Psi Beta's National Research Project: Promoting Psychology Student Development

1. Psi Beta’s National Research Projects Robin Musselman Psi Beta Past-President Jerry Rudmann Executive Director, Psi Beta National Honor Society July 1, 2013

2. Agenda • Purpose of the National Research Project Additional incentives for participation • Historical Overview • Schedule • Pilot during spring 2008 • Begin major study fall 2008 through June 2009 • Eligibility requirements • Variables • Shyness • Academic and social integration of first semester college students • Personality factors • Hypotheses • Instruments, informed consent form, script • Beginning reference list • Closing

3. Purpose of Psi Beta’s National Research Project The mission of Psi Beta Honor Society is to promote professional development of psychology students in two-year colleges through promotion and recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership, research, and community service. ~Psi Beta National Council, June 9, 1996~

4. Purpose of Psi Beta’s National Research Project The mission of Psi Beta Honor Society is to promote professional development of psychology students in two-year colleges through promotion and recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership, research, and community service. ~Psi Beta National Council, June 9, 1996~

5. Additional Incentives for Chapters • To further investigate important topics: e.g., shyness, mobile phone addiction • To partner with cutting edge researchers at leading research universities • Research partnership with Psi Chi • Assist with assessment component of chapter service projects • Peer mentoring, campus connectedness, developing a growth mindset, inoculation against stereotype threat, etc. • Poster presentations at conferences

6. Historical Overview of the Psi Beta National Research Project

7. Chapter Participation Requirements • IRB approval • Chapter required to submit complete data on at least 30 participants

8. Selected Findings from Past National Research Projects

10. Shyness • Consider yourself to be a shy person? 43% • If not shy now, were you ever shy? 67% • If shy, has shyness ever been a personal problem for you? • Often 38% • Sometimes 27%

11. Some Correlations • Connectedness and shyness are not related • Shyness is inversely related to Extroversion(r = -0.62**) • Shyness is positively related to Neuroticism(r = 0.50**)

12. Types of people who elicit shyness

13. Some ways shyness has created problems in participants’ personal lives

14. How shyness has created problems in participants’ educational lives

15. Actions taken to overcome shyness:

16. Development of a College Connectedness Scale • 13 items having to do with connectedness • To what extent do you… • feel connected with new friends at this college? • come to this college for reasons other than classes (e.g., to socialize, use the library, study)? • feel proud to be a student at this college? • feel you would recommend this college to a friend? • Feel connected to this college?

17. To what extent do you feel connected to this college?

18. Exploratory factor analysis of connectedness questions Principal Component Analysis, Promax with Kaiser Normalization Factors • Pride/satisfaction with the college (4 items) • Connected to friends/activities (5 items) • Familiarity with college staff (instructor, staff, and/or administrator – 2 items) • Study group involvement, interest (2 items)

19. Thank you for attending!!!