UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH / SPRING 2010

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH / SPRING 2010
CONTENTS
CONTENTS::
CAA Conference….2
Student Abstracts...3
Psychology.............4
Chemistry...............6
Political Science....7
Apply to CAA .........8
OFFICE OF
SPONSORED
PROGRAMS
A DIVISION OF
RESEARCH AND
PUBLIC
SERVICE
Nine skilled and talented students represented James Madison University at the
Colonial Academic Alliance (CAA) conference hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University on April 16 through April 17, 2010. Students presented their findings through oral and
poster sessions. The CAA is the academic consortium that links 12 East Coast colleges
and Universities of the Colonial Athletic Association in key areas to enhance academic
quality and institutional effectiveness
for the member programs that improve
the quality of teaching, learning and
research for all.
The Alliance
was created by the
CAA presidents in
2002 and is administered by the provosts of the member
institutions, which
included the University of Delaware,
Drexel University,
George Mason University, Georgia State University, Hofstra University, Northeastern University, Old Dominion University, Towson University, Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of
North Carolina-Wilmington, the College of William and Mary and James Madison University.
Edited by:
Pat Buennemeyer
Director of Research
Compliance
(540) 568-7025
[email protected]
www. jmu.edu/sponsprog
Collectively, these institutions comprise more than 200,000 students and nearly
10,000 full-time faculty, including three Nobel-Prize-winning professors. By leveraging
each institution’s strengths, the Alliance can build programs that no one college or university could undertake on its own.
Virginia Commonwealth University hosted the eighth annual CAA Undergraduate
Research Conference on April 16 through April 17, 2010. The conference offers CAAschool students an opportunity to share their work with their peers in a professional setting. Scholars from all segments of the sciences, humanities, fine arts, social sciences and
professional schools present their work at this 12-institution event. The conference rotates
among the participating campuses each year. Hofstra University will host the 2011 conference on April 8 through April 10, 2011.
Dr. Chris J. Kosik of the Political Science Department and Ms. Patricia Buennemeyer accompanied the students to the conference. The subsequent pages illustrate the
student’s faculty-mentored research accomplishments during their undergraduate JMU
career.
CAA 2010
CAA 2010 Undergraduate Research Conference
CAA 2010 / page 2
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
CAA 2010
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Evaluating the Premise of the IAT Reasoning Test
Students: Lauren P. Krakosky, Caitlin S. Price, Julie A. Niziurski and James R. Koepfler
Adviser: Dr. JoAnne Brewster, Department of Graduate Psychology
“Police officer candidates
would hide their aggressive
biases if they knew what the
test is measuring. We
can...investigate its utility as
a tool in police selection”.
Dr. JoAnne Brewster,
Psychology
Lauren Krakosky, right, and
Caitlin Price conduct a lab. Photo
courtesy Lauren Krakosky.
Police officer candidates who possess aggressive biases may not want to reveal them
during prescreening. Therefore, it would be useful to have a test that accurately measures aggressive biases. The Conditional Reasoning Test of Aggression (CRT-A) appears to measure logic and reasoning but really measures unconscious aggressive
biases. The test authors attempted to mask the test’s true purpose by changing the title
from the Conditional Reasoning Test of Aggression to the IAT Reasoning Test on the
test materials. They assume that test-takers who do not know the true purpose of the
test will respond more candidly and will reveal their aggressive biases. We attempted
to determine if the title change was successful in masking the test’s purpose by administering the identical test under three conditions. Group 1 took the test as the IAT Reasoning Test. Group 2 took the test as the Conditional Reasoning Test of Aggression.
Group 3 also took the CRT-A but was told the test’s true purpose. After completing the
test, all students were asked to state their understanding of what the test was supposed to measure. We believe that participants in Group 1 will not recognize that the
IAT measures aggressive biases, if the name change was successful, and that participants in Groups 2 and 3 (who know the true purpose of the test) will have the lowest
aggression score, because they will censor their aggressive responses.
The Role of Technological Communication on Perceived Social Support
Student: Kristin S. MacKinnon
Adviser: Dr. Monica Reis-Bergan, Department of Psychology
Technology has become a prevalent source of communication. The Internet and
cell phones make communication between individuals possible practically anytime
and any place. These accessible methods of communication give individuals opportunities for social support. This study examined the relations between personality variables including optimism and extraversion, social network using technological communication methods, and individuals’ perceptions of social support.
