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Psychology Research at WKU


Explore Research in Psychology

Our students are active researchers in psychology laboratories and research groups. The Department of Psychology offers many opportunities for students to gain research experience, including the ability to earn course credit for working in a research lab.

Previous research experience is NOT necessary!

Meet Our Researchers

A student researcher monitors a participant's heart rate on a smartphone while the participant holds a plank on a balance board in a psychology lab.

Get Involved: Student Research Opportunities

Gain hands-on experience, build your resume, and prepare for graduate school or a career in psychology.

Why Join a Lab?

Participating in research is one of the most valuable experiences you can have as a psychology major. You'll move beyond the textbook to actively contribute to scientific knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and build strong relationships with faculty and peers.

An introduction to research in psychology, perfect for students at any level. Assist faculty with existing projects and gain foundational lab experience.

  • Prerequisites: PSY 100 / PSYS 100.
  • Credit: 1-3 hours available.
  • Responsibilities: Assisting with data collection and supporting ongoing research. A great first step before taking on a PSYS 490 project.
  • To Enroll: Connect with a faculty member to arrange supervision and complete the required approval form.

Advanced students conduct research, readings, or special projects under faculty direction, taking significant ownership from start to finish.

  • Prerequisites: PSY 100, junior standing, and permission of the faculty project supervisor.
  • Credit: 1-3 hours available based on workload.
  • Responsibilities: Involves planning, implementation, and writing/presenting results. This offers more ownership than the introductory experience in PSYS 290.
  • To Enroll: Identify and meet with a faculty supervisor to discuss your project and complete the required approval form.

The National Science Foundation funds summer research opportunities. These programs allow undergraduates to work on specific research projects and are a fantastic way to gain intensive, hands-on experience.

Learn More At NSF.gov

Journal of Psychological Inquiry: The Journal of Psychological Inquiry encourages undergraduate students to submit manuscripts for consideration. Manuscripts may include empirical studies, literature reviews, and historical articles; manuscripts may cover any topical area in the psychological sciences. 

Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research. The Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research encourages undergraduate students to submit manuscripts for consideration. Submissions are accepted for review on an ongoing basis. Although manuscripts are limited to empirical research, they may cover any topical area in the psychological sciences.

Modern Psychological Studies - A journal devoted to publishing research by undergraduates in Psychology. The journal seeks high quality manuscripts for publication. MPS will consider manuscripts in any area of psychology, although they are primarily interested in results from experimental research, they are also interested in theoretical papers, literature reviews, and book reviews. The journal encourages all undergraduates who think their paper is exceptionally well written to submit it for publication.

The Undergraduate Research Commons is a portal to research and publishing for undergraduate students.

 

Recent Publications & Presentations

A showcase of collaborations involving our faculty and students.


Bold = Faculty Member
+ = Graduate Student
^ = Undergraduate Student

Chang, S.,^ & Zhao, Q. (2021; February). Could directly shifting mindset about self-doubt reduce the negative effects of self-doubt? Poster to be presented at the Self & Identity Virtual Preconference at the 2021 Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) annual convention.

Derryberry, W.P., Richardson, S+ Simpson, A.^, Wilson, M.+, & Ambam, A.^ (In press). Negative affective states and moral judgment: A closer look at their joint involvement.  Journal of Moral Education.

Gross, T., Hines, C.+, Li, Q., & McCarroll, P. (Accepted 2021, February). Finding Fit: Students Support Needs Scale for Minority STEM Learners. Paper presentation for the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference, Virtual.

Wininger, S. R., & Kuhn, A.^ (in press) Effect of Goal Type (distance vs. time) on Self-Selected Exercise Intensity. Journal of Sports Behavior.

Zhao, Q., Wininger, S. R., & Wilson, J.+ (in press). The Interactive Effects of Gender and Implicit Theories of Abilities on Mathematics and Science Achievements. The Australian Educational Researcher.

Banaszak, C.^, & Baker, M. A. (2020, May). Is eyewitness description accuracy of suspects related to eyewitness identification accuracy of suspects in lineups? Poster presented at the 2020 WKU Student Research Conference, Bowling Green, KY. 

Bone, C.M.+ & Ochs, S. (2021, February). Supporting Alternative School Students: How Does School-based Mentoring Fit? Poster presentation at the 2021 National Association of School Psychologists       Annual Convention, Virtual.

