RDP’s Research Test Kitchen is an opportunity for scholars to talk about the work in which they’re currently engaged and receive input and feedback.  Modeled after a chef testing recipes, the event encourages participants to bring work at any stage to a collaborative space for discussion and refinement.

In December’s Test Kitchen, the following six Psychology Independent Study students will be presenting their research proposals:

• Laura Arnusch - Addressing Low Perceived Competence and Utility Value to Reduce Statistics Anxiety and Improve Learning Achievement
  The purpose of the study is to address the large number of psychology students who struggle in data analysis class and experience anxiety or fear towards statistics. The study will test whether an intervention targeting students' low perceived competence and low utility value of statistics can reduce anxiety, improve attitudes, and improve performance in data analysis class. The expected outcome is that by demonstrating the relevance of statistics to psychology and emphasizing that prior math ability does not determine success, students will experience reduced anxiety, more positive attitudes toward statistics, and better learning achievement. 

• Ashley Gillespie - Examining the Impacts of HeartMath Heart Lock-In Practice on Heart Rate Variability and Well-Being in Adolescent Hockey Players
  The proposed research aims to evaluate the effects of the HeartMath Heart Lock-In practice on adolescent hockey players' heart rate variability (HRV) and well-being. Participants will attend a HeartMath training session and be encouraged to practice the Heart Lock-In method for five minutes over a five-week period. Pre and post-test data collection will include measuring resting HRV and an online survey evaluating resilience, sports anxiety, athlete burnout, self-oriented perfectionism, self-compassion, and emotion regulation. It is hypothesized that five weeks of practicing HeartMath Heart Lock-In will lead to improved HRV and significant positive changes in these well-being measures.
• Jalynn Chilibeck - Impact on Older Adults of the Holistic Wellness Program “Move Your Mood”
  Move Your Mood Older Adults is a new program being integrated into the Move Your Mood programming, designed for adults over 55. Move Your Mood is a research-based holistic wellness program designed to enhance participant physical and mental well-being. This research project is designed to study the impacts of the Move Your Mood program on participants using a mixed methods design. This will help build the knowledge base around Move Your Mood and provide the program with information to support its function and growth in the future.
• Brooke Schwartz - Empowering Wellness in Long Term Care through Creative Design
  The project explores the impact of creative activity on young adults residing in Bethany Care Society Collegeside. This research is being conducted under the premise that the workshop will support participant well-being and inform future technology designed for their specific needs. It is hypothesized that a participatory creative design experience will be an effective means for young adults to communicate unique needs and improve quality of life, addressing a prominent challenge faced in continuing care environments. Specific psychosocial needs being examined include autonomy, identity, efficacy, positive and negative affect, and overall satisfaction with life.
• Karson Ince - Exploring physiological factors influencing cognitive control on an attentional task
  This study aims to examine how physiological functioning interacts with cognitive capacities. Specifically, we will explore how cognitive task complexity relates to heart rate variability (HRV). Many studies have reported variations in attentional task performance as a function of baseline HRV levels, but few have investigated the effect of an attentional task on in-task measures of HRV. This study has the potential to inform the interplay between varying levels of HRV and shifts in attentional task performance, from effective attentional skills to attentional lapses. 
• Jessica Dewald - Exploring Best Practices in Perinatal Psychoeducation Programs
  The focus of this presentation will be a review of best practices for psycho education programs in perinatal mental health. There will be a review of current literature on how a variety of engaging platforms in the form of psycho education can be fundamentally helpful in increasing positive perinatal mental health.