Research Opportunities

Faculty in the Department of Psychology are actively engaged in research that spans many different areas and subfields of psychology. Students have the opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty on research projects. Interested students should contact the particular faculty member with whom they would like to work and ask about available projects.

ADHD Lab

Our lab is engaged in a number of projects related to evaluation for ADHD among children, as well as parent help-seeking behavior and adherence to assessment recommendations.

If you are an undergraduate student interested in working in the ADHD Lab, contact Dr. O’Laughlin at lizo@indstate.edu.

ADHD Lab Projects:

Factors influencing parent and teacher ratings of child behavior and child impairment

Informants tend to provide discrepant ratings of child behavior, which can complicate the process of assessing behavior problems in children. A variety of demographic, parenting, and school-related factors have been found to influence parent and teacher ratings of child behavior. Better understanding of cross-informant differences in ratings of child behavior/impairment is essential in understanding the most effective method to integrate data from multiple informants.

ADHD and emotional dysregulation

This research considers the association between emotional dysregulation and ADHD symptoms as well as the unique and combined influence of both on child functioning. Better understanding of factors that contribute to impairment among children with ADHD, such as emotional dysregulation, may result in more effective assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of ADHD and comorbid diagnoses.

Parent attributions, beliefs regarding ADHD and help-seeking behavior

The purpose of this study is to better understand the influence of parental attributions of child behavior on help seeking behavior as well as adherence to assessment recommendations.

ADAPT Lab

(Adversity, Dissociation, and Psychological Trauma)

Our research is focused on posttraumatic stress disorder, dissociation, and other trauma-related mental health conditions. If you are interested in getting involved in the ADAPT Lab, contact Dr. Smith at Liz.Smith@indstate.edu.

Adapt Lab Project: Mental Health Outcomes of Psychological Trauma

Currently, we are engaged in a broad study of the impacts of psychological trauma on outcomes related to mental health and wellbeing, work and school functioning, and relationships. We are particularly interested in dissociative experiences such as those thought to be involved in the dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD-D). Although accounts of dissociation exist across the study of mental health through history, this group of symptoms remains poorly understood and difficult to place within current models of psychopathology. Dissociation has historically been viewed as an outcome of trauma, but whether these experiences are truly the result of trauma remains unclear as well. PTSD-D was added as a subtype of PTSD to the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which suggests a need to better understand this group of symptoms and the way they affect those diagnosed.

Correctional & Forensic Psychology Lab

Our primary areas of interest involve correctional and forensic populations as well as mental health providers who work with these populations. If you are interested in getting involved in the ADAPT Lab, contact Dr. Schriver at Jennifer.Schriver@indstate.edu

Correctional & Forensic Psychology Lab Projects

Ethical violations committed by psychologists:

We are currently examining ethical violations committed by psychologists that have resulted in disciplinary actions. We are particularly interested in learning about the types of violations related to correctional and forensic work.

Police training and practices related to mental health:

We’ve conducted several studies that explore the types and amount of training police officers undergo in the area of mental health. We are currently examining the under studied population of campus police officers, as rates of mental health problems are growing on college campuses. Do campus police officers feel well-prepared to manage mental health crisis calls and what are their attitudes about mental illness? Does CIT training or officer empathy impact effectiveness and confidence on mental health calls?

Female offenders:

We have recently completed a project on the use of bibliotherapy for the treatment of anxiety and depression in female offenders. Bibliotherapy involves reading self-help materials for therapeutic benefit, and it is a cost-effective treatment that requires minimal contact with a mental health professional. We found that symptoms of depression and anxiety were both significantly reduced after women read a workbook focused on ACT principles of mindfulness. We intend to continue exploring treatment needs of incarcerated women.

LCABS Lab

(Lifespan Cognition and Brain Stimulation)

Our lab is engaged in several projects related to evaluating cognition in young and older adults, using non-invasive brain stimulation. We specifically focus on how the cerebellum contributes to non-motor cognitive behavior across the lifespan. If you are interested in getting involved in the LCABS Lab, contact Dr. Maldonado at Ted.Maldonado@indstate.edu

LCABS Projects:

Age Differences in the Effects of Cerebellar tDCS on Brain Networks, Activation, and Behavioral Performance: The purpose of this study is to evaluate how different parts of the brain contribute to learning and cognition in young and older adults. We will study behavior related to cognition (working memory, inhibition, set shifting, etc.) using a variety of different tasks and techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Does cognitive ability selectively modulate the effectiveness of tDCS in young adults: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether cognitive ability (working memory) might influence how well remediation techniques (transcranial direct current stimulation) work on young adults with anxiety. We will study behavior related to cognition and anxiety using different behavioral tasks, surveys, and non-invasive stimulation techniques.

Executive Function and Death Anxiety in Younger and Older Adults: The purpose of this study is to evaluate how differences in higher order cognition relate to levels of death anxiety in young and older adults. We will study behavior related to cognition and death anxiety using different behavioral tasks and surveys.

Mental Health Development Lab

The Mental Health Development lab currently consists of seven graduate students, along with Dr. Bolinskey. Our primary area of interest is psychological measurement.

Current studies include personality in college students; personality and neurocognitive indicators of liability to mental illness; and personality profiles of individuals with childhood PTSD.

A new study examines the utility of performance and symptom validity tests in the evaluation of ADHD in adults.

Social & Environmental Psychology Lab

Dr. Sheets' Social & Environmental Psychology Lab conducts research on 4 things:

Close relationships. This includes studies of friendship, love, sexuality, jealousy, & breakups.
Environmental symbolism & meaning. This includes studies of the use of possessions and places to represent or expand your sense of self, including spiritually.
Socio-spatial behavior. This includes studies of territoriality, place attachment, and environmental preferences.
Evolutionary bases of behavior. This includes studies of the scientific application of evolutionary models to human behavior, in the areas listed above as well as others, e.g., social attitudes.

If you are an undergraduate student or potential graduate student interested in working in the Social & Environmental Psychology Lab, contact Dr. Sheets at Virgil.Sheets@indstate.edu.

Social & Environmental Psychology Lab Projects:

Shared Spaces This laboratory study examined the effect of territorial displays on perceptions of other people. Data entry is underway.

Inspiring Mountains. This project explores the the power of mountains to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for some people. Data collection is underway.

Romantic Partner Preferences of Heterosexuals, Homosexuals, and Trans Matt Johnson's master's project involves coding online singles ads for heterosexuals, homosexuals, and trans individuals to explore differences in mating preferences of these groups. Data coding is under way.

Are electric vehicles feminizing? Tyler Good's master's project involves examining gender-related perceptions of people based on the type of vehicle they drive. Data collection is under way.

Social vs parasocial relationships Paige Bedore's dissertation will explore how parasocial relationships are similar vs different from ordinary social relationships. A research proposal is being developed.

Causal Thinking in Relationships Karina Koo is exploring the role of different orientations toward causlity in romantic relationships. Data collection is about to begin.

Rebound Perceptions Hunter Krampe's dissertation explored the basis of negative perceptions of relationships formed when partners are on the "rebound." A defense will be scheduled soon.

Online Study Spaces Michael Bailey's master's project explored the role of the physical environment of home study spaces on students' success in online classes. A manuscript is under review.