-
Failure to Replicate the Mehta and Zhu (2009) Color Effect
Mehta and Zhu (2009) reported several studies in Science on the effects of the colors red and blue over a series of cognitive tasks. Red was hypothesized to induce a state of avoidance motivation which would cause people to become more vigilant and risk-averse in a task. Blue was hypothesized to induce a state of approach motivation which would cause people to use more innovative or risky strategies. Studies appear in high-impact journals, like Science, often because they report novel or far-reaching effects. Such studies need to be replicated in order to determine whether the finding is reliable.
-
2013 SRA and RISE Winners and Honorable Mentions
Student Research Award The APS Student Research Award (SRA) serves a dual purpose: to provide students with experience of the peer review process (both as submitters and reviewers) and to recognize outstanding research conducted by students. This year’s competition received 260 submissions, representing all areas of psychological science. The quality of submissions was exceptionally high, and competition was stiff. In response to record growth in the contest’s popularity over the last few years, this year’s contest featured a lengthier application process to provide additional information for our peer reviewers. Four overall winners and eight honorable mentions were selected.
-
Race/Ethnicity Moderates Associations Between Childhood Weight Status and Early Substance Use
Identification of risk-factors for early drinking, smoking, and illicit drug use is essential for targeted substance abuse prevention. Few studies have examined associations between weight during childhood and early substance use, with mixed results. Some research has linked childhood obesity to higher rates of alcohol, cigarette, and/or cannabis use during adolescence, while others have found no associations. The present study examined the role of race/ethnicity as a potential moderator of relationships between childhood weight status and early use (by age 15) of alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis.
-
Putting a Little Personality Into Social Psychology (and Vice-Versa)
The personal and the social intertwine inextricably. In a 2011 paper published in the European Journal of Personality, a group of psychological scientists note that when we talk about an individual’s personality, part of what we are talking about is how that individual interacts with others. Furthermore, the scientists write, “social relationships would not be such a challenging part of our lives if all people were equal in how they act, think, and feel” — that is, if all people were equal in their personalities (90). Over time, social experiences play an important role in shaping personality, and personality shapes social experiences, too. Yet, according to lead author Mitja D.
-
The Influence of Family Dynamics: Mental Health of Colombian Dementia Caregivers
Megan E. Sutter of Virginia Commonwealth University is a 2013 RISE Research Award recipient. Sutter presented her research on “The Influence of Family Dynamics: Mental Health of Colombian Dementia Caregivers” at the 25th APS Annual Convention.
-
When Families Do Not Fit, nor Measure Up: Categorization and Evaluation of ‘Modern’ Families
David Kille of the University of Waterloo, Canada, is a 2013 RISE Research Award recipient. He presented his research on “When Families Do Not Fit, nor Measure Up: Categorization and Evaluation of ‘Modern’ Families” at the 25th APS Annual Convention in Washington, DC.