Bone, C.M.+, Thomas, C.^, Rogers, A.^, & Ochs, S. (2020, April). Differences in writing performance by classroom and gender. Poster presentation at the 2020 WKU Student Research Poster Session, Virtual

Erps, K.H.+, Ochs, S., & Mire, S.S.  (2020, February).  Addressing Barriers to Suicide Risk Assessment for Youth with ASD.  Paper presentation at the 2020 National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Baltimore, MD.

Erps, K.H.+, Ochs, S., & Myers, C.L.  (2020).  Suicide risk assessment in the schools: A survey of practicing school psychologists. Psychology in the Schools.

Ferries, K.+ & Ochs, S. (2020, February). Evidence-based Bullying Prevention Programs in Elementary Schools. Poster presentation at the 2020 National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Baltimore, MD.

Gambrell, C.^, & Baker, M. A. (2020, May). The influence of prior arrest quality on attitudes toward police and judgments of police use of force. Poster presented at the 2020 WKU Student Research Conference, Bowling Green, KY. 

Gross, T., Keesey, S., Noel, C., Lockwood, A., Hacherl, G.+, & Richardson, S + (2020, February). Demystifying Behavioral Assessment: A Model of Teacher Training for Screening. Paper presentation for the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Gross, T., Noel, C., Johnson, C.+, Hines, C.+, Hacherl, G.+, & King, T.^ (2020, February). Quality Matters: Webcast Family-focused Workshops for Children with Autism. Paper presentation for the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Gross, T., Noel, C., Thornberry, T., Lockwood, A., Johnson, C.+, King, T.^, & Hacherl, G+ (2019, November). Multifaceted Quality Assessment of Webcast Family Workshops for Children with Autism. Paper presentation for the Kentucky Association of Psychology in the Schools Convention, Lexington, KY.

Henneberg, L^ & Zhao, Q. (2020; July). Does competition change the relative importance of absolute and relative standing feedback? Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science (APS) Virtual Poster Showcase. The in-person annual convention in Chicago, IL. was canceled due to COVID-19. 

Jarboe, K.+ & Ochs, S. (2020, February). Barriers and Facilitators of Successful Implementation of PBIS Implementation. Poster presentation at the 2020 National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Baltimore, MD.

Lewis, C. A.+, & Myers, C. L. (2020). The consistency of preschool teacher ratings on the Behavior Assessment System for Children-3 and the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form. Contemporary School Psychology, online publication February 13, 2020.

Littrell, C. K.+Grieve, F. G., Derryberry, W. P., Brausch, A., Parker, O. J.^, & Scott, J. N.^ (2020). Brief Report: Relationships among facets of narcissism, symptoms of eating disorders, and symptoms of muscle dysmorphia. Journal of Men’s Studies

McClain, A.^, Greis, R.^, & Baker, M. A. (2020, March). Does eyewitness description accuracy mediate the relationship between recall instructions and identification accuracy regarding the verbal overshadowing effect? Poster presented at the American Psychology-Law Society, New Orleans, LA. 

Noel, C., Gross, T., Ritchie, M. +, Hacherl, G. +, & Howerton, M.^ (In Press, 2020). Group-Based Training on Trial-Based Functional Analysis. Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children.

Paquin, A. R., Bruni, J. R., Jenkins, A. J., Rhodes, J. M.+, & Kessler, J. D.+ (May, 2020). Gender Differences in Perceptions of Alcohol and Date Rape: No Means No or Does It? Paper presented virtually at the 2020 meeting of the Association of Psychological Science in Chicago, IL. 

Redifer, J.L., & Jackola, K.^ (2020, August).  Belief in one neuromyth is associated with belief in others Presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Virtual.

Robinson, C.+ & Ochs, S.  (2020, February).  Curriculum-Based Measures for Screening English Language Learners.Poster presentation at the 2020 National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Baltimore, MD.

Roehm, D.^ & Thornberry, T.  (2020, April). The interplay of parenting stress and child adaptability through positive following. Virtual poster presented at 2020 CEBS Virtual Student Poster Presentation, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Roehm, D.^ & Thornberry, T. (2020, May). The interplay of parenting stress and child adaptability through unlabeled praise during child led play. Virtual poster presented at 50thAnnual WKU Student Research Conference, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Simpson, A.^, & Derryberry, W.P. (2020, March). Exploration of the Relationship Between Critical Thinking, Moral Development, and Attitudes Toward Human Rights.  Poster presented at the annual Posters at the Capitol, Frankfort, KY.  

