Remember the "freshman 15"?

The Freshman 15 Research Group is looking for volunteers--both freshmen and seniors. Ellie Healy '10 writes:

Please come participate in our focus groups for our research project!! We are a group of students studying opinions and facts about the freshman 15. We would love for you to participate in a non-invasive discussion about your feelings on the freshman 15 and how the freshman 15 has influenced, if at all, your college experience.

Please come participate! Our focus groups will be held in the psychology lounge of Judd Hall. Baked goods will be provided!!!

Dates and times are as follows:

Freshman women: Thursday, Oct. 30, 5:00-6:00 PM

Freshman men: Sunday, Nov. 2, 1:30-2:30 PM; Wednesday, Nov. 5, 5:00-6:00 PM

Senior women: Thursday, Nov. 4, 5:00-6:00 PM

Senior men: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 8:00-9:00 PM; Sunday, Nov. 2, 1:30-2:30 PM

Contact Ellie (ehealy@wes) or Katie Grogan '09 (kgrogan@wes) if you're interested.

Mind Matters - become a student reviewer!

Mind Matters is a pretty sweet journal of psychology produced right here on campus. Pick up a copy - it's actually really interesting!

Kacey Wochna '10 sends in this announcement about the journal:

Mind Matters is a peer review journal managed and edited by Wesleyan students, publishing Wesleyan students' original research articles. We are currently looking for student reviewers to read submissions, help select which manuscripts will be accepted for publication, and work with authors to prepare manuscripts for publication. This is an exciting way to gain exposure to the research being conducted by Wesleyan students, and to learn relevant and useful skills relating to science writing and journal publication.


No experience is necessary. Underclassmen are especially encouraged to join.

If you are interested in becoming a student reviewer, or just want to learn more about Mind Matters, email Caterina Di Perri at mdiperri@wes. You can pick up a copy of the latest volume of the journal outside of the Mind Matters office, Judd B9, and visit our website at www.wesleyan.edu/psyc/mindmatters.

Professor Striegel-Moore on Eating Disorders

Psychology Professor Ruth Striegel-Moore's study on eating disorders was cited in a Newsweek article on the topic last week:

Of the 10 million women and 1 million men who do cope with anorexia and bulimia in this country, it is true that the majority of those documented are white. But in some cases, minorities have been excluded from samples because of this assumption—and experts say the "white girl" stereotype discourages men and minorities from coming forward. One study, by Wesleyan psychologist Ruth Striegel-Moore, found that black girls who do suffer from eating disorders are less likely to seek treatment. "I know stories of African-American women who've gone in to see a physician, with all the symptoms of an eating disorder, and the doctor says, 'That's a white girl's disease'," says Cynthia Bulik, an eating-disorder specialist at the University of North Carolina. "That persisting stigma can make people uncomfortable."

On-campus psych study participants needed

Jess Sullivan writes:

Hi everyone who's still on campus!

I’m running a NEW! psych study, and need a bunch of people to fill out a short packet. The study should take no more than 3-6 minutes total, and involves reading a series of very short stories (under 50 words) and answering questions about them. You get candy.

I know you’re all busy, but I’d really appreciate any help you can give me. It’s OK if you’ve participated in studies with me in the past, and I’m happy to come to your lab/place of work to deliver the study. It’ll be a nice break in the day. Tell all your friends.

If you’re interested, please e-mail me at jlsullivan (at) wesleyan (dot) edu with your name and where/when you would like to be tested. I’m super flexible and can come run the study pretty much anytime. The sooner the better. It'll be great, I promise.

Student Psych Surveys Skewed...

Mary Lauran '10 sends this tip in:

You know how you can get paid five bucks if you participate in a study for the psych department? Well, apparently we're contributing to a tendency to survey convenience samples of college students who don't accurately represent the greater population. Like all cool tendencies, this one has a catch phrase: "science of the sophomore." Today's Wall Street Journal has an article about it here.