Psychology students dazzle at conference

One of the most exciting aspects of learning is being able to go out and show others what you have learned. On April 8-10, 2022, various psychology students went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to present their research at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA) conference.

“SWPA, the Southwestern Psychological Association, is the official APA affiliate for the Southwestern region of the United States. Undergraduate and graduate students, and professors from nine states were invited to attend (Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, and Louisiana),” Dr. Roark, the trip sponsor, said. This trip presented the students with a unique opportunity to step into a teaching role and out of a student role for a moment.

“I was most excited to have the opportunity to show my own research and learn from others. I was also excited to get closer with my classmates and to spend time getting to know one another!” Grace Harvey, senior psychology major said. Mackenzie Tuttle, another senior psychology major, deeply enjoyed the conference.

“The most surprising thing about the conference was just how fun it was. I enjoyed the very early mornings knowing I was going to see so many amazing research projects…I would highly recommend any other students to go! It was an amazing opportunity to foster research ideas and network!” Tuttle said. Tuttle was able to push herself and learn from a multitude of others during her time at the conference.

“The conference was such a positive experience! As a person who was skeptical of research, I felt it was something I could never really get the hang of. However, creating my own research and presenting at SWPA showed me just how important research is and how fun it can be. I encourage anyone interested in psychology or research to go to SWPA. Not only did it allow me to present my own work but celebrate fellow students as well,” Tuttle said. The conference was able to bring together students from across various states to discuss something they genuinely care about.

“I was surprised to find that there were several other people who were in their undergraduate degree who were also presenting research. I was pleasantly surprised that I got to interact with so many people in a similar situation…I enjoyed the conference more than I thought I would. It was an incredibly valuable experience and I gained so much knowledge and expertise from attending. I would recommend to all psychology majors that they attend SWPA even if they are not presenting research,” Harvey said.

Five students from Oklahoma Baptist University went and presented their research at the conference. The following students went to the conference: Grace Harvey, Emily Skidmore, Jaxon King, MacKenzie Tuttle and Tiffany Williams. Harvey, Skidmore and Williams gave poster presentations, while King and Tuttle gave spoken presentations.

“The thing I was most excited about at the conference was the opportunity to see and learn about all of the other research projects. I was really excited to see if I could learn from anyone else's studies, especially if they were similar to what I had conducted research on,” Williams said.

Harvey presented “Social Identity Activation on Conflict Interpretation.” Skidmore presented “Persuasive Tik Tok videos: Effects of humor, emotion, and reason.” Williams presented “Body dissatisfaction, mental health, and self-esteem of college athletes and non-athletes.” King presented “The effect of digital vs. physical photos on judgments of authenticity.” Tuttle presented “The Effect of Political Affiliation and Attractiveness in Group Identification.” King and Tuttle both won the Psi Chi Undergraduate Regional Research Award.

“I think the conference is incredible. Even if you are not in love with research or not interested in doing your own, it is important to stay up to date on research, especially in the areas you are interested in. This conference has research topics for every interest. You are bound to learn something. It is also a great time to get to know your fellow peers at OBU, as well [those from other] universities in the region. There are many different graduate schools to learn about and meet professors from!” Williams said.

Williams has made plans for herself after graduation.

"Post-graduation I plan on pursuing a career in mental health counseling. I aim to someday work with collegiate or professional athletes as a mental game coach/sports psychologist. This career path actually goes right along with my own research.” Williams said. Williams is joined by Tuttle and Harvey who also plan on centering their post-grad career in Psychology.

“After graduating in May I plan on attending a professional counseling master's program. I hope to one day either work with military personnel and their families or victims of sexual assault,” Tuttle said. While Tuttle is focusing on counseling post-grad, Harvey will be stepping into the public sphere.

“I will be pursuing my master’s degree in social work after graduation,” Harvey said. All of the students that went to the conference put their best foot forward and it showed. They excelled and brought back more than awards. They were able to teach and learn from their peers which is an irreplaceable experience for a student. To learn more about the psychology program email Dr. Roark or go to okbu.edu.