Psychology | Research Opportunities | College of Arts and Sciences, American University, Washington, DC

Experiment 1: The Impact of Sleep on the Daily Experience of Positive and Negative Emotions

Study title: The Impact of Sleep on the Daily Experience of Positive and Negative Emotions
Experimenter's name: Michael Greenfield
Contact info: sleepandemotionstudy@gmail.com
Time Commitment: 2.5 hours
Number of credits (1 credit = approx. 1 hour commitment): 2.5 credits
Eligibility requirements: must be 18 years or older
Description of study: This study examines the relationship between sleep and daily emotions. Participants will make an initial visit to the lab to fill out questionnaires and take home a sleep monitoring device to wear for a week. During this week-long period they will also fill out two brief questionnaires each day online. Participants will also be asked to complete a short questionnaire when they return the device to the lab the following week. Maximum compensation is 2.5 extra credit points towards a psychology class OR 1.5 credits & $10.50.

Experiment 2: Effects of Anger on Stress Generation

Study title: Effects of Anger on Stress Generation
Experimenter's name: Christina Yanez
Contact info: cy8712a@student. american.edu
Time Commitment: 60 to 90 min
Number of credits (1 credit = approx. 1 hour commitment): 1 credit point
Eligibility requirements: must be 18 years or older
Description of study:
Participants will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires on a computer in the lab. After thee months they will be asked to complete another set of questionnaires via Survey Monkey (online website). Upon completion of the 3 month assessment questionnaires they will be entered into a lottery to win a $50 visa gift card. Chances of winning will be one in 30 or better.

Experiment 3: Learning to Perform Music

Study Title: Learning To Perform Music

Experimenter Name: Brian Brandler

Contact Info: bb6777a@student. american.edu

Time Commitment: 90 minutes

Number of Credits: 1.5 credit hours

Eligibility: Must be able to sing, play piano, or play any wind or string instrument

Description of Study:

This study is designed to gain insight into how individuals learn musical pieces and how they rate their own learning. You will be asked to learn musical pieces visually and aurally, and then recite the pieces. Other than the researchers, nobody will listen to your performance.

Experiment 4: Seasonal Body Consciousness

Study title: Seasonal Body Consciousness

Experimenter's name: Alexandra Olson, supervised by Jim Gray

Contact info: email: ao3133a@student.american.edu ; phone: 724 - 840 - 5238

Time Commitment: 1 hour maximum

Number of credits (1 credit = approx. 1 hour commitment): Total of 3 credits (there are three 1-hour sessions)

Eligibility requirements: Female and age 18+

Description of study: Analyzing whether or not the weather changes the way a woman sees her body. For example, in the winter months, since more clothing is being worn, perhaps there are less concerns of appearance. Participants will be asked to be weighed and they will then take a number of questionnaires. They will be asked to return two more times, once at the end of April, and again in the following winter months (December 2012).

Experiment 5: Daily Activities and Emotions

Study title: Daily Activities and Emotions

Experimenter's name: Kate Stewart

Contact info: aupsychlab@gmail.com

Time Commitment: 2 30-minute sessions and 14 daily 15-minute sessions

Number of credits: 1 credit + $20.50, or $25.50

Eligibility requirements: must be 18 years or older

Description of study: This study explores the different ways in which people think about themselves and their emotions. Participants will complete questionnaires during an initial visit to the lab, then complete a brief diary about emotion experience each day for the following two weeks. Finally, participants will be asked to complete questionnaires at the end of the two weeks.

Compensation: For the intial questionnaire session, participants will receive either 1 research credit or $5. In addition, participants will be paid $.50 for each of the first 5 daily diaries submitted, $1 for each of the next five, and $2 for each of the last four. Participants will be paid $5 for the final questionnaire session in the lab for a maximum total of 1 credit + $20.50, or $25.50.

Experiment 6: Fear, Disgust, & Avoidance Among Blood-Injection-Injury Phobics Exposed to Pictorial Stimuli

Study title: Fear, Disgust, & Avoidance Among Blood-Injection-Injury Phobics Exposed to Pictorial Stimuli

Experimenter's name: Sarah Scott

Contact info: smscott88@gmail.com, 479-719-1985

Time Commitment: 1 hour

Number of credits (1 credit = approx. 1 hour commitment): 1 credit or $5 compensation

Eligibility requirements: Must be 18+ and have no current/past treatment for specific phobia

Description of study: The current study is examining the reduction of fear, disgust, and avoidance after being exposed to Blood-Injection-Injury images. The first part of the study will be online, filling out two questionnaires. The second part will consist of an interview, viewing images, and participating in behavioral tasks.

Experiment 7: Psychological Effects of Diet on Mood

Study title: Psychological Effects of Diet on Mood

Experimenter's name: Sarah Alsaud

Contact info: 571 278 0876. Email: sfs.alsaud@gmail.com

The Human Neuropsychology Lab (HNL) Asbury 209.

Time Commitment: 90 minutes for two sessions and a week commitment for a diet regimen.

Number of credits (1 credit = approx. 1 hour commitment): 2 credits

Eligibility requirements:

1- Must be 18 years or older.

2- Have a history of major depressive disorder.

3- Do not suffer from any other major mental illness

4- Do not suffer from food allergy or diabetes.

5- Not be a vegetarian or vegan.

6- Not taking any psychotropic medications.

Description of study:

The Human NeuroPsychology Lab at American University is recruiting subjects to participate in an experiment that investigate the psychological effects of diet on mood. The time commitment for this experiment is about 90 minutes for two sessions. You must be able to attend 2 short lab sessions and also follow a diet regimen for one week. Compensation for the experiment will be a Whole Foods Market gift card worth $50.

Experiment 8: Race, Ethnicity, and Anxiety

Study title: Race, Ethnicity, and Anxiety
Experimenter's name: Caitlin Condit
Contact information: ccondits@gmail.com
Time commitment: 20-30 minutes
Number of credits: .5
Eligibility requirements: Subjects must be 18 years or older and self identify as African American/Afro-Caribbean/Black.
Description of study: Subjects will be asked to complete several questionnaires.

Experiment 9: The Effect of Past Memories on the Person

Study title: The Effect of Past Memories on the Person
Experimenter's name: Mazneen Havewala
Contact info: md3431a@american.edu
Time Commitment: 30-40 minutes
Number of credits: 1 credit
Eligibility requirements: Should be a male student at AU, between the age group of 18-25
Description of study: The study is about past experiences and memories, and how it influences one's present lives and functioning. Students will be asked to fill out a few questionnaires with relation to these. Participants will be entered in a drawing for a $75 gift card.

Experiment 10: Musical Memory

Study title: Musical Memory
Experimenter's name: Nora Gibson, working with Dr. Zehra Peynircoiglu
Contact info: Email- nora.gibson@student.american. edu
Time commitment: 30 minutes
Number of credits: 0.5
Eligibility requirements: Anyone
Description of study: The purpose of this study is to determine how musical imagery forms. Participants will listen to music selections or have a short conversation with the experimenter. Over the following week, participants will be asked to record involuntary musical imagery.