NOTE CHANGE OF TIME FOR AE&D SERIES: Research presentation on Improving STEM outcomes for social minority students by Prof Bowman from UofIowa, Wed 10th July 12-1pm

The School of Psychology's Outreach working party is proud of inviting you to join us for a research presentation of our Aboriginal Equity and Diversity Series.

WHAT: a research presentation by Prof Nicholas Bowman from the University of Iowa, USA,

TITLE: Improving STEM Outcomes for Postsecondary Students who Speak English as a Second Language: The Impact of a Social-Belonging Intervention

ABSTRACT: In the United States and other countries, substantial group disparities exist in terms of which university students study science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and ultimately receive a degree in these fields. Various efforts have attempted to improve the STEM outcomes of underrepresented groups, most notably women and racial minority students. However, very little research has explored the outcomes of postsecondary students who speak English as a second language (ESL). ESL students in the U.S. are underserved and underrepresented in STEM fields, and they likely face substantial psychological barriers within STEM learning environments. Therefore, the present study examined the impact of a social-belonging intervention on ESL students who were interested in pursuing a STEM degree. Specifically, it examined data from a large-scale study of over 12,000 STEM-interested students at 19 U.S. universities. The findings indicated positive effects of this belonging intervention on ESL students’ STEM GPA, STEM credits earned, and proportion of STEM credits obtained successfully; these relationships were generally larger among ESL students than non-ESL students. This work provides evidence for the benefits of psychological interventions for students whose marginalized identity is often overlooked.

WHEN: Wednesday 10th July, 2019, 12.30-1.30 (Note change of time)
WHERE: Keats Reading Room AVLG17, Aviation Building, Callaghan (Video link to Ourimbah Meeting room, Science Offices; Zoom link:: https://uonewcastle.zoom.us/s/979950681 ZoomID: 979950681

BIO: Nicholas A. Bowman is a professor of higher education and student affairs as well as the director of the Center for Research on Undergraduate Education at the University of Iowa. His research uses a social psychological lens to explore key issues in postsecondary education, including student success, diversity, admissions, rankings, and research methodology. His work has appeared in over 80 journal articles in education, psychology, and sociology. He is also a co-author of the third volume of How College Affects Students, which systematically reviewed over 1,800 studies on the short-term and long-term effects of undergraduate education. Professor Bowman is currently an associate editor of Journal of Higher Education and Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research.

Tor more information on Prof Bowmanm see: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicholas_Bowman4
To make contact with Prof Bowman, email: Mark.Rubin@newcastle.edu.au

School of Psychology research seminars -- semester 2, 2019

Dear All,

Please join our excitement for the following  school-wide research seminars taking place throughout semester 2 2019.

Save these dates.

Where:  Room-L326 in Auchmuty Library, via Zoom link to Ourimbah and beyond

When: 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Week 2 – 7^th August 2019 - Professor Tom Denson: From UNSW -  School of Psychology

Week 4 – 21^st August 2019 - Siobha Curran: Integrated Innovation Network (I2N)

Week 6 – 4^th September 2019 - Dr Cassandra Gauld: applied psychology field of road safety

Week 8 – 18^th September 2019 - Dr Heather Douglas: Confidence, workplace performance, and imposter phenomenon

Week 10 – 16^th October 2019 - ECR Group - TBC

Week 12 – 30^th October 2019 - Women in STEM: Panel discussion

Australasian Society for Social & Affective Neuroscience (AS4SAN) meeting in Newcastle

The Australasian Society for Social and Affective Neuroscience (AS4SAN) is a non-profit organisation that aims to promote basic and applied research investigating social and affective behaviour across a wide range of different species using a wide variety of neuroscience and neuropsychological techniques. AS4SAN sees social and affective neuroscience as an interdisciplinary field devoted to the study of central nervous system mechanisms (e.g., neural, hormonal, cellular, genetic) underlying social and affective behaviour, in the context of both normal development and functioning, as well as relevant to clinical disorders.

This week, Dr Michelle Kelly (AS4SAN Vice President) led a conference committee of UON researchers Dr Linda Campbell and Professor Frances Martin in convening the society’s 6th annual meeting at NewSpace, University of Newcastle). A team of 6 students (RHD and undergraduate) also assisted with conference organisation and running.

It was the first time that the conference was hosted in Newcastle and we attracted 60 delegates representing Australia (12 universities), UK, USA and Germany. In keeping with the tradition of the conference, we had a single stream format consisting of 3 invited keynote speakers, 23 platform presentations, 14 datablitz presentations and 10 poster presentations. AS4SAN is dedicated to supporting student researchers and this is evident with 40% of the overall platform presentations and 64% of the overall poster and datablitz sessions being presented by students. AS4SAN is also proud to say they are working towards gender equity across all society activities. We had two female Keynote speakers (Dr Izelle Labuschagne and Dr Belinda Craig), and 62% of conference presenters overall were female.