One hundred fifty undergraduates completed a questionnaire assessing these
variables. Associations among variables suggest future research is warranted in
the influence of technology and social support.
Senior Kristin MacKinnon and Dr. Monica
Reis-Bergan. MacKinnon studied the way
in which various forms of technological
communication, such as Facebook and
text messaging, formulate individuals’
concept of social support. Photo courtesy
Kristin MacKinnon.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
“
Communication resources that benefit
individuals’ perceived social support...may also
benefit individuals’
well-being.
”
Kristin MacKinnon,
Psychology student
CAA 2010 / page 3
Ca
Ph
CAA 2010
The Effects of Aversive Childhood Learning on Disordered Eating
Behaviors in College Women
Student: Shari L. Matray
Adviser: Dr. Monica Reis-Bergan, Department of Psychology
Senior Shari Matray, foreground,
with adviser Dr. Monica ReisBergan. Matray analyzed childhood memories and body image.
Photo courtesy Shari Matray.
In Western culture, disordered eating behaviors such as purging and fasting impact many
young women. The current study examines the relation between childhood experiences
and college eating behaviors. Annus and colleagues (2007) found a link between mothers
who model negative eating behaviors (e.g. overeating when emotionally distraught) and
daughter’s eating behaviors later in life. The relation between mother and child can extend
beyond modeling; the mother’s restriction of the daughter’s food intake in childhood has
been associated with later disordered eating behaviors (Carper et al., 2000). Teasing by
family or peers about weight can impact eating behaviors as well (Annus et al., 2007).
Through these experiences it is believed children develop expectancies about weight and
shape such that dieting and thinness lead to an overall life improvement and self improvement (Simmons, Smith & Hill, 2002). In the current study we asked college women to recall their perceptions of their mothers’ eating behaviors. We also assessed retrospective
accounts of mothers’ restriction of food intake and family and peer teasing. Participants
responded to questions about thinness expectancies, body satisfaction and disordered
eating behaviors from their current perspective. Results indicate relations between perceptions of childhood experiences and current beliefs and behaviors. Suggestions for future research and family dynamics are presented.
The Negative Impacts of Relationship-Contingent Self-Esteem and
Its Connection with Self-Objectification in Women
Student: Mary Anne Riley
Adviser: Dr. Arnold Kahn, Department of Psychology
In the past few years, researchers have begun to explore a concept called relationship-contingent self-esteem (RCSE), when
one bases his or her self-esteem on being in a romantic relationship (Knee et al., 2008). RCSE has been linked with many negative aspects including low relationship satisfaction, low relationship autonomy, and more recently, body shame in women (Knee
et al.). However, no studies to this date have examined the relationship between RCSE and self-objectification, a concept similar
to body shame, that involves critically viewing one’s body from a
third-person perspective (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997). The current study examines how RCSE is correlated with selfobjectification and other constructs including relationship satisfaction, relationship autonomy and relationship commitment in college-aged single and coupled women (N=155). As predicted, results indicated a positive correlation between RCSE and selfobjectification; women with high RCSE also had high selfobjectification. Exploratory analyses further indicated that RCSE
and self-objection were positively related.
CAA 2010 / page 4
Senior Mary Anne Riley consults with Dr. Arnold Kahn. Riley
observed how the media’s portrayal of body image influenced
women’s concept of self while romantically involved.
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
CAA 2010
Social Discounting of Non-Monetary Rewards
Student: Ariana M. Vanderveldt
Adviser: Dr. Bryan Saville, Department of Psychology
Social discounting is a phenomenon whereby the subjective value of a reward
given to another person changes contingent upon the social closeness that person feels to the individual making the decision. Specifically, earlier studies defined it as the amount of money an individual was willing to give up so that another person could receive $75. Social discounting is also a behavioral measure
of altruism; individuals who forgo more of a reward so that another person could
receive it are considered more altruistic than those who choose to keep a reward. In earlier social discounting studies, researchers have used money as the
token of exchange; however, money may not represent rewards found in real-life
social interactions. Research of other forms of discounting, including delay, probability and effort, has replaced traditional monetary rewards with those more relevant to real-life situations. These studies have shown that an individual may behave differently depending on the offered reward. Selfish and altruistic behavior
(which is measured in social discounting tasks) may function in a similar way. In
this study, we examined social and altruistic behavior on two social discounting
tasks: one involving a person’s time and one involving money. Discounting a person’s time could suggest a measure of altruism more akin to real-life situations.
