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Memelab: Simulation of a Campus Population
Ian D. Miller, University of Toronto, presents his research "Memelab: Simulation of a Campus Population," at the 25th APS Annual Convention in Washington, DC. How do you predict when a picture or video is going to become an online viral phenomenon? In this experiment, participants created memes using our online laboratory (“Memelab”) and shared them with friends. Over a 2-month period, our web server counted how many times each picture was viewed by Internet users. On that basis, we determined which pictures were “more viral.” Although it mattered whether the picture was funny and relevant, the creator of the picture had a greater impact in predicting meme popularity.
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Convention Attendees Meet a Legend
For some attendees, the highlight of the 25th APS Annual Convention was meeting a legend in person. APS Past President Michael Gazzaniga signed copies of his books and chatted with Convention attendees after his May 23 Keynote Address on "Unity in a Modular World." Gazzaniga is known for his innovative work with split-brain patients and his extraordinary discoveries related to the lateralization of brain function and communication between brain hemispheres. During the Keynote Address, he discussed the modular nature of the brain and how coordination among brain modules leads to unified mental activity. If you missed Gazzaniga's address, don't worry!
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Integrated Data Management Processes Expedite Common Data Management Tasks in Autism Research
Frank Farach from Prometheus Research, LLCpresents his poster “Integrated Data Management Processes Expedite Common Data Management Tasks in Autism Research,” at the 25th APS Annual Convention in Washington, DC. Many researchers engage in disposable data management (DDM) practices: They clean and organize data after a study has been finished, repeating the process for each new analysis. Anecdotal evidence suggests that these DDM approaches are inefficient because they waste money, human resources, and valuable time. In contrast, integrated data management (IDM), is a systematic process for managing data as a reusable resource.
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Preserving the History of Psychological Science
Cathy Faye, Assistant Director of the Center for the History of Psychology at the University of Akron in Ohio, has a message for psychological scientists who have made significant contributions to the field: Don’t throw away your notes, correspondence, or lab equipment! Faye spoke on Friday, May 23, at the 25th APS Annual Convention to educate attendees about the Center’s collection of papers, photographs, recordings, moving images, and artifacts documenting the history of psychology — the largest such collection in the world. The collection includes iconic items, such as the shock generator that Stanley Milgram used in his historic studies on obedience to authority.
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Birthday Flash Mob Surprises Convention Attendees
The 25th APS Annual Convention is off to a lively start — some might even call it a flashy start. Last night, APS members who had gathered to watch science superstar Michael Gazzaniga’s Keynote Address on “Unity in a Modular World” were surprised when more than 30 of their fellow attendees broke into a choreographed dance while The Beatles’ “Birthday” blared from the loudspeaker. If you missed the flash mob commemorating APS’s 25th birthday, don’t fret! There will be more opportunities to celebrate during this weekend’s convention, including an ‘80s-themed 25@25 Celebration and Special Concert on Saturday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in Salon 1.
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The Benefits of Traditional vs. Wikipedia Assignments
Watch Megan John from Concordia College present her poster "The Benefits of Traditional vs. Wikipedia Research Assignments for Introductory Psychology Students" at the APS 25th Annual Convention in Washington DC. This presentation describes how a Wikipedia assignment was integrated into a psychology course to replace the traditional major paper typically assigned in such courses. Thirty-three students worked on significantly expanding and improving eight different Wikipedia articles over a period of 15 weeks. A 30-item survey was administered at the end of the academic semester in order to capture and quantify students’ perceptions of the experience.
