 13 were left- handed. Subjects completed a computerized color-matching task followed by K -BIT testing. Overall, BFA is significantly correlated with the Definitions Task verbal subtest (r = .256, p = .02), but not with any of the other K-BIT subtests. As predicted, the results of this study suggest that the color- matching task is processed as a verbal task. Results on individual differences of sex and handedness suggest that the color- matching task is processed as a verbal task. Results on individual differences of sex and handedness suggest that the color- matching task may be processed differently by individual subjects.
Title: Active immunization attenuates the discrimination properties of low dose cocaine
Authors: Johnson, M. W., & Ettinger, R. H.
Institution: Eastern Oregon University
Faculty Sponsor: R. H. Ettinger, Ph.D.
Abstract: Anti-cocaine antibody, resulting from active immunization with cocaine-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) conjugate, weakened the ability of cocain to act as a discriminative stimulus for rats. Subjects were initially trained to discriminate a 5 mg/kg dose of cocaine from saline injections. Following immunization subjects made more incorrect discriminations responses after cocaine injections as compared to pre-immunization trials as compared to non- immunized subjects. These results demonstrate that active immunization against cocaine was effective in attenuating cocaine’s discriminative properties and they provide further support for the prospective use of the immunization as an alternative to present drug treatments methods.
Title: You've got mail!
Authors: Barnes, K.
Institution: George Fox University
Faculty Sponsor: Christopher Koch, Ph.D.
Abstract: Applications of the internet for classroom instruction continue to be explored. One application is to either continue classroom discussions or initiate new class discussions online. There are generally two ways to conduct online discussions. One method would be to develop a listserve for the class. A second method is to designate an online discussion folder for the class. These two methods were compared using two sections of General Psychology. The percentage of quesions read and percent replied to were used to examine differences in response rate between the two methods. The listserve section consistently read and responded to questions during a four week test period. The class folder section, however, showed a gradual decline in both percent of questions read and questions responded to. There was no difference in response word count between the two sections. The results suggest that developing a listserve for a class is the best method to engage students in online discussions.
Title: Comparing the effectiveness of online versus traditional courses
Authors: Sexton, J.
Institution: George Fox University
Faculty Sponsor: Christopher Koch, Ph.D.
Abstract: The use of the internet to supplement traditional classroom and to provide distance education is increasing. This study examines the effectiveness of online education compared to a traditional classroom course. A General Psychology class was randomly divided into two groups. One group attended lectures on social psychology while the other group participated in an online social psychology section. All students received the same standardized test at the completion of the social psychology section. A follow-up test was administered 10 days later. No significant differences were found on test performance.
Title: Math anxiety among statistic students
Authors: Hargie, K.
Institution: George Fox University
Faculty Sponsor: Christopher Koch, Ph.D.
Abstract: Math anxiety can not only influence a student’s performance in a math or statistics course but it can also impact what courses and major a student selects. Therefore, appropriate measures of math anxiety can be used to help students identify and reduce their math related anxiety. The present study evaluated the validity of the Math Anxiety Rating Scale - Revised. Sixty-six undergraduates from a statistics and upper division lab course in psychology participated in the study. Participants were administered the Math Anxiety Rating Scale - Revised, Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale, Stressful Situation Questionnaire, Achievement Anxiety Test, and a demographic questionnaire. The Math Anxiety Rating Scale - Revised was significantly correlated with the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale, and Stressful Situation Questionnaire suggesting strong concurrent validity.
Title: Stereotypes and Marketing
Authors: Forbes, A., McCart, M., Koch, E.*
Institution: George Fox University & University of Oregon*
Faculty Sponsor: Christopher Koch, Ph.D.
Abstract: Several researchers have shown that personality is related to brand preferences and loyalty. This study explores whether or not personality characteristics can also be attributed to specific geographic locations which can be used for marketing purposes. 106 participants completed three questionnaires. Participants were required to provide a list of descriptors for a city they lived in, vacationed in, and never been to. Results indicate that people identify a personality with a particular location. Further the adjectives used to describe the locations are from a relatively small set of categories ranging from the qualities of the location to its physical characteristics. The types of characteristics used also appear to vary with the degree of familiarity with the location.
