Pictured (from left): Kaitlin Weldon, Dr. Gary Lewandowski, and Csilla Greiner.
Photo Credit: Jim Reme
“Students gain research experience and build their resumes. We collaborate in the conception, design, data collection, analysis, and ultimate presentation and/or publication of the data,” said Dr. Lewandowski. Students help with research, co-author papers in academic journals, obtain grant funding, and present at major research conferences. Recent research results have been published in academic journals and mentioned in national magazines such as Self Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, and United Press International.
Self Magazine, April 2008, published the results that “people with positive traits, such as kindness, are perceived as better looking: those who exhibit negative ones, such as rudeness, are deemed less attractive.”
Self Magazine, July 2008, published the results that “breakups are brutal but some may actually benefit you. After a separation, many women experience positive emotions such as increased confidence, particularly if the relationship was unhealthy.”
Students start their research assistantship as a volunteer and can earn credits through independent study. The experience helps students learn more about the science of psychology and helps prepare them for graduate school. Many alumni have gone on to graduate schools such as Columbia University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Michigan State University, and New York University.
Student assistants for this year (all psychology majors) include: Leilani Chin (Senior, East Brunswick), Barb Fulmer (Junior, Monroe Township), Csilla Greiner (Junior, Garfield), Emma Higgins (Junior, Ocean Grove), Michelle Pettenato (Junior, Hazlet), Jessica Stephan (Senior, Brick), and Kaitlin Weldon (Junior, Freehold).
For more information on the Close Relationship Research Lab, contact Dr. Lewandowski at 732-263-5476 or send e-mail to glewando@monmouth.edu.
