Empower Your Dreams - March, 2014

On March 20th, Brigham Young University-Hawaii hosted its ninth annual Empower Your Dreams contest, in which many students of psychology had the opportunity to present their research and academic accomplishments to other students, faculty, and staff. The event poses a positive and constructive environment for students to showcase the hard work and dedication they invest in their academic and career goals.

Natalie DeMartini, a senior, presented her poster which displays her senior research project entitled, "Positive and Negative Messages and the Efficacy of Sports Drinks on Performance." Natalie had a positive experience at the event, afterwords expressing that she "loved presenting new ideas for others to learn and grow in knowledge." She also said she felt "it was awesome to see other people's interest" in her work, saying "it encouraged me to continue to believe in myself." Natalie's project focused mainly on how the expectations of the efficacy of certain products can lead to the fulfilling of one's expected performance by consuming those products. 

The results indicate that participants would increase or decrease their athletic performance according to their individual belief in a products legitimacy. However, unless there was no strong preconceived belief, then one's performance could easily be swayed by a positive or negative message rather than the drink itself.

Natalie's project abstract, as well as the abstracts of the other 13 students who presented at Empower Your Dreams follow below. 

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Maxwell Bogner

The Effect of Clothing on Exam Performance and Confidence

Bem’s self-perception theory suggests we judge ourselves in the same manner that we judge others. Research shows that we often associate adjectives like intelligence and confidence with those who are dressed in professional clothing. In the current study, 50 male students wore either casual or professional clothing while completing an academic task, in order to examine if clothing type influenced performance as well as feelings of confidence. Participants completed 20 GMAT math questions and rated their confidence for each item. There were no significant differences between clothing conditions in performance scores, t(48) = 0.07, p = 0.47, d = .02, or confidence ratings, t(48) = 0.91, p = 0.18, d = .26. These results demonstrate that with this population clothing had no effect on academic performance or confidence. Results may be explained by the mediating role of comfort of the clothing worn on task performance (Bell, Cardello, & Schutz, 2005).

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Alexis Cruz

Differential Effects of Video Games and Film on Stress and Mood

As an extension of research comparing the effects of movies and video games on aggression, the present study concentrates on the differential effects of each form of media on anxiety and affect. 53 participants completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI) and the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), with a sphygmomanometer attached before and after being randomly assigned to play a video game or watch a movie for 30 minutes. Anxiety was reduced, F(1,51) = 8.70, p = .005, eta squared = .15, negative affect reduced, F(1,51) = 5.78, p = .02, eta squeared = .10, and positive affect increased, F(1,51) = 4.10, p = .047, eta squared = .07, after playing the video game and watching the film. Physiological measures showed no differences between groups or before or after interaction with media. These results indicate that either form of media can help manage mood and anxiety.

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Natalie DeMartini

Positive and Negative Messages and the Efficacy of Sports Drinks on Performance

Placebo sports and energy drinks have been used to examine the role of placebos and the efficacy of sports drinks on performance.  In this study I examine the effect of positive and negative messages associated with a placebo drink. Participants ran one mile, then on a separate occasion were given a drink with either a positive, negative or neutral message, then ran a second mile. Using the mean difference of time as a dependent variable, there was a significant interaction between the message and the participants’ beliefs about the efficacy of sports drinks, F(4, 58) =  3.67, p =.009, eta squared = .20. These results demonstrate that while positive or negative messages can increase or decrease athletic performance respectively, having a preconceived belief in sports drinks may nullify the placebo effect.

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Amy Foulk

Horse Interaction and Stress Reduction

Previous research has shown that interacting with animals may result with mental and physical benefits. This study’s focus was animal interaction and its effects on anxiety levels. I hypothesized that a greater reduction of stress symptoms would occur in the participants who were interacting with the animals. Physiological and self-reported measures were recorded for both interaction and observation groups of participants over 4 weeks as they completed a horseback-riding course. There was no significant main effect of condition on self-reported anxiety, F(1, 14) = .002, p = .97,  eta squared =  .0001. However, there was a significant main effect of condition on heart rate, F(1, 14) = 16.41, p = .001,  eta squared =  .54, with participants interacting with the horse having a greater decrease in heart rate. In contrast to the majority of research on animal-human relations, these results support the need for inclusion on physiological variables in future studies.

