Students give presentations at research conference

Twenty-two Northwestern College students gave presentations at the Siouxland Research Conference, hosted by Northwestern on April 22. They were among several student presenters, majoring in psychology, social work and sociology, from area private liberal arts colleges.

Senior social work majors Stacey Bernardo, Algona, Iowa, and Derek Hanisch, Eden Prairie, Minn., collaborated on a poster. Their presentation was entitled “Policy Analysis of The Uniting American Families Act.”

Valentina Burrola, a sophomore social work and Spanish major from Gallup, N.M., and Greta Floding, a junior social work major from Holland, Mich., gave a poster presentation on the International Women’s Freedom Act of 2009.

Laura Denekas, a junior social work major from Inwood, Iowa, and Mattie Mouw, a junior social work major from Norwalk, Iowa, gave a poster presentation on the Violence Against Women Act.

Emily Dykstra, a senior majoring in psychology from Brooklyn Park, Minn., gave a presentation about her research assessing the frequency of gesture use in speech.

Jessica Harms, a psychology major, presented a paper entitled “The Relationships Between Extraversion and Neuroticism, Sense of Humor, and Perceived Stress Levels.” She is a senior from Hickman, Neb.

Brittany Kiel, a senior psychology major from Sioux City, Iowa, gave a presentation entitled “The Interplay Between Androgyny, Self-Esteem and Relationship Closeness.”

Gabby Mazariegos, a senior psychology major from Iowa City, Iowa, presented “Body Image, Self-Esteem and Adult Romantic Attachment.”

Eunice Paik, a psychology and biology health professions major, presented “The Hereditary Effects of Breast Cancer on the Health Locus of Control, Health Belief Model, and Healthy Lifestyle Choices.” She is a senior from Vernon Hills, Ill.

Hannah Reinders, a junior social work major from Huron, S.D., and Annaliese Frye, a junior majoring in social work from Camano Island, Wash., collaborated on a poster. Their presentation was entitled “One Caseworker = Effective Foster Care.”

Jared Schmidt, a senior majoring in psychology from Westbrook, Minn., presented a paper summarizing his research exploring possible origins of prejudice toward Muslims.

Casey Stephan, a sophomore social work major from Altura, Minn., and Jessie Bouma, a senior social work major from Hospers, Iowa, collaborated on a poster. Their presentation was on the Caring for an Aging America Act of 2009.

Darci Van Dyke, a senior psychology major from Chandler, Minn., gave two presentations. She spoke on “Personality, Mindfulness and Epistemological Beliefs: Predictors of Decision-Making Competence.” She also presented “Who Volunteers? Empathy and Attachment as Predictors of Past, Present and Future Volunteering,” along with Hollyann Elton, a junior psychology major from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Nick Leither, a sophomore psychology major from Atwater, Minn.

Brittany Van Eck, a psychology major, presented a paper entitled “The Relationship of Time Perspective, Moral Judgment Development, and Education Level.” She is a senior from Hendricks, Minn.

Hannah Watters spoke on “Dogmatism and Epistemological Beliefs: Predicting Views of Procedural and Outcome Fairness Based on Supported and Opposed Moral Mandates.” She is a senior psychology major from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Ingrid Wurpts presented a paper, “Conscious and Automatic Processing in Verbal Insight Problem-Solving.” She is a senior majoring in psychology and mathematics from Sanborn, Iowa.

Dr. Thomas Bouchard Jr., the retired director of the Minnesota Center for Twin and Adoption Research, was the conference’s keynote speaker. More than 100 students attended.