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.