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Lena Hawaikirangi

The Length of LDS Dating Relationships and its Effect on Marital Satisfaction

Previous research has shown that the length of time couples date before marriage can predict the level of satisfaction within their marriage. Latter-day Saint (LDS) couples have been shown to differ considerably in dating patterns from the population of this established literature. In the present study, I examine the length of dating relationships and marital satisfaction in LDS couples. Length of dating relationships did not predict marital satisfaction β = -.001, t(196) = -0.02, p = .99, nor did length of dating explain a significant variance in marital satisfaction, R² = .000001, F(1, 196) = .003, p = .99. These results indicate that the well-established relationship between dating length and marital satisfaction may not describe LDS couples. Characteristics of commitment-making and religiosity, common among LDS culture, are discussed as possible explanations for these disparate findings.

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Kailee Kartchner

Physical Self-Efficacy and the Effects of Augmented Feedback

Self-efficacy has played an essential role in sports performance. In the current study, I examined the effects of physical self-efficacy and visual feedback on female athletes’ chin-up hold time. Athletes (N = 57) completed a Physical Self-Efficacy scale (Ryckman, 1982) with half receiving visual feedback (time) while doing the chin-up hold. Results indicate that visual feedback had no effect on performance time. However, physical self-efficacy predicted performance times, β = .25 t(54) = 1.90, p = .06. In addition, self-efficacy explained a significant proportion of variance in performance time, R² = .05 F (1, 54) = 3.59 p = .06. In contrast to previous studies, feedback did not appear to influence performance times. Which suggests feedback is not essential. Recommendations for future research in this area include examining the effect of feedback on athletes within a single sport, as well as a task analogous to their sport requirements.

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Helaman Ching Fung Li

Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Aggression

Previous research has shown a relationship between sleep deprivation and depressive and anxious symptoms. The same group of symptoms has also been known to correlate with impulsive aggression. However, a direct link between sleep deprivation and aggression has yet to be examined thoroughly with a college-aged population. In the present study, I examined whether sleep deprivation predicted measures of aggression for university undergraduate students. 163 full-time students completed both the Sleep Quality Index (Krenek, 2006) and The Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992). Sleep deprivation significantly predicted overall aggression, β = .31, t(161) = 4.15, p < .0001. In addition, sleep deprivation reflected a significant proportion of variance in overall aggression, R² = .09, F(1, 161) = 17.22, p < .0001. In contrast to previous studies, all four measures of aggression were predicted by sleep deprivation. This study suggests that dissimilar populations may be differentially affected by sleep deprivation.

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Nadia Nematbakhsh

First Impressions of Trustworthiness Based on Facial Formation and Race Similarity  

Previous research has shown that baby-face features yield a powerful impact on the perceptions of faces. In the present study, I examine perceivers’ judgments of trustworthiness based on facial formation and racial similarity. Participants viewed 16 photographs representing combinations from each facial formation (baby-face, mature, neutral) and selected race (Polynesian, Caucasian, Asian). Regardless of racial identity of perceivers, baby-faces were judged as more trustworthy than mature faces F(2,250) = 1381.94, p < 0.0000001, eta squared =.92. Caucasian faces were judged as more trustworthy than Asian and Polynesian faces F(4,250) = 7.56, p = .000009, eta squared = .12. There was a significant interaction between men and women as women were judged as more trustworthy than men F(2,125) = 4.74, p = .01, eta squared =.07. This study suggests that the evaluation of baby-faced individuals received higher trustworthiness ratings independent of the ethnicity of the perceiver. Caucasian and women faces were judged as more trustworthy, independent of perceiver’s ethnicity.

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John Quindara

Face Value: Cross Cultural Effects on Facial Attraction

In an extension of facial attraction research, I experimentally examined the effects of ethnicity and exposure on facial attractiveness for college students. Two universities were selected for their contrasting student populations: BYU Idaho for its majority Caucasian student population and BYU Hawaii for its ethnic diverse student body. Students were presented with computer-generated faces of Asian, Caucasian, and Samoan individuals, along with variations of the three ethnicities mixed together. Attractiveness ratings for each face were recorded. There was a significant interaction between school attended and attractiveness ratings with the Caucasian face being rated more attractive at Brigham Young University–Idaho than at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, F(5, 1395) = 74.36. p < 0.0000001, eta squared = .21. As one face type was rated more attractive irrespective of the ethnicity of the rater, these results indicate that facial similarity has minimal influence in judging attractiveness.