We held welcome drinks at Brain @ Watt Space exposing the exhibit to 40 researchers across the country, and were pleased to have Professor Kristen Pammer attend and officially open the meeting. We held two preconference workshops and thank our local presenters Dr Bryan Paton and Dr Elise Kalokerinos for their time and expertise. I think all those who attended would agree that these were top quality workshops. This conference provided a platform for 8 UON students and 4 UON staff to present their research.

Overall the conference was very successful, enjoyed by all!

The conference organisers and AS4SAN Executive Committee thank the sponsors: Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, AD Instruments, Medilink and SR Research.

How Do You Play With Your Kids?

Dr Emily Freeman and PhD Candidate Mrs Erin Robinson have been looking at parent-child play interactions. “We want to know what sorts of things parents are doing with their children”, says Dr Freeman, “How often do you rough-and-tumble or play with toys?”. This research was born from previous work with Dr Freeman looking at rough-and-tumble play between Dads and their kids. “It’s so important that we are finally studying the important role that father’s play in child development, but I was finding that when I spoke with parents about these previous projects, lots of Mums were saying ‘but hey I do that too’ or ‘I do more of the rough-and-tumble than my partner!’ and so Erin and I thought maybe we should actually ask parents what types of play they are doing”.

If you would like further information on this study, or are a parent of a child aged 0-10 years and would like to participate, head on over to the survey page here: https://limesurvey.newcastle.edu.au/index.php/347555?lang=en

Dr Emily Freeman (left) and PhD Candidate Mrs Erin Robinson (right).

UON Psychology Welcomes Academics from the University of Sofia visiting through the ERASMUS Exchange Program

WHAT: research presentations by Prof Sonya Karabeliova and Dr Milen Milanov, University of Sofia, Bulgaria.

WHEN: Tuesday 11th June, 2019, 12-1pm

WHERE: Keats Reading Room AVLG17, Aviation Building, Callaghan (Video link to Ourimbah Meeting room, Science Offices; zoom link::https://uonewcastle.zoom.us/s/979950681 ZoomID: 979950681

TALK BY PROF KARABELIOVA:
Value Orientations and Cultural Practices - Similarities and Differences between Bulgaria and Australia (based on the Hofstede’s model)

PROF KARABELIOVA’S ABSTRACT: The lecture will present a short introduction to the theoretical model of Geert Hofstede on the topic of value measurement. This has served as a forming factor of culture on an individual and national level. The model is based on a large-scale empirical survey conducted in more than 80 countries around the world. The dominant value orientations reflect cultural practices which characterise people’s everyday behaviour. The lecture will present data from two national large-scale surveys conducted in Bulgaria according to Hofstede’s model. The results will be compared with findings about Australia taken from published research by Geert Hofstede. Finally, we will discuss similarities and differences between Bulgaria and Australia.

PROF KARABELIOVA’S BIO: Sonya Karabeliova is a Professor in Psychology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria. She graduated with a Master’s degree from the same university where she also successfully defended her PhD and earned a subsequent DSc. She is currently one of the Vice-Deans of the Faculty of Philosophy which includes the Department of Psychology. She is the leader of a Master’s and a PhD degree in Health Psychology. Her other research interests are within the field of Cross-Cultural Psychology. She has led and been a part of numerous national and international research projects. She has written three books: Career Choice; Values and Cultural Practices in Bulgaria; Human Potential Management and Development and is a co-author of three additional books and a number of research papers. Prof. Sonya Karabeliova also has a vast experience as a consultant for private organisations.

TALK BY DR MILANOV: When patriotism and sexism correlate: Some common socio-demographic determinants.

DR MILANOV’S: In this research we identify a number of socio-demographic factors that determine the levels of patriotism and sexism in two separate data sets with a total of 958 participants. The results of  independent samples t-tests and ANOVAs show that age, education level, marital status, and to some extend gender, all account for significant differences in the attitudes towards the common stereotypes of male and female roles in society. The same factors appear to predict different levels of patriotism as well. We discuss the relatively stable patterns of interactions between demographics and both patriotism and sexism in our samples and elaborate on the positive correlation between these phenomena.

DR MILANOV’S BIO: I completed my Master’s degree in Psychology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in Bulgaria and worked in the private sector for several years. In 2006 I relocated to Australia and completed my PhD in social psychology at the University of Newcastle in 2010.  Shortly after, I accepted a tenured track assistant professor position at my home university back in Bulgaria and I have been there ever since. My research is in the areas of group identity, prejudice and discrimination. I am also interested in research methodology and teach various statistical courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.