Undergraduate research on everything from perceptions of transsexual archetypes and the longevity of elite soccer players to a poster titled the “Interdimensional lizard people control the world: Schizotypy and the supernatural conspiracy mentality” was on display at York’s Department of Psychology annual Honours Thesis Poster Day.
More than 80 fourth-year psychology students in the Faculty of Health presented the findings of their work, the culmination of a year of thesis research with a faculty mentor, in Vari Hall Rotunda April 7.
“It’s such a fantastic opportunity for undergraduates to work with mentors and conduct research, and attempt to explain that research outside of the classroom as well by learning how academic conferences work. For many who are going onto graduate studies, this is an invaluable benefit, a peek into what academia is like,” said the event organizer, psychology Professor Jill Rich.
Two research posters caught the attention of a panel of graduate student judges and tied for first place: “Activism from within: Feminist psychologists challenge the ethics of therapist-client sexual relations in the 1970s” by Susanna Kim and “Painter’s Decline: Toward the use of art as a screening tool for Alzheimer’s disease” by Katherine Matthews.
Details of the various studies, including the two winning ones, were summarized and displayed on posters in the style typical of professional psychology conferences. Visitors had an opportunity to view the posters and to ask questions of the student researchers.
To view photos from the day, visit the Faculty of Health’s Flickr page.
By Arina Kharlamova in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health