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Liahona Naomi Marie Rasmussen

Cross-Cultural Disgust Reactions to Flatulence

Disgust has been found to have inborn and learned factors that lead to its development and expression. The current study investigated how participants from Asian, Caucasian and Polynesian cultures expressed disgust differently. During completion of a survey, a confederate ostensibly flatulated in the same room as the participant by playing a prerecorded sound from a phone application. Reactions were recorded via laptop camera. 94 recordings were then codified by three raters into 5 typical disgust reactions. After reliability was found between raters, a chi square was run. Overall it was found that participants from different cultures tended to display disgust differently, χ²(4, N=72) = 9.11, p = 03, ϕ = .36, (one-tailed). Asian participants were the least likely to respond facially or vocally. Polynesians tended to respond by laughing and Caucasians by smiling. This study indicates that culture is an important variable in future studies on expressions of disgust.

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Leon Smith

Personality Differences and the Effects of Motivation in the Gym

Coaches play an integral part in motivating athletes. One method of motivation is through pre-game speeches. Previous research has shown that differences in personality may account for differential responses to motivational speeches.  In the present study, I examined whether men with high pride would take shorter breaks in between their workout sets than men with low pride after being given a motivational speech. Before working out, 43 participants completed the “Perception of Success Questionnaire” and then listened to a five-minute motivational speech. Following the speech, rest times were recorded for ten workout sets. Men who rated themselves as having more pride had longer rest periods than those with low pride ratings, but this difference was not statistically significant, t(41) = 1.18, p = 0.13, d = 0.44. Results may be explained by men with high pride finding security within the gym and men with low pride feeling intimidated.

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Jina Lizbeth Soto

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Cosmetic Use

Previous research has shown that facial attractiveness is associated with many social advantages (e.g. popularity, acceptance, and social competence). Accordingly, many women have sought to alter their facial attractiveness through the use of cosmetics. In the present study, I examined the relationship between use of cosmetics and self-esteem among female undergraduate students. 145 participants completed the Cash Cosmetic Use Inventory (Cash, Rissi, & Chapman, 1985) and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (Gray-Little, Williams, and Hancock, 1997). Self-esteem significantly predicted the amount of cosmetics worn while exercising, β = -0.318, t(225) = 6.53, p < 0.03, and explained a significant proportion of variance in cosmetic use, R2 = 0.27, F(1, 143) = 3.91, p < .05. As self-esteem did not predict cosmetic use in any other setting, these results suggest that the relationship between cosmetics and self-esteem has only limited generalizability.

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Yury Zavala

Effects of Music on Stress: Classical Compared to Hip-Hop

Previous research has reported the influence of music on stress and physiological arousal. While much of this research has focused on classical music, little has included contemporary genres. In the present study, I examined whether classical music would have an increase on self-perceived relaxation levels, anxiety, and reduce physiological arousal in comparison to self-preferred hip hop music. 65 full-time students completed both the Relaxation Rating Scale (Alphonsa, 2007) and the State Anxiety Trait Form Y-1 (Spielberger, 1977) before and after being exposed to either classical or hip hop music. In addition, physiological measures were recorded. Participants who were exposed to hip hop music yielded a significant decrease in relaxation, F(1, 63) = 13.454, p = .0005, eta squared = .18, and anxiety, F(1, 63) = 5.35, p = .024, eta squared = .078. However, there was not a significant difference in physiological measures. Results suggests that relaxing music is a more effective stress reducer than preferred music.

Presentation by Scott Kaufman

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“We need more people who ‘get it,’ like you”

On Monday, March 17^th, Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYUH) was privileged to hear from Scott M. Kaufman, founder & CEO of Humanintelligence and New York Times best-selling author. Kaufman, a renowned entrepreneur, is an inspiration for young minds everywhere with his focus on helping young adults to discover their passions and to make goals that will lead them to successful careers and relationships.

He spoke to a modest sized audience consisting mainly of students, and focused on the opportunities placed before them as young adults preparing to enter society’s work force.

He explained that a positive aspect about being a young adult is that they are “allowed to not know what their passions are yet.” “You still have time to figure it out,” he continued, saying that this age is a prime time to determine future plans before later adulthood marginalizes opportunities.

Impressed with the students here at BYUH, he encouraged them to find their passions and bring their knowledge and skills to the world to help serve and improve those who are less fortunate.

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 “Tie your passion into what is needed,

not wanted”

“We need more people who ‘get it,’ like you,” he noted. He then emphasized that “as long as we are doing this out of a pure heart and a desire to serve others,” then lives will be changed because of the service and love they receive.