Smith, A.^, Geis, E.^, Baker, M. A. (2020, March). Are attitudes toward police related to judgments of police use of force? Poster presented at the American Psychology-Law Society, New Orleans, LA. 

Swierkosz, E.+, & Myers, C. L. (2020, February). Positive behavior characteristics of behavior rating scales, revisited. Poster presented at the meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Baltimore, MD.

Wininger, S. R., & Bailey, A.(August, 2020). Multitasking while Cycling: Impact on Self-Selected Exercise Intensity. Poster presented at 2020 APA virtual convention.

Young, S, Baker, M. A., McClain, A.^, Smith, A.^, Greis, R.^, & Geis, E.(2020, March). To choose or not to choose: Shifts in response criteria do not explain verbal overshadowing. Poster presented at the American Psychology-Law Society, New Orleans, LA.

Zarotny, B.A.^ & Ochs, S.  (2020. February).  School-based Mentoring in an Alternative Setting: Mentor and Mentee Experiences. Poster presentation at the 2020 National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Baltimore, MD.

Zarotny, B.A.^, Keown, J.^, Lemon, H.^, & Ochs, S. (2020, April). Does a writing screener function differently across response types and grades? Poster presentation at the 2020 WKU Student Research Poster Session, Virtual.

Zhao, Q., & Grey, C.+ (2020). Objective performance feedback is more influential than comparative performance feedback. Poster accepted for presentation at the 2020 Association for Psychological Science (APS) annual convention in Chicago, IL. The convention was canceled due to COVID-19.

Zhao, Q., Wininger, S., & Hendrick, J.^ (in press). The interactive effects of gender and implicit theories of ability on math and science achievements. Australian Educational Researcher. 

Berry, A.^, & Derryberry, W.P (2019, May). Approaches to Parenting and Social Information processing.  Poster to be presented at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science, Washington, D.C. 

East, C.^, Mulaski, J.C.^, Zarotny, B.^, & Ochs, S. (2019). Exploring alternate-form reliability for written expression.  Poster presented at the 2019 CEBS Reach Week Student Poster Session in Bowling Green, KY.

Erps, K.+ & Ochs, S. (2019, February).  Using Supervision to Increase Conversations About Culture.  Paper presented at the 2019 National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Farmer, R., Gross, T., +Hacherl, G., ^Bleam, S., Noel, C., & Keesey, S. (2019, February). Did No Harm: Assessing Effects of the Good Behavior Game. Paper proposal for the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Grieve, F. G., Wann, D. L., & Case+, J. C. (2019, February). Attention and sport fans: How fandom can influence what people remember. Paper accepted for the annual conference of the Applied Sport Management Association, Nashville, TN.

Gross, T., & +Hacherl, G. (In Press). Test review of the Infant/Toddler Environment Scale, Third Edition. In J. F. Carlson, K. F. Geisinger, & J. L. Jonson (Eds.), The twenty-first mental measurements yearbook. Lincoln, NE: Buros Center for Testing.

Gross, T., Noel, C., Farmer, R., +Hacherl, G., & +Ritchie, M. (August 2019). Examining a group-based teacher training of trial-based functional analysis. Poster presentation submitted for the American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Gross, T., Noel, C., +Johnson, C., +Hacherl, G., & Farmer, R. (August 2019). Participant Quality Ratings of a Telehealth Workshop for Families of Children with ASD. Poster presentation submitted for the American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL. 

Gross, T., +Hacherl, G., Li, Q. (2019, February). Comparing Student Support Needs Assessments for Underrepresented Minority STEM Students. Poster proposal for the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Gross, T., Noel, C., & +Hacherl, G. (2019, March). TRIAD Families First at WKU. Presentation to the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative (GRREC), Bowling Green, KY.

+Hestand, M., & Myers, C. L. (2019, February). Teacher self-efficacy and student gender effects on behavioral referrals. Poster presented at the meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Atlanta, GA.

Jackola, K.^, & Redifer, J.L. (2019, May). Impact of remembering vs. knowing on strength of belief in neuromyths. Accepted for Presentation at the Annual Meeting of Association for Psychological Science, Washington, D.C.

+Johnson, C., +Turner, H., Gross, T., & Mason, W.A. (August 2019). APQ: Longitudinal Invariance for Parent Supervision and Inconsistent Discipline Scales. Poster presentation submitted for the American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

King. H.^, & Redifer, J.L. (2019, May). Trait anxiety and procrastination predict surface study strategy use. Accepted for Presentation at the Annual Meeting of Association for Psychological Science, Washington, D.C.

