Muehlenhard Research Group—Independent Study Information and Application Form for Fall 2016

Professor Charlene Muehlenhard

, (785) 864-9860, 305 Fraser

In Independent Study, students assist with research. Research assistants (RAs) attend weekly research group meetings, read relevant articles, and help with the studies in numerous ways (e.g., helping design a questionnaire, doing literature searches, helping analyze data). Each student should expect to work about 9 hours per week for 3 credit hours. For fall 2016, we will havethree research groups (see below).

To apply for Independent Study, email the information requested below to me at .

Applications will be read by me and the grad student(s) in whose group(s) you express interest. We will get back to you quickly.

Application Informationto be sent to

1.Your name:

2.Your phone number(s):

3.Your e-mail address:

4.Your major (students from any major are welcome):

5.You can participate for course credit in PSYC or WGSS, or you can volunteerwithout registering. Which do you prefer?

__PSYC 480 IndepStudy __PSYC 481 Research Practicum __WGSS 498 Indep Study __Volunteering

6.Indicate which of the group(s) you are interested in and could attend. If applicable, rank your preferences.

7.In a paragraph or two, explain (1) why you would like to work with us and (2) your background and skills. (FYI, no previous research experience is required. Students from any major are welcome.)

8.Include some evidence of your academic performance. This could be your GPA, OR a copy of your Degree Progress Report emailed as a pdf attachment, OR anything that seems reasonable to you.

9.Any questions or comments?

Research Groups for Fall 2016

___Mondays, 5:30-6:45 PM. Topic:How People Consent in Real-Life Sexual Relationships. Renae Mitchell’s study is about how people consent in actual sexual relationships. We will read and code data collected from college students during spring of 2016. We will be focusing on differences between consent to first-time behaviors and consent to behaviors that they and their partner have done before, with an eye toward developing a theoretical model of different approaches to consent. We might also discuss expanding the study from consent among college students to consent among members of sexual minority communities, such as the BDSM community.

• Research assistants will read relevant articles, read and code questionnaire responses, discuss models of consent, and discuss adapting our study to a sexual minority community, such as the BDSM community. We are seeking both male and female research assistants.

NOTE: Because this group starts after 5:00 PM, students who are driving to campus can park in the parking lot behind Fraser.

___Tuesdays, 5:15-6:30 PM. Topic: Attributions of Responsibility and/or Blame in Sexual Situations Where One or Both People Are Intoxicated. This study is in the planning phase. It will probably be about people’s attributions of responsibility and/or blame in sexual situations where one or both people are intoxicated.

• Research assistants will help narrow and focus the study, read relevant articles, assist with development of a questionnaire, and, if the study has a qualitative component, read participants’ answers and help analyze themes in their answers. We are seeking both male and female research assistants.

NOTE: Because this group starts after 5:00 PM, students who are driving to campus can park in the parking lot behind Fraser.

___Wednesdays, 5:00-6:15PM. Topic: Conceptualizing Outness about Sexual Orientation. Kate Esterline’s study is about how people think about their own “outness” about their sexual orientation. Research participants of differing sexual orientations were asked how “out” they considered themselves; they were also asked how their scores on two widely used outness scalesmatched their own self-perceived level of outness.

• This study is in the analysis phase. Qualitative and quantitative data have been collected about how participants conceptualize outness about sexual orientation. Research assistants will help read and analyze the participants’ answers and generate ideas about themes and patterns that appear in the data. We are seeking both male and female research assistants.

Form updated August 21, 2016

How Independent Study Works
Every professor handles Independent Study differently. Here’s how we do it:
1.If you are interested in working with one of our research groups, email the information requested on page 1 to me ().
2.I will forward your information to the graduate student (if applicable) whose study you are interested in.
3.We will let you know whether you are accepted. If you are accepted, I will email you a permission-to-enroll number.
4.If you apply and are accepted, you can ...
... sign up for Independent Study as PSYC 480 or as WGSS 498, or
… sign up for Research Practicum as PSYC 481 (if