He summarized that being a successful student arises from discovering, “every day, how [they] can get in touch with what [they’re] truly passionate about,” and then finding a way “to connect that passion out in the real world that serves other people.”

Additionally, he spoke on analyzing one’s needs and wants. “Tie your passion into what is needed, not wanted,” he expressed.

“It was an intriguing presentation,” says Annelise Eddy, a sophomore studying psychology. “It definitely opened my eyes up to different ideas.”

Kaufman spoke on an acronym that he advocates for young people to be successful: CARING. (Respectively, it stands for Communication, Authenticity, Relationships, Integrity, Nature, and Gratitude.)

Three of the prominent traits of success were Communication, Relationships, and Gratitude.

When introducing Communication, he affectionately noted, “Communication is not a skill, it’s an art.” He also advised to “learn to communicate via volunteering,” as that is an ample opportunity to develop effective interactions.

For Relationships, he emphasized that “the real currency of the world is relationships,” that relationships help to meet the needs and wants of others. He also believes that because the United States and other countries in the world are decreasing in ethnocentric values, “we had better learn about what it means to be international.”

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 “Communication is not a skill, it’s an art”

And finally, for Gratitude, he cautioned students to evaluate the gifts they may take for granted, asking, “When you complain, what are you complaining about?” “Gifts have already been given to you,” he added, “You just have to recognize it.”

Tyler Larson, a senior studying psychology believes Gratitude was “the most helpful trait” Kaufman discussed. “It helped me to recognize opportunities available to me here at school and as a member of the church,” he said.

Kaufman concluded his presentation with an invitation not only to practice the skills and gifts that students have, but to practice “with the right intentions.”

The students and faculty at Brigham Young University–Hawaii are thankful for Scott Kaufman’s presentation. We hope for more enlightenment from him in the future and to work closely together in using our passions to reach our goals.

Article by Kyle Evan Madsen

2013 Student Research Presentations: Poster Session

The Fall 2013 poster session of the Psychology student research presentations was held on November 27, 2013 in the Aloha Center. Senior students had the opportunity to showcase their academic achievements of their own personal research. The following are the nine individual student’s presentations in the poster session of the conference with the abstract of each project.

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The Effects of Race on Helping Behavior

Talaileva Fa’apoi

Based on a sample size of 296 subjects, this study examines the relationship between ethnicity, gender, and helping behavior. Subjects included students primarily from the Brigham Young University of Hawaii campus, along with students and non-students from the mainland USA, Australia, and New Zealand. I hypothesized that Pacific Islanders would elicit helping behavior more often than other ethnicities based upon their collectivistic culture and values based upon traditional social relationships (Doherty et al., 1994). I also hypothesized that females would be more helpful than males. The helping behavior selected was asking subjects if they would participate in a survey. The independent variables were ethnicity and gender, and the dependent variable was helping behavior. Using a Pearson Chi-Square test of independence, results indicated that there were significant statistical differences with ethnicity on helping behavior, but there were no significant differences with gender on helping behavior. Pacific Islanders and Asians helped more than expected but Caucasians did not. Additional findings included comparisons between invite method, online versus in-person, and results indicated significant differences.

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The Effect of Music Preference and Music Loudness on Reading Comprehension

David K. Kane

This study investigated the effects of music preference and music loudness on reading comprehension. 24 undergraduate students, 14 women and 10 men, from Brigham Young University—Hawaii participated in the study. Participants were asked to rate five 15-minute exerts of popular music, and then were given 10 minutes to take a reading comprehension test, while listening to the same pieces of music, but at full-length. There was no correlation found between the participants’ ratings of the songs, and their performance on the reading comprehension test. However, the study found that the mean test scores of the participants who were exposed to loud music (71-90 dB(A)) performed significantly better on the reading comprehension test, than did the participants who were exposed to soft music (51-70 dB(A)). The results of this study neither supported nor refuted this study’s hypotheses, because of errors in methodology, small sampling, and failure to control for English literacy.

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Exercise Adherence, GPA, & Religiosity:

Effects of Exercise Adherence and Religiosity on Grade Point Average in Polynesians

Scott L. Kemsley

This study examined the effects of exercise adherence and religiosity on GPA, specifically in Polynesians. Face-to-face sampling was utilized at a multi-cultural, western university. Each participant was asked for their cumulative GPA and how often they exercised, based off of a likert scale, along with being asked to complete the Duke University Religion Index. Results indicated that there was a statistically significant, positive correlation between GPA and exercise adherence and a statistically significant, negative correlation between religiosity and GPA, suggesting that Polynesians that exercise often are more likely to have higher GPAs. It is suggested that further research be conducted involving the negative relationship found between religiosity and GPA in Polynesians, as it tends to defy current research. Future research should also take into account the level in which the cumulative GPA was obtained (high school, undergraduate, graduate).