Title: Testing the validity of eliciting confidence intervals as a measure of judgment calibration
Authors: Murphy, R. O., & Molton, I. R.
Institution: Western Washington University
Faculty Sponsor: Louis G. Lippman, Ph.D.
Abstract: One method of assessing calibration biases in individuals requires participants to estimate confidence intervals that encompass a target point. For example, participants would be presented with the question, “In what year was Mozart born?” Participants would then be asked to supply a high and low estimate of the answer that they are 90% confident the correct answer lies between . Thus a participant may say he or she is 90% confident that Mozart was born between 1500 and 1900. Using this method of assessing judgment calibration biases, researchers have concluded that the vast majority or people are overconfident (Russo & Schoemaker, 1992). Our research tests the validity of this methodology by manipulating the percentage that subjects are given as a confidence range, eg. 75%, 90%, 95%, 99%. Our results indicate that equivocal indicator of their being “generally sure” their estimated range encompass the target. The fuzzy treatment of the given percentage cue by participants was not addressed in previous research. Further, the items that have been typically employed by this research paradigm are extremely difficult. Thus the hard/easy effect may explain previous research results, rather than a prevalence of overconfidence in the population.
Title: Measuring racial identity in white American youths
Authors: Chase, H.
Institution: George Fox University
Faculty Sponsor: Kathryn Ecklund, Ph.D.
Abstract: A great deal of research has been done to develop measures of racial identity. Helms’ measures has proven to be a good starting point, which focuses on the process taken to reach one’s own white or black identity. Despite these studies, there is still no clear definition of a developed white identity. This has lead to difficulties in measuring what level one has reached in their identity. In trying to reach a definition of white identity, our study will focus on measuring the identity of the white American. This experimental measure deals with issues common in the American culture such as language, religion, authority, and rites of passage. Our measure, in questionnaire format, uses responses that the subjects choose from given options or their own written responses to determine what the average white American perceives as their own racial identity. The subjects’ ages will vary from high school to college. The goal of the experiment is to determine the validity of the measure and create a starting place for determining what is the white American identity.
Title: Personality and performance on the Color-Word Stroop Test
Authors: Thompson, E.
Institution: George Fox University
Faculty Sponsor: Christopher Koch, Ph.D.
Abstract: This study examines individual differences on the Color-Word Stroop Test related to personality. Forty-four General Psychology students and 33 upper division psychology students participated in the study. Five participants had color vision deficits and were eliminated from the study. Participants were administered the NEO-PI-R and Golden’s (1978) Color and Word Stroop Test. Participants were divided into two groups based on their performance on the Stroop test. One group showed significantly higher Stroop interference than the other. There were no differences between these two groups in regard to impulsivity or extraversion. Only the aesthetics facet was significantly different between the two groups with higher aesthetics scores related to greater interference. Correlation analysis of the data also suggests that Stroop interference is also related to straightforwardness, altruism, and agreeableness. Implications for these findings are discussed.
Title: The impact of media internalization on sex differences in perceptions of body image
Authors: Conrad, A.
Institution: University of Portland
Faculty Sponsor: Janet Gebelt, Ph.D.
Award:1999 George Fox University Social Science Conference Outstanding Research Award
Abstract: Previous research has found that exposure to media images, portraying societally sanctioned standard of appearance, has consequences for the perceived body images of females and males. This study investigates the degree to which internalization of these standards affects perception of body image. This study assessed 79 college students (n = 52 females, n = 27 males) by asking them to complete part of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire, testing the internalization of societal standards of appearance. Participants were also shown figure drawings of their own gender and provided ratings of current and ideal body image, and the body image that they believed was most attractive to the opposite sex. They looked at drawings of the opposite sex and indicated which of those figures they found most attractive. Females rated their current figure as heavier than their ideal figure, heavier than the image that they thought was most attractive to men, and heavier than what males actually indicated as most attractive in females. Males’ ratings of current and ideal figures and what they believed was most attractive to females were very similar to each other and to what females actually indicated as most attractive in males. Correlations were found between the internalization of media and ideals and (1) what women rated as their current body image and (2) what both sexes believed was most attractive to the opposite sex. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of the impact of media ideals on gender differences in perceptions of body images.