We found that participants did not discount non-monetary rewards differently
than money. These results suggest that an individual’s altruistic behavior might
be consistent across different contexts and with different reward types. Additionally, this study suggests that the extent to which people discount monetary rewards may be a valid indicator of their altruistic behavior overall.
Photo courtesy Ariana
Vanderveldt.
Many instances of
“altruistic
behavior do not
involve the exchange of
money. A person gives
his or her time to another, often without reciprocation. This [study]
will provide a quantitative measure of altruism.
”
Dr. Bryan Saville,
Psychology
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Proton Chemical Shifts for Alcohols in the Vapor Phase and Dilute
Solutions
Student: Curtis C. White
Adviser: Dr. Thomas C. Devore, Department of Chemistry
Adviser Dr. Thomas DeVore, left, and Senior Curtis White,
calculated chemical shifts related to the hydrogen bond. Photo
courtesy Curtis White.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Alcohol molecules form hydrogen-bonded clusters in solution,
and the chemical shift observed for the OH proton is known to
depend on the concentration of the alcohol and provides an indication of the amount of cluster formation. Quantitative information
can be obtained if the chemical shifts for the pure species can be
established, for instance by using high-level Hartree-Fock or density functional theory calculations. Calculations at various levels
of theory are compared to the measured chemical shifts in the
proton NMR spectrum of methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and 2methyl 2-propanol in the vapor phase and 2-methyl 2-propanol in
dilute toluene, chloroform and acetone solutions. While the relative chemical shifts agree favorably with the measurements made
for the vapor molecules, the absolute chemical shifts differ by ~2
ppm, suggesting that the air introduces an absolute shift to the
spectrum. The high level calculations for methanol are fast
enough for laboratory use.
CAA 2010 / page 5
CAA 2010
Au Thin Film Adhesion to PMMA Substrates Through Spin-Coated
POSS-MA
Student: Alan K. Mo
Adviser: Dr. Brian Augustine, Department of Chemistry
Nanotechnology has been beneficial in shrinking existing processes, such as
those related to computer architecture. Currently, there is another goal of
miniaturizing processes in the field of bioanalytical chemistry. The shrinking of
common laboratory techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), can
allow for faster reactions and require less reagents and analytes. One essential component in many such devices is metal electrodes, in particular gold.
Some properties that make gold widely chosen are its resistance to corrosion,
high reflection and electrical conductance. Yet production in miniaturized devices is often difficult because Au only binds well to inorganic materials rather
than plastics. But through a thin layer of POSS-MA, a nanocomposite polymer
that contains glassy-like properties, we demonstrate that Au thin films can bind
well to plastics. Experiments have been conducted where POSS-MA has been
spin-coated onto 1”x1” squares of PMMA. These were then plasma treated to
expose the glassy-like properties of POSS-MA and Au thin films were sputter
deposited. Acetone was added while the chemical adhesion of gold to PMMA
was observed through light microscopy. By video analysis, the effect of plasma
-treated POSS-MA was compared to the controls: These controls were the
effect of non-plasma-treated POSS-MA, the effect of no POSS-MA and the
effect of plasma-treated PMMA. Preliminary data shows that non-plasma
treated POSS-MA provides the best adhesion at the PMMA-Au interface.
Alan Mo studies gold metallization on
polymers. Photo courtesy Alan Mo.