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Personality changes Among Young Adults:

Is the Personality Change Affected by Socialization with Different Ethnic Groups?

Amy Junghyun Lee

Most researchers still debate that personality traits among young adults can be changed by external factors like peer interaction. Although the relationship between personality change and peer interaction has been studied, it is difficult to find out about peer interaction with different ethnic groups. Thus, this study was conducted through a cross-sectional study to examine that personality traits would be changed between freshmen (n = 65) and seniors (n = 69), and socialization with different ethnic groups can influence their personality changes, using NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and The Ethnic Peer Interaction. Our results were analyzed by a repeated measure Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and it indicated that there was non- significant relationship for both personality changes (p = 0.21, eta squared = 0.01), and the relationship between personality change and ethnic peer interaction (p = 0.59, eta squared = 0.005). However, Extroversion of NEO Five-Factor Inventory showed a clear trend between freshmen and seniors Therefore, it is suggested that each personality trait from the Five-Factor are changed over the years during the young adulthood, through a variety of factors although the overall personality change does not occur.

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Media Influences on Romantic Obsession and Unhealthy Dating Expectations

Melece V. Meservy

In this study, I investigated how predictive social media role models of obsessive romantic behavior are for the implementation of the same behavior and subsequent emotional instability (high anxiety and depression) in university-aged students, as well as the differences for female and male participants. 141 Participants were recruited at Brigham Young University-Hawaii to complete two surveys: the Passionate Love Scale (PLS) developed by Hatfield and Sprecher (1986) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) developed by Lovibond and Lovibond (1996). Three individual simple regressions and a 2 (Gender: Male and Female) x 2 (Hours: Low and High) x 3 (Romantic Obsession: Anxiety, Depression, and Passionate Love) repeated measures ANOVA was used. No statistical significance was found in support for either hypotheses. However, results showed a weak positive relationship in hours exposed to romantic media, anxiety, depression, and passionate love, suggesting that had a larger sample been recruited, there may have been greater significance.

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Humor’s Perceived Benefits in Correlation to One’s Health and Mental State

Keryna S. Monson

Based on a sample size of 53 Polynesian and Asian students, this study examines how the amount of humor in a person’s life affects their overall physical and mental health. Online surveys were used to collect data from Asian and Polynesian students from a multicultural campus that were born in their respective countries outside of the United States. Findings indicate that there was not a statistically significant relationship between the amount of humor a person has in their life and one’s perceived overall mental and physical health within the Polynesian culture. However, there was found to be a statistical significance between humor and perceived overall mental and physical health among those of Asian descent. This study hypothesized that Polynesians who ranked higher on the humor scale would also rank higher in their overall general and emotional health. However, although the Polynesians ranked higher in each category, their relationships between the variables were not significant. It was also hypothesized that Asians who ranked higher on the humor scale would also rank higher in their overall general and emotional health. The findings supported this hypothesis.

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Can Color Paper Affect You Test Scores?

Effect of Paper Color on Task Recall and Memory Among Undergraduate Students

Marissa V. Munton

Three paper colors were presented in the survey as: white- the baseline control color that is standard for educational testing; blue- a cool and tranquil color; and red- a warm and lively color. It was tested to see if colors, specifically the vivid color of red, would provide a higher effect on memory recall than plain white paper. A test survey consisting of three different reading passages were printed in sets, on three different colors of paper to see if reading the passages on different color backgrounds would provide a significant effect on memory recall. This survey was provided to college undergraduates in a classroom setting, of which 150 international students participated. The individual was not notified of background of paper prior to being tested. After the completion of the survey, they were then debriefed.The results of a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test indicated F (2, 148) = 1.0723, p = .344, eta squared = .014 among the three colors of white, blue, and red. Although, there was no statistical significance between the three colors, the color of white paper alludes to exceeding slightly higher performance than the colors of either red or blue. Overall, memory retention seemed to be unaffected by the color of paper.

