Research 2010

The Behavioral Sciences Department offers a 4 course sequence in research methods and statistics taught by Drs. LaBianca, Bailey, Helm and McBride. As a part of their learning experiences, student conduct their own research projects and present the results to the teachers and their classmates. The teachers work together to select what we think are the best of the projects to submit to the annual Midwest Psychology Association meeting in Chicago in early May. As members of this group, Drs Helm and Bailey particularly work closely with the students to prepare their presentation though all of our faculty work with students to edit, proof, suggest and rehearse.

This year we Submitted 6 projects involving 13 undergraduate and graduate students. I am told that 423 student projects were submitted for the conference, and about 89% accepted. Andrews BehavioralScience studentshad a 100% acceptance rate. The peer review process selects the best 5% of the submissions for research awards.

The submission by Jason Miller, a double major – Behavioral Neuro Science and Political Science -- received the PSI CHI Regional Award. It is also important to note that Jason also received an award from a Michigan Political Science group earlier this year (where he was mentored by Dr. Marcella Myers of the History/Political Science Department). The specific list of students and their projects is: Jason Miller (PSI CHI REGIONAL AWARD WINNER) Attitudes towards Women in Power: How Conservative Religious Individuals form Religious and Political Decisions. Dr. Karl Bailey was his advisor.

Other students who had posters accepted at the Midwest Psychological Convention in Chicago, April, 2010 were as follows:

Ashley Raethel - Neuromythologies and decision making: An Eye Tracking Investigation. Dr. Karl Bailey, advisor.

Elkyn Beltre - Eye Salve for the Righteous? Attentional Biases as Correlates of Religious Behavior and Orientation. Dr. Karl Bailey, advisor.

Cheryl Swaniker & Anthony Weston: The Effect of Loneliness on Visual Attention. Dr. Karl Bailey, advisor.

Omedeli Joseph, Filip Graovac, Chris Reyes and Terri King: Tolerance among Christian and Muslim University Students in Lebanon. Dr. Herbert Helm, advisor.

Nancy Miller, Cheryl Logan, Dorica Kafunya and Beatrie Dolce: College-related stress and resiliency. Dr. Herbert Helm, advisor.

This is significant for Andrews. The Midwest region contains some of the best colleges and greatest national comprehensive universities in the United States. To get all of our submissions accepted and for one of our students to win a research award beats the odds and continues the tradition of our students winning research awards from this group. I believe that this shows that Andrews students can conduct very scholarly competitive research, that it is important to integrate student research and peer review submission into our curriculum, the importance of mentoring and, perhaps, the strength of double majors. We are very proud of our students as they witness for the quality of an Andrews education in this important venue!

Duane C. McBride, Chair
Behavioral Sciences Department

RESEARCH 2009

Raphael Nawrotzki is our first graduate student to get research published. The first was “Ways to Approach Climate Change in Developing Countries.” Global Studies Journal, 1(4). His second lead author published article is entitled:“Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for U.S. Agricultural Businesses to Climate Change.” It is published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Climate Change. The article focuses on agricultural strategies to respond to climate change.

Raphael has been accepted in a PhD program in Sociology with a focus on international development at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He graduates in August from Andrews and is already at the University of Colorado steeling in to his new program .

Two other international development students, Polina Kadatska, and Dorica Kafunya, both presented at the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in May, 2009. Dorica's presentation was entitled "Membership in the WTO and Gross Domestic Product", and Polina's presentation was entitled, "How Education Leads to Peace".

Several undergraduate students also had their research accepted for presentation at the Midwest Psychological Convention in Chicago, May, 2009. For more information, click here to link to our 2009 Newsletter and research information.

Jeff Habenicht is our 4th Regional Psi Chi Award winner in three years!

His topic of research was Religious Information Processing Bias: A Flicker Design. Jeff also graduated in May with 4.0 GPA. We are expecting to hear of great things from him.


Jessie Lopez-Factor Structure of the Beck Depression Inventory II in a University Sample


Ashley Raethel - Religiosity and Happiness among Conservative Christian Students.

Christina Wallace - Factors that Influence Dietary Choices in Honduras.

Christopher White - Perceived Teacher Math Anxiety And its Relationship to Student Math Anxiety.

Brianna Johnson - Effect of Parent-Child Relationships on Teen Substance Abuse.

Ehren Lichtenwalter - Central States Anthropological Society meeting in Urbana, IL. April, 2009. In the Middle of Nowhere and at the Crossroads of Everywhere: Abatement and Change at Hellenistic Hisban, 332-63 BCE”