Lockwood, A., Bohan, K., Loke, S., Sealander, K., Lanterman, C., Lafoon, T.^ (2019, February). Who administers norm-referenced academic achievement assessments? Presented at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), 51st Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA.

Peterson+, K. C., Kuhlenschmidt, S., Grieve, F. G. (2019, August). Does the level of stigma change with diagnosis? The effect of mental disorder on sterotyping. Poster submitted for the annual conference of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Prater, C.^, Vanover, A.^, & Wafzig, E.^, & Ochs, S. (2019). Written and typed measures: Differences in response type.  Poster presented at the 2019 CEBS Reach Week Student Poster Session in Bowling Green, KY.

Pugh+, A. S., Grieve, F. G., Derryberry, W. P., & Clayton, K. (in press). What motivates sport fans to attend minor league baseball and roller derby events. Journal of Contemporary Athletics.

Thornberry, T., Daniel, M.+, Goodman, O.^, Manning, A.^, & Gross, D. (2019, May). Preventing prescription drug misuse in future medical professionals. Poster accepted to the 42ndAnnual Conference of the National Rural Health Association, Atlanta, Georgia.

^Volk, E., Gross, T., & Mason, W.A. (2019, February). The Effect of Parenting on Youth Behavior Leading to Suspensions. Poster proposal for the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Seaver, H.^, & Wininger, S. R. (October, 2019). Effects of Multi-Tasking on Self-Selected Pace and Distance while Walking. Poster presented at 2019 AASP Conference, Seattle, WA.

+Rudisill, L., & Myers, C. L. (2019, February). Enhancing a student’s self-management skills in the classroom. Poster presented at the meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Atlanta, GA.

Springer^, K., & Grieve, F. (2018, May). Muscle dysmorphia and art appreciation. Poster presented at the 30th Annual Conference of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.

Wininger, S.R., French, C.A.+, & Mienaltowski, A. (August, 2019). The Impact of Exercising on Concurrent Academic Task Performance. Poster presented at the 2019 APA Conference, Chicago, IL.

Wininger, S.R., & Lemberg, G.^ (August, 2019). Impact of Texting while Cycling on Self-Selected Exercise Intensity. Poster presented at the 2019 APA Conference, Chicago, IL.

Wininger, S. R., Redifer, J., Norman, A., & Higginson, M. K.+ (2019). Prevalence of learning 

styles in educational psychology and introduction to education textbooks: A content 

analysis. Psychology of Learning and Teaching, 18, 221-243.

Zhao, Q., Wichman, A., & Frishberg, E.^ (2019). Self-doubt effects depend on beliefs about ability: Experimental evidence. Journal of General Psychology. Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1080/00221309.2019.1585320 

^Bleam, S., +Hacherl, G. Farmer, R., Gross, T., Keesey, S., & Noel, C. (2018, March). Impact of the Good Behavior Game on Classroom Behavior and Student Well-Being. Poster presentation for the Kentucky Association for Behavior Analysis Annual Conference, Louisville, KY. 

Brown, T. A.^ & Paquin, A. R. (2018). Fostering peace and leadership: A project for the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit. Presented at the Western Kentucky University Student Research Conference, Bowling Green, KY.

Buscaglia, A.⁺, Kuhlenschmidt, S., Zhao, Q., Clayton, K., Fiore, C., & Pepper, A. (2018; April). The effects of gender and communication style in dating interactions. Poster presented at the 2018 Western Psychological Association (WPA) annual convention in Portland, Oregon.

Erps, K.+ & Ochs, S.  (2018, August).  School psychologists and suicide risk assessment: role perception, competency, and prevalence.  Poster presented at the 2018 American Psychological Association Annual Convention in San Francisco, CA.   

Gross, T., Li, Q., McCarroll, P., & +Hacherl, G. (2018, August). Pilot Study to Adapt the Student Support Needs Scale. Poster presented as part of the American Psychological Association Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Isaacs, R.^, & Derryberry, W.P. (2018).  The relationships among social judgments, identification, and stigmatization.  Poster presented at the Western Kentucky University Student Research Conference, Bowling Green, KY. 

Lowe+, A. B., & Grieve, F. G. (2018). Objective measurement and insight assessment of muscle dysmorphia. Graduate Student Journal of Psychology, 17, 99-110.

+Marshall, B. M., & Myers, C. L. (2018, February). Restricted interests and reading comprehension in students with autism. Poster presented at the meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Chicago, IL.

