The significance of
T
he wooden object in the photo below is P < .05, “a statistical measure in psychological research that suggests one’s findings are unlikely to have occurred by chance and thus one’s research is statistically significant,” explains Dr. Richard Bargdill, associate professor of behavioral sciences. “Most research journals prefer studies that have at least this level of significance.”
Saint Francis students understand that significance. Their work is regularly accepted for presentation at national and regional conferences. The University was well represented, for example, as five students made presentations at the 81st Annual Conference of the Eastern Psychological Association held in Brooklyn, NY, in March. Psychology student Caroline Sandrick (right), from Manor, PA, is interviewed by Curtis Webb for a recruitment video for the psychology department, which requested a series similar to what Webb produced for sociology criminal justice. Student recruitment postcard developed by Dr. Mauney and student Curtis Webb. Video selections can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/ CJSOCSFU.
Psychology graduate Kristie Scheib ‘10, along with Alycia Gorlaski and Caroline Sandrick, supported by adjunct faculty member Barbara Shaffer and Dr. Stephen Baker, assistant professor of psychology, presented a research poster titled “The Effect of Birth Order on Achievement Motivation.” Emily Lasinsky and Eric Sepich, also working with Shaffer, presented on their “Examination of Gender Differences in Online Dating Advertisement.” Sepich also presented in Pittsburgh on his research into existential concerns found in Hermann Hesse’s novel Siddartha, along with Tatyana Fox, who took on existential themes in P.K.Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. n
Faculty become marketers (continued from previous page)
Webb, who describes marketing as a “passion,” teamed up with James Geraughty, electronic classroom manager with the University’s Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas to shoot video interviews with sociology and criminal justice students and faculty so they could share first-hand their experiences at Saint Francis. Soon the psychology and education departments heard about Webb and Geraughty’s work and retained them to produce a similar series of videos. “The key is having faculty and students using the web to tell prospective students what living and learning is like at Saint Francis,” says Erin McCloskey, vice president for enrollment management. Dr. Mauney is seeing results. “We are better able to show specifics to prospective students. We can frame our values better and explain why we are different. And prospective students can hear directly from our students. We are receiving more applications from high quality students and increasing our enrollment.” “This has been a real team approach,” she emphasizes. “I was allocated additional funds from the provost’s office and from University marketing. I had support from my faculty colleagues and students, and from admissions and marketing. Most importantly, I had Curtis, who kept me on task, listened, and was extremely creative.” n
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Saint Francis University
This group of psychology students, working with faculty members Dr. Richard Bargdill and Dr. Stephen Baker, produced a significant amount of research and presented at several conferences. Seated are (l-r): Shelly Schmachtenberger, an occupational therapy major from Carrollton, OH; Tatyanna Fox, an occupational therapy major from Pittsburgh; Erich Sepich, a psychology major from Saxonburg, PA; and Alycia Gorlaski, a psychology major from Litiz, PA. Standing (l-r) are: Bargdill, Raymond George, a psychology major from Cassandra, PA; Erin Briley, a psychology major from Vista, CA; Caroline Sandrick, a psychology major from Manor, PA; Kristie Scheib, a pscyhology major from West Hazleton, PA; and Baker.