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Religion and Ethnicity as Predictors of Sleep Problems

Aimi F. Campbell

Previous studies show the general associations between sleep disturbances, depression, and physical health problems. In this study I examined differences in sleep, depressive symptoms, and health between religious and non-religious groups and among different ethnicities. The subjects were 160 college students from the United States, Asia, and Polynesia. A 3×2 ANOVA was conducted, with religious belief and ethnicity as grouping variables. No significant differences in disturbed sleep, depressive symptoms and health problems were found between religious and non-religious participants, or among individuals of different ethnicities. These results suggest that religion and ethnicity are not the major factors in differences in sleep, depression and physical problems. Sleep disturbances appear to be common regardless of religious affiliation and cultural differences. 

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Influence of Working Hours on GPA:

Which Students Will Be Influenced the Most?

Cho Yuk Chan

In this study, I examined differences in GPA according to the amount of student working hours and year in school. In addition, I also tested whether or not there were differential effects of work and school year for international and American students. A total of 89 students (29 male, 60 female, or 54 international students, 35 American students) taking 12 to 16 credits were selected to participate in this study. GPA, year in school, and demographic variables were assessed with an online survey. There were no statistically significant differences in GPA by college year, working hours, and home country. Sample size was discussed as one of the major limitations of this study.

APS Convention 2013

APS 2013 Convention

This May, some of the best minds in the field of Psychology got together for the 25^th Annual Association for Psychological Science convention. Eleven students from Brigham Young University-Hawaii not only had the opportunity to attend the event, but were able to present some of their research. A large portion of the people who presented at the convention were professors and graduate students, so it was a great opportunity for our undergraduates to present their research in different “Poster Sessions”.

Along with presenting their posters, students were able to attend symposiums, dealing with different matters within the psychological field. Other events at the convention included workshops, plenary sessions, and award addresses. From book signings to presidential addresses, the APS 2013 convention had all of the essentials for any psychological event.

BYUH presentations included:

Religious Factors Contributing to Happiness and Life Satisfaction of University Students
(Ronald M. Miller, Jessica L. Enos, Zacharias P. Dupaix, Jeff H. Choi, Melece V. Meservy, Amy J. Lee, Emika Sawada, Erekson R. Short, Eric G. Orr)

Differences in Cheating Patterns Among Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures and University Majors
(Meg L. Costantino, Kayla R. Suhrie, Bonnie C. Allred, Zacharias P. Dupaix, Morris A. Graham, Steven C. Wheelwright, Boyd H. Timothy, Ronald M. Miller)

Clothing as an Advertisement of Relationship Status and Satisfaction
(Lisa M. Thompson, Tyler S. Smith [Texas Tech University])

Emotion Regulation as a Mediator Between Acculturation & Psychopathology
(Nathan A. Haws)

Facial Recognition in Mormons vs. Non-Mormons and Sexual Offenders vs. Non-Sexual Offenders

(Allison Lovingier, Adam M. Scalese, Sarah Miller, Laura De La Fuente-Rodriguez, David D. Whippy, Kayla R. Suhrie, Kylie Miles, Boyd Timothy, Ronald Miller)

Differences Between Synthetic and Naturally Occurring Fertility Pheromones
(Kayla R. Suhrie)

Evolutionary Analysis of Jane Austen’s Novel Popularity
(Christina A. Hubner, Carlyn D. Hubner, Woojeong Lee, Adam M. Scalese, Anita R. Uhi, Boyd Timothy, Ronald Miller)

The Effects of Lip Color and Lipstick on Perceptions of Attractiveness in Women
(Bonnie C. Allred, Zacharias P. Dupaix, Lisa M. Thompson, Meg L. Costantino, Boyd H. Timothy, Ronald M. Miller)

Using Likelihood Ratios to Detect Invalid Data in Practical Validity Measures
(Adam M. Scalese, Lisa M. Thompson, Bonnie C. Allred, Amy Junghyun Lee, Zachary W. Rupp, Zacharias P. Dupaix, John E. Meyers, Ronald M. Miller)

The Relationship Between Paranormal Belief and Perceptions of Mental Illness
(Jason L. Murphy-Tafiti, Nathan A. Haws, & Boyd Timothy)

Empower your Dreams 2013

Empower Your Dreams Contest 2013

This March, Brigham Young University-Hawaii hosted its eighth annual Empower Your Dreams Contest. This contest not only showcased the dreams of students throughout the university, it also showcased many of the student’s academic accomplishments, including nine studies conducted by senior psychology students. Because this was a school-wide contest, contestants were given the opportunity to network with students and staff from numerous programs throughout the university, including the biology and business departments. Patricia S. Coronel, a recent psychology graduate from BYUH commented on the atmosphere of the event, stating, “There was so much passion and knowledge in the event. You can see in different rooms how students present their research with so much energy and desire to make a difference.”

