Department of Psychology Celebrates Honors Students’ Research

05/07/2026
By Jamie Trottier

The Department of Psychology is proud to recognize a group of outstanding Honors students who recently presented their honors projects & theses, showcasing innovative scholarship across a wide range of psychological topics.

Through close collaboration with faculty mentors, these students conducted research addressing important issues related to mental health, communication, social behavior, sleep, and decision-making. Their work reflects the department’s commitment to undergraduate research, experiential learning, and academic excellence.

Among the presenters was Cherie Chin, whose project, “Effective Communication for ABA Clients: Teaching ASL to Behavior Technicians,” was mentored by Assistant Professor Anita Li. Chin’s research explored ways to improve communication and accessibility for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clients through American Sign Language training for behavior technicians.

Megha Saokar presented “Examining the Associations between Timing of Screen Use and Sleep Outcomes among Adolescents: A Scoping Review,” under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Samantha Miadich. Her research examined how screen use timing may influence adolescent sleep outcomes.

Also mentored by Assistant Professor Miadich, Dhanvi Patel presented “Associations between Sleep Quality, Physical Activity, and Social Support with Mental Wellbeing Among University Students.” Patel’s work investigated how health behaviors and social support relate to mental wellbeing among college students.

Emily Lindtveit presented “Undergraduate Students’ Awareness & Knowledge about Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs,” mentored by Assistant Teaching Professor Hannah Johnson. Her project focused on awareness and prevention education related to child sexual abuse prevention programs.

Also working with Assistant Teaching Professor Johnson, Hallie Moeller presented “Social Media Use in College Students: Examining the Relationship Between Social Media and Political Extremism.” Her research explored how social media engagement may relate to political extremism among college students.

Finally, Rory Kansiger presented “Delay Discounting and Behavior Economics: Adjusting Amount Tasks, Monetary Choice Questionnaire, and Probability Discounting,” mentored by Adjunct Instructor Douglas Johnson. The project examined behavioral economics and the ways individuals make decisions involving delayed or uncertain rewards.

The department congratulates these Honors students and their faculty mentors for their dedication, scholarship, and contributions to the field. Their accomplishments highlight the impactful research opportunities available to undergraduate students and the strength of faculty-student mentorship within the department.