SM
Sarah Messeck
  • Psychology
  • Class of 2016
  • Storrs, CT

Eastern Student Sarah Messeck of Storrs Presents at Psychological Science Night

2014 Dec 18

The Psychology Department and Psychology Club at Eastern Connecticut State University co-sponsored the first ever Psychological Science Night on Dec. 10 in the Student Center. Through poster and oral presentations, the event showcased the undergraduate research of 60 students in Eastern's psychology program.

Sarah Messeck '16, a Psychology major from Storrs, delivered a poster presentation titled "Effects of Stress and Coping Styles on Depression in College Students."

"The department could not be more excited and proud about our students showcasing the independent research they have completed," said Professor Wendi Everton, chair of the Psychology Department. "I saw and heard work that could easily be presented at national professional conferences."

The majority of the presenters were students in the department's rigorous three-course research sequence that is required of all psychology majors. In PSY 227, Behavioral Science Statistics, students learn and practice statistical analysis; in PSY 247, Research Methods I, students learn about research design and complete a proposal for an independent human subjects research project; and in PSY 327, Research Methods II, students conduct their studies and analyze, write up and present their projects.

"The mission of Psychological Science Night is to celebrate the exceptional undergraduate research that our majors are conducting," said Professor Krystalyn Salters-Pedneault, event coordinator. "We are hoping to make this an annual event in the fall."

In addition to students who presented their Research Methods II projects, a number of students worked with research mentors in the Psychology Department on independent studies, research assistantships and research field experiences; this work was also presented at Psychological Science Night.