Lincoln grad presents psychology research at ECSU

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. — Nathan Taylor of Lincoln was one of 43 psychology students at Eastern Connecticut State University to present their research in a poster session on Nov. 27 at the department's annual Psychological Science Afternoon.

Taylor, a junior, majors in Psychology and was mentored by Psychology Professor Madeleine Fugere during the course of their research. Taylor's research project is titled “Violent Media's Effect on Aggression and Empathy.”

Student research projects are the culimination of preparation through two Psychology Research Methods courses. In Research Methods I students learn to develop hypotheses, understand a variety of research methodologies, conduct library and database research and properly read scholarly journal articles in preparation for conducting their own research. In Research Methods II, a continuation of Research Methods I, students carry out independent undergraduate-level research projects. As a result, students gain experience in correlational and experimental research, ethics, statistical analyses and the writing of research reports. Student who complete research are then required to present their final research project in a forum that is open to the university.

"Research takes classroom experience and applies it to tangible, practical work," said Psychology Professor Carlos Escoto. "The opportunity to present research as an undergraduate opens so many doors."