Wooster Students Present Research at Psychology Conference

Rachel Waggoner and Valeriya Spektor participate in Midwestern Psychological Association Meeting

WOOSTER, Ohio - College of Wooster seniors Rachel Waggoner and Valeriya Spektor recently presented the results of their Senior Independent Study projects at the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) annual meeting in Chicago.

Waggoner, a psychology major from Wooster, addressed "The Effects of Physical Fitness and Physical Activity on the Internal Clock when Estimating Intervals of Time." Spektor, a psychology major and music minor from Cincinnati, discussed "A Date with Culture: The Roles of Personality Traits and Cultural Values in Emerging Adult's Dating Attitudes and Sociosexual Behavior."

Waggoner, whose project was advised by Gary Gillund (associate professor of psychology at Wooster), looked at how physical exercise and fitness affected the accuracy of a person's internal clock. The results of her study showed that although less physically fit people have a more accurate internal clock, the internal clock does become more accurate after a period of exercise.

"My advisor really urged me to submit my abstract (to the conference)," says Waggoner. "I was very excited when I found out I was going to go to Chicago to present this huge project that I have spent so much time on. The opportunity to present my Independent Study at MPA is a great honor. I have worked extremely hard on this project and being chosen to share my experience and research is amazing."

Spektor, whose research was advised by Amber Garcia (assistant professor of psychology at Wooster), sought to more clearly understand what elements are influential concerning the sociosexual behaviors and dating attitudes of college-aged adults. She also researched the contribution that the relationships between cultural values, personality, and attitudes in predicting sociosexual outcomes had on this study. She collected her data through the use of an online survey.

Spektor, who also had the opportunity to present research at last year's MPA Conference, said it was "an inspiring experience." The conference "provides a great opportunity to network, meet other students and professionals in your field of interest, and learn about what kind of research that is being done at other institutions."

[Story by Libby Fackler]