Trace Elemental Analysis in Fish Tissue by Laser Ablation ICP-MS
Student: Jacob W. Smith
Adviser: Dr. Daniel Downey, Department of Chemistry
Adviser Dr. Dan
Downey, above, and
Senior Jacob Smith,
below, made sample
analysis more efficient. Photos cour-
CAA 2010 / page 6
Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) is a tool for elemental analysis of liquid or
gaseous samples with sensitivity in the ppb to ppt range. Solution mode ICP-MS allows for effective
sample introduction but is not time efficient. The standard method for solution analysis by ICP-MS involves sample uptake time of 30 seconds and stabilization time of 300 seconds prior to a two-second
analysis with a volume consumption of several milliliters. Previous research by our group involved that
use of laser ablation to aerosolize solid samples from fish otoliths for analysis by ICP-MS. Current research has focused on the use of laser ablation to vaporize liquid samples for introduction into the ICP
-MS. LA-ICP-MS does not require the uptake or stabilization periods needed in solution mode ICPMS, so it should be possible to directly analyze microliter volumes of aqueous samples or water-rich
biologicial tissue. To date we have studied the analysis of solutions in wells in a plate and capillary
tubes. Standard solutions of 0.500, 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00 ppm Mg, Mn, and Ca were produced with 1.0
ppm Ba as an internal standard. Ablation of solutions in capillary tubes yielded very low signal even
from solutions with concentrations in the ppm range. Solution ablation rates of samples in wells were
found to be orders of magnitude higher but inconsistent. However, ratioing the analyte signal to the Ba
internal standard yielded consistent results. This method has allowed for production of calibration
curves with regression values typically exceeding r=0.9800 from the standard solutions. Direct ablation of fresh and dried samples of fish tissue has indicated that trace elemental signals are low but
detectable. However, significant signal gradients have been observed between different regions of
tissue samples. Homogenizing samples to reduce gradient error is currently under study.
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
CAA 2010
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Aging America: Public-Policy Implications of Licensing Regulations
for Older Drivers
Drivers over the age of 65 are involved in automobile accidents at
higher rates of any age group except youth drivers. In recent years,
states have begun to adopt more stringent requirements for elderly
drivers seeking to renew their licenses. Various provisions targeting
older drivers include vision screenings, knowledge tests, restrictions
on renewal-by-mail and accelerated renewal cycles. I seek to show
factors common to states that use these renewal provisions to determine what causes a state to have increased or lax restrictions on
elderly license renewal. Using fatality accident data, I will determine
which licensing renewal provisions are responsible for decreased
accident rates. In conjunction with this quantitative analysis, I will
conduct three case studies of state elderly driver policies for Florida
(large elderly population), Illinois (stringent renewal provisions) and
Pennsylvania (medical review practices). Based on my findings, I
do not have enough data to determine which specific renewal provisions, if any, are effective in reducing accidents involving elderly
drivers. Furthermore, the political climate in most states prevents
legislatures from enacting these types of renewal policies. While
further study of renewal policies is merited, states should also look
toward non-age-based screening processes that focus on a driver’s
capabilities when selecting drivers for further safety testing, and
infrastructure changes to accommodate the deficiencies in aging
drivers’ abilities. These are effective approaches to addressing elevated senior-citizen accident rates that are a more politically palatable solution, and hence more likely to be successfully enacted.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Student: Benjamin C. Soltoff
Adviser: Dr. Christopher Koski, Department of Political Sci-
“
His work could serve policymakers and the public at large.
”
Dr. Christopher Koski,
Political Science
Senior Benjamin Soltoff,
left, with adviser Dr.
Chris Koski. Soltoff conducted quantitative and
qualitative analysis of
public policies intended
to curtail automobile
accidents at the hands of
elderly drivers. Photo
courtesy Benjamin Soltoff.
CAA 2010 / page 7
COLONIAL ACADEMIC ALLIANCE
UNDERGRADUATE CONFERENCE
APPLY TO CAA UNDERGRADUATE 2011
Enrich and edify others beyond the JMU community. Discover what other undergraduate innovators are researching in your field. A committee composed of JMU faculty and administrators select students to attend the CAA Undergraduate Research Conference and represent the institution. For consideration to participate and represent JMU at this event, students must fully complete and submit an electronic application adhering to all deadlines. To apply to CAA 2011 at New
York’s Hofstra University, contact Pat Buennemeyer at [email protected] or visit the following
Website at http://jmu.edu/sponsprog/ColAcademicAssoc.htm.
The electronic application packet includes the JMU Student Application and the Faculty Advisor
Form. The student must complete the JMU Student Application and submit it, along with an electronic copy of the abstract, by no later than 12 p.m. on Friday, October 22, 2010. Please submit
materials (JMU student application and abstract) by e-mail to: [email protected].
Meeting this deadline enables the NCUR Selection Committee to review the applications and select students to represent JMU. Those candidates JMU selects will be notified by e-mail to register
for the CAA event.
The application process must be completed electronically. The applications may be obtained from the Web at the following URL: http://www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/ColAcademicAssoc.htm
After completing and saving your application and abstract, please submit by email to:
[email protected].
University of Delaware
Northeastern University
Drexel University
Old Dominion University
George Mason University
Towson University
Georgia State University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Hofstra University
University of North Carolina Wilmington