Independent Study

We encourage our advanced students to do independent research. Most (but not all) independent studies are empirical explorations, often based on issues students have explored in previous psychology courses. An independent study calls for intensive work with a faculty member (and, sometimes, more than one faculty member). Though the nature of the work varies for different projects, generally independent research calls for the student reviewing the relevant literature, developing a research proposal, carrying out the research itself, analyzing the data, and writing up a final report. Independent studies are excellent preparation for graduate work. Some independent studies have been the basis for departmental honors theses, and some have led to publications in psychology journals. The following are the names of some of the students who have done independent research and the titles of their papers:

Mallory Malkin, '08, "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: An Analysis of the Rumitive Factor of Obsessional Thought Processes"

Shelby Schwartz, '08, "Animal Learning and Behavior"

Ariel Matzuk, '06, "Social and Behavioral Approaches to Increase Environmentally Responsible Behaviors"

Sonya Burgess, '05, "Effectiveness of School-based Violence Prevention Programs"

Arminta Fox, '05, "Religious Traditions and Sacrificial Love"

Dawn McAuley, 05, "Trends in Conformity and Nonconformity Among High and Low Private Self-Aware Individuals"

Elisabeth Villette, '05, "Being the Target of Unreciprocated Love:How Securely and Insecurely Attached Individuals Differ"

Penny Casto, '04, "Art Therapy"

Anri Ito, '01, "Parent-Child Relationships, Risky Behaviors, and Suicidality Among College Students"

Tiffany Nunnelley,'01, " Negative persuasion: An attempt to increase breast self-examinations in college women"

Viv Bondura, '01, "Psychopathology in Film"

Dimiter Kostov, '00, "Environmental Psychology"

Brian Perry, '98, "Sports and Development in Adolescents"

Jabu Thabede, '98, "Racial Attitudes: Where Are We?"

Cassie Gulden, '97, "A Consideration of the Positive Side of Being the Sibling of an Autistic Child"

Stacy Norris, '97, "Self Monitoring and Trust in Romantic Relationships"

Johanna Boulden, '95, "Why do Alumni Give? Correlates of Contributions to a Quaker Liberal Arts College"

Sachiko Matsumoto, '95, "Effects of the Phonologically Mediated and Visually Directed Processing Routes on the Stroop Effect"

Sachiko Matsumoto, '95, "Returning to Guilford: The Effects of Reverse Culture Shock"

Katharine Cannon, '95, "Can Homeless Children and the Domain Theory of Moral Development Address Each Other's Problems? A Study of Moral Development in Homeless Children"

Beth Woodward, '91, "Gender Differences in Flashbulb Memories Elicited by the Clarence Thomas Hearings"

Sarah Glover, '88, "It Couldn't Happen to Me But It Did: A Novel for Young Adults"