            Patricia’s presentation, “Effects of Film on Self-esteem and Affect among Single Undergraduate Students,” was particularly fascinating. She suggested three main goals for her study:

1.       To determine if single undergraduate students will feel negative after watching a romantic-comedy film.

2.      To determine if in-a-relationship undergraduate students will feel positive after watching a romantic-comedy film.

3.      To determine if female single undergraduate students will experience a larger decrease in their self-esteem compared to male single undergraduate students after watching a romantic-comedy film.

The results indicated, however, that single students felt positive after watching the romantic-comedy, students that were in a relationship felt negative after watching the film, and female students reported a lower self-esteem after watching the film than male students. Patricia explains that these results suggest that other factors such as affect infusion, beliefs about relationships, and media depictions of the ideal woman, together, influence people's feelings and self-image.

All nine studies entered by the psychology department are listed below, along with a brief abstract of the study:

Effects of Film on Self-esteem and Affect among Single Undergraduate Students

Patricia Bernice S. Coronel

Previous studies have found that media produces desired emotional response and impacts self-esteem. The present study examined the differential effects of film on self-esteem and effect of undergraduate students who are single and in a relationship. 80 female and 80 male undergraduate students answered the Rosenberg’s Self-esteem and PANAS Scales before and after watching the romantic-comedy film. Results showed that single undergraduate students felt positive after watching a romantic-comedy film.  On the other hand, in-a-relationship students felt negative after watching a romantic-comedy film. Additionally, female single undergraduate students reported to have lower self-esteem compared to male single undergraduate students. These results suggest that other factors such as affect infusion, beliefs about relationships and media depictions of the ideal woman together influence people’s feelings and self-image.

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Relationship of Personality Profiles Among Married Couples and Single Dating Styles

Jessica R. Cowan

Previous research has suggested that couples that share the traits of agreeableness, openness, and conscientiousness report higher marital satisfaction. To determine whether or not there is a greater proportion of married couples with shared personality profiles than couples with opposing personality profiles, 60 married couples took The Big Five personality trait inventory. The majority of couples scored similarly on openness and agreeableness, while the majority scored opposite on conscientiousness. There was no statistical significance regarding extraversion and neuroticism. My results may suggest that couples that share the traits of agreeableness and openness choose to get married because they feel a high level of relationship satisfaction.

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Differences in Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy

 Between First and Non-first Generation College Students

Laura De La Fuente-Rodriguez

The purpose of this study was to determine whether first-generation college students would rate lower on a self-esteem and self-efficacy scale compared to non-first generation college students.  Data was strictly collected of the two groups to see the difference in the dependent variable which are self-esteem and self-efficacy. In order to evaluate this properly, a self-esteem scale and self-efficacy inventory was administered as a survey along with demographic questions. One hundred and twenty-five undergraduate students were recruited, aging 18 to 30, from Brigham Young University-Hawaii and Carroll County Community College. T-tests were run for first generation and non-first generation from the data collected on their self-esteem and self-efficacy scales showing that there is a difference between first and non-first generation college students. The t-tests showed significance and supported the hypothesis of first generation college students having lower self-esteem and self-efficacy compared to their non-first generation peers. Therefore, it can be discussed that first generation students have different factors, such as their background, that may lead them to have lower self-esteem and academic efficacy. 

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Effects of Relationship Status on Self-Esteem and Depressive Symptoms

Depending on Gender

Jihye Kim

In an extension of research demonstrating differential psychological benefits of various relationship statuses, the present study examined differences in self-esteem and depressive symptoms among relationship statuses depending on gender. Female (N=180) and male (N=144) undergraduates were categorized into one of three different relationship statuses: single, in a short-term relationship (minimum half of a year), or in a long-term relationship (married). Each participant completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results showed that married men and women experience less depressive symptoms than single women (p = .001). In addition, people in a relationship had higher self-esteem than single people, although this difference was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that gender and relationship status together are pertinent factors in the number of depressive symptoms one may experience.

