Lab Projects (for additional information such as on presentations and publications see News)
Makenzie Peterson and Tonne McCoy are working on their comprehensive exams. Once complete, they will begin dissertation projects which will focus on positive sexuality and sex education (Kenzie) and rural health (Tonne).
Dr. Xu, Kenzie Peterson, Ellie Cameron , and Alexis Christensen are working on a research project on mentoring. This includes a literature review and interviews, with support from the PsychSessions podcast, Dr. Eric Landrum, and Dr. Garth Neufeld. Dr. Xu received mentorship on this project from Dr. Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges through the Society for the Teaching of Psychology's Scholarship of Teaching and Learning workshop.
With Dr. Kevin McIntyre, Dr. Brent Mattingly, Dr. Sarah Stanton, Dr. Timothy Loving, and Dr. Gary Lewandowski Jr., we are investigating the role of self-expansion on depression symptoms.
With Dr. Hafez Bajoghli, Dr. Vahid Farnia, Dr. Safora Saelmi, Dr. Suzanne Riela, Dr. Marci Gleason and her lab, and a team of researchers around the world, we are investigating relationship obsessive compulsive disorder in eight countries including Iran and the U.S.A.
Selected past lab projects
Ahva Mozafari led a project examining the associations among interpersonal trauma, attachment, and romantic relationship conflict.
Lisa Hansen led a project investigating the use of a cognitive dissonance intervention on reducing weight stigma.
Bindal Makwana led a project investigating the predictability of concussion from brief neuropsychological measures in high school athletes.
Laura Morgan led a project investigating female body image, objectification, and mate choice, including the connections between internalization, body dissatisfaction, and romantic preferences.
Jabeene Bhimji led a project investigating self-discrepancy as a transdiagnositc factor related to fear- and distress-based disorders.
Samantha Tupy led a project examining veteran reintegration into civilian life focusing on self-concept clarity, self-expansion, and identity fusion.
Bindal Makwana led a project investigating neuropsychological performance in healthy athletes and non-athletes using an iPad-based neuropsychological battery (C3Logix).
Barbara Wood Roberts led a project with Dr. Xu, Tessa Anderson, and Ahva Mozafari investigating visual instructor presence and student engagement and outcomes in online psychology courses.
Barbara Wood Roberts also led a project on Intercultural Competence, testing a model of ICC and assessing whether Introduction to Psychology courses increase ICC (or its sub-components).
Ariana Tart-Zelvin led a project with Dr. Xu, Kandi Turley-Ames, and Jason Watson which measured the neural activation of strategy use on a working memory task (i.e., the OSPAN) using fMRI methodology. Several ISU students contributed to this project including Ashley Miller, Samantha Tupy, Stephanie Hill, Travis Mize, Tyler Stenersen and Dani Correll.
Matthew Schumann led a project investigating the impact of attributing pain to aging on chronic pain-related outcomes, physical activity, and sedentary time.
Lisa Hansen led a project investigating the use of a cognitive dissonance intervention on reducing weight stigma.
Bindal Makwana led a project investigating the predictability of concussion from brief neuropsychological measures in high school athletes.
Laura Morgan led a project investigating female body image, objectification, and mate choice, including the connections between internalization, body dissatisfaction, and romantic preferences.
Jabeene Bhimji led a project investigating self-discrepancy as a transdiagnositc factor related to fear- and distress-based disorders.
Samantha Tupy led a project examining veteran reintegration into civilian life focusing on self-concept clarity, self-expansion, and identity fusion.
Bindal Makwana led a project investigating neuropsychological performance in healthy athletes and non-athletes using an iPad-based neuropsychological battery (C3Logix).
Barbara Wood Roberts led a project with Dr. Xu, Tessa Anderson, and Ahva Mozafari investigating visual instructor presence and student engagement and outcomes in online psychology courses.
Barbara Wood Roberts also led a project on Intercultural Competence, testing a model of ICC and assessing whether Introduction to Psychology courses increase ICC (or its sub-components).
Ariana Tart-Zelvin led a project with Dr. Xu, Kandi Turley-Ames, and Jason Watson which measured the neural activation of strategy use on a working memory task (i.e., the OSPAN) using fMRI methodology. Several ISU students contributed to this project including Ashley Miller, Samantha Tupy, Stephanie Hill, Travis Mize, Tyler Stenersen and Dani Correll.
Matthew Schumann led a project investigating the impact of attributing pain to aging on chronic pain-related outcomes, physical activity, and sedentary time.