Students conduct experiments

Students majoring in Psychology conducted a free 15-minute experiment on Cerritos College students April 19 to 26. 

“Students get the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a psychological scientist,” Dr. Kimberley Duff said.

Self-esteem and body image, racial stereotypes and music lyrics, the effect of self-esteem on the stereotyping of unattractive women, and the stigma of the homeless were among the research topics conducted by the students.

Students are allowed to come up with their own research design, and it’s a two-week process collecting and analyzing the data.

Howard Lee, Psychology major, said, “It was a good learning experience and very hands on.

“It was extremely hard, but with research and planning it were very productive and helped me with my learning experience and will help me when I transfer out.”

Duff, creator of the Psychology 220 course, mentioned students who have taken the course and participated in the study have benefited from the experiment in academic ways such as getting their tuition fully paid for by other institutions.

“Many students who have done really well on the experiment end up going to graduate school and getting their masters and PhD in Psychology,” Duff said.

When students complete the course with a passing grade of C or better, they can submit their data to an honor society entitled Psi Beta.

Students' work is then sent to The American Psychological Association, and if their work is accepted they will have the opportunity to attend the San Diego APA Conference in August to present their study.

“Most Intro to Research Method students don’t even do this at Cal States or UCs, so they’re getting a preview of something that many of them will do later, and an understanding of it that is way beyond anything that most people at their stage of education will get,” Professor Karen Beck said.

To receive more information on the studies that students researched, go to Cerritos.edu/kduff/MAP
 

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