Molignoni^, K., & Grieve, F. (2018, May). Muscle dysmorphia: Perceived benefits and barriers to treatment. Poster presented at the 30th Annual Conference of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.

Myers, C. L., & +Rentsch, C. A. (2018, February). Caution: Same behavior rating scale constructs, different results. Poster presented at the meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Chicago, IL.

Myers, C. L., & +Schrader, M. (2016, February). Gender effects of choice and interest level on CBM writing. Poster presented at the meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, New Orleans, LA.

Ochs, S.  & Hamilton, S.^ (2018, October).  The impact of burnout and the critical need for self-care.  Oral presentation at the 2018 Kentucky Association of Psychology in the Schools Convention in Louisville, KY.

Redifer, J.L., Lor, Z., & Lawson, C.^ (2018, May). Impacts of working memory capacity and accuracy during strategy use on retrieval performance. Presented at the Annual Meeting of Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.

Trader, E.^, Paquin, A. R., & Zhao, Q. (2018). Decreasing stigma against depression in Chinese international students. Presented at the Western Kentucky University Student Research Conference, Bowling Green, KY.

Trader, E.^, Paquin, A. R., & Zhao, Q. (2018). Decreasing stigma against depression in Chinese international students. Presented at the Mid-America Psychology Undergraduate Conference, Charleston, IL.

Wininger, S. R. & Forgione, B.^ (August, 2018). Impact of Two Types of Multi-tasking on Self-Selected Exercise Intensity. Submitted to 2018 APA Convention, San Francisco, CA.

Wininger, S. R., Ryle, M.K.+, & Redifer, J. L. (August, 2018). Prevalence of Learning Styles in

Textbooks for Educational Psychology and Introduction to Education. Submitted to 2018

APA Convention, San Francisco, CA.

Meet Our Researchers

Our faculty are excited to work with undergraduate and graduate students on a variety of research projects. See below for more information on the types of research we do. You can contact any of the faculty below to learn more about how you can get involved with their research.

In particular, PSY 290 and PSY 490 are excellent opportunities for undergraduate students to earn course credit while gaining research experience.

Sarah Bonis

Measurement and Intervention Team

Research Interests:

  • Academic/mental health in children & adolescents
  • Crisis response & suicide risk assessment
  • Identifying student need or risk
  • Professional issues in school psychology

Accepting Students:

UndergradGraduate

Lisa C. Duffin

The Academic Quality (TAQ) Lab

Research Interests:

  • Factors impacting academic quality at program, group, and individual levels in various contexts.

Accepting Students:

UndergradGraduate

Amber M. Giacona

PALM Lab

Research Interests:

  • Eyewitness Identification
  • False Memory Research
  • Juror Decision-Making

Accepting Students:

UndergradGraduate

Rick Grieve

Clinical/Applied Research (CAR) Group

Research Interests:

  • Eating disorders, including men's eating disorders & muscle dysmorphia
  • Sport fan behavior

Accepting Students:

UndergradGraduate

Erin Jant

Learning and Development Lab

Research Interests:

  • Children’s Learning & Memory
  • Parent-Child Interactions
  • Spatial Thinking & STEM Reasoning
  • Informal STEM Education

Accepting Students:

UndergradGraduate

Christopher Peters

FACTS Lab

Research Interests:

  • Jury decision making & trial consulting
  • Eyewitness support (e.g., support dogs)
  • Insanity and competency to stand trial
  • AI in the Legal System

Accepting Students:

UndergradGraduate

Steve Wininger

Motivation Lab

Research Interests:

  • Assessment & regulation of performance anxiety in sports, public speaking, etc.
  • Testing the GASP model (Goal types, Anxiety, Selective attention, Performance).

Accepting Students:

UndergradGraduate

Young-Jae Yoon

Research Interests:

  • Behavior in teams and global organizations (culture, creativity, leadership).
  • Utilizes methods like big data, machine learning, and agent-based modeling.

Accepting Students:

UndergradGraduate

Qin Zhao

Social Metacognition Lab

Research Interests:

  • How mindsets influence performance, well-being, & resilience.
  • Psychological impact of absolute vs. relative standing.
  • Metacognitive judgments and learning.

Accepting Students:

UndergradGraduate

The Department of Psychology

Gary A. Ransdell Hall, Office 3012

1906 College Heights Blvd. #11030,
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1030


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 Last Modified 10/2/25