Hillsdale hosts statewide psychology conference
Juliana D'Amico
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: News
For the first time in more than 10 years the Hillsdale College psychology department hosted the Michigan Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference Sat. March 28. Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department Fritz Tsao said since his tenure here, Hillsdale has only hosted MUPRC once.
"It must have been 15 years ago, and that's the reason why we were coerced into hosting it this year," Tsao said. Tsao said MUPRC is a regional conference open to all Michigan universities. Florida Atlantic University Professor of Psychology David Bjorklund was this year's keynote speaker. He spoke on his book "Why Youth is Not Wasted on the Young."
"He's very famous," Tsao said. "We were lucky to have him."
Another aspect of MUPRC is undergraduate presentations consisting of two poster sessions and one paper session.
"The poster has the same structure as a talk so it usually begins by talking what the study was about then goes onto the method, graphs, and how to interpret the study," Tsao said. "It's a poster version of what you would see in a scientific journal."
The paper session is a separate session in which the students orally present their theses to fellow presenting students and faculty members.
"The beauty of this is this is a student conference," Tsao said. "This is an opportunity for students to presented their work."
Psychology students view the conference as a way to get their foot in the door for graduate study.
"The MUPRC is similar to a professional conference and serves as a springboard to those who wish to continue research at the graduate level," Psi Chi psychology honorary president and senior Calla Brodbeck said.
The presenting undergraduates are selected by the college they attend. Tsao said it is a mutual decision between the faculty adviser and the psychology student.
Assistant Professor of Psychology Kari McArthur said if a faculty adviser thinks that the student's work is worthy to enter the conference and represent the school, then the adviser has the student submit his or her poster or presentation. Every school tries to submit a few students to represent them at the conference. Most presenting students are seniors who present their theses, but juniors have also presented their studies at the conference.
"It must have been 15 years ago, and that's the reason why we were coerced into hosting it this year," Tsao said. Tsao said MUPRC is a regional conference open to all Michigan universities. Florida Atlantic University Professor of Psychology David Bjorklund was this year's keynote speaker. He spoke on his book "Why Youth is Not Wasted on the Young."
"He's very famous," Tsao said. "We were lucky to have him."
Another aspect of MUPRC is undergraduate presentations consisting of two poster sessions and one paper session.
"The poster has the same structure as a talk so it usually begins by talking what the study was about then goes onto the method, graphs, and how to interpret the study," Tsao said. "It's a poster version of what you would see in a scientific journal."
The paper session is a separate session in which the students orally present their theses to fellow presenting students and faculty members.
"The beauty of this is this is a student conference," Tsao said. "This is an opportunity for students to presented their work."
Psychology students view the conference as a way to get their foot in the door for graduate study.
"The MUPRC is similar to a professional conference and serves as a springboard to those who wish to continue research at the graduate level," Psi Chi psychology honorary president and senior Calla Brodbeck said.
The presenting undergraduates are selected by the college they attend. Tsao said it is a mutual decision between the faculty adviser and the psychology student.
Assistant Professor of Psychology Kari McArthur said if a faculty adviser thinks that the student's work is worthy to enter the conference and represent the school, then the adviser has the student submit his or her poster or presentation. Every school tries to submit a few students to represent them at the conference. Most presenting students are seniors who present their theses, but juniors have also presented their studies at the conference.
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