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Differences in Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Eating Behaviors

Between Asians and Polynesians 

Woojeong Lee

The majority of studies about body image have drawn from adults in America exclusively. The purpose of this research is to better understand body image, self-esteem, and eating behaviors among female Polynesian and Asian undergraduate students. One hundred female Polynesian students and one hundred female Asian students took an online survey. The result showed that female Asian students negatively evaluate their body shape, whereas female Polynesian students have positively body image, t(192) = 2.80, p =0.005, d = 0.40.

However, there were not significant differences in self-esteem and eating behaviors. The finding suggests that people do have different perception when evaluating their body shapes, but negative body shapes does not always lead to low self-esteem and bad eating behaviors.

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Vocabulary Size of Young Adults as a Function of College Enrollment

Emily Murphy

Vocabulary is a key component in reading comprehension which adds to a person’s academic achievement. Vocabulary begins to develop after a child is born and then continues to increase based on social and educational experiences, but gaps in vocabulary size start early on, even before a child enters grade school, the complete implications of those gaps is still unknown. However, in the meantime, millions of dollars are being spent on leveling the playing field so that all students have the same opportunity to achieve academically; to better understand the reach of vocabulary size, the present study experimentally examined the effects of vocabulary size on cumulative college GPA. 89 Brigham Young University Hawaii undergraduates completed the Paul Nations (2007) vocabulary size test and reported their cumulative GPA. Vocabulary size predicted cumulative college GPA, =, t(88) =, p < .05 one-tailed, and explained a significant proportion of variance in GPA, R² = .023, F(1,88) = 3.05, p <.05. An additional simple linear regression was run, indicating that cumulative high school GPA is a strong predictor of cumulative college GPA. Results from this study have indicated that vocabulary size is a strong component of an individual’s ability to achieve academically and efforts to increase vocabulary should be undertaken at every level of development.

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Effects of Filler Words on Perceived Speech Quality

David Richardson

When delivering a public speech, filler words seem to have a universally negative reputation. This study examines whether audience members notice filler words and if they affect their overall perception of the speaker. 133 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to view a one minute and thirty second speech with filler words or an identical speech without filler words. Both videos were viewed by participants via video. Each participant rated the speaker on 15 characteristics and then estimated how many filler words the speaker used. In addition, participants compared him to the average speaker by estimating if the speaker used more or less filler words than average. Participants judged the speaker using filler words to be more comfortable and humble than the same speaker without filler words. Participants also recognized that the speaker used filler words, and judged the speaker as using more filler words than the “average speaker”.

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Differences in Self-effacement Among Asian,

Polynesian and Caucasian Undergraduate Students

Kelsey S. Yu

Previous research has shown a cultural difference in the use of two self-regulations strategies:  self-enhancement and self-effacement. Asians are more interdependent, and use self-effacement more than Caucasians. The current study examined whether this cultural difference applied to school performance, and examined differences in self-effacement among Asian, Caucasian and Polynesian students. 120 participates reported their ethnicity and cumulative GPA. Participants also rated how well they thought their GPA was on a Likert scale from 1-15, and responded to open-ended questions about their academic performance. Responses to the open questions were categorized as self-effacement statements and self-enhancement statements by counting the number of the words which represent both perspectives. Polynesian participants reported the lowest cumulative GPA scores and the lowest self-ratings of their GPA. However, Asian participants used a comparable number of self-effacement words in describing their academic performance as Polynesian participants, with Caucasians self-effacing the least.  These finding suggest that Asian students use the self-effacement strategy when discussing their academic performance even though they perform well.

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A Cross-Cultural Study on Territorial Behavior of University Students in Residence Rooms

Min Zhang

In past research on territorial behavior, ethnicity has rarely been investigated. In the present study, I examined differences in territorial behavior among Caucasian, Asian and Polynesian students in double occupancy rooms. Two elements of territoriality, firmness of boundaries and personalization/claiming, were compared. Whether differences interacted with ethnic similarity or dissimilarity with ones roommate was also examined. Results showed a difference in firmness of boundaries among ethnic groups, F(2, 113)=5.03, p < 0.008, η² = .08. Polynesian students showed less firmness of boundaries (M = 4.24), than Asian students (M = 5.22), (p = .004).  There were also differences among groups in personalization and claiming, F(2, 114)=3.67, p<0.03, η²= .06.  Polynesian students showed more personalization and claiming (M = 5.33), than Asian students (M = 4.67), (p = .03). No difference was observed in territorial behavior of regarding ethnic similarity or dissimilarity. These results suggest ethnicity is an important variable to consider when conducting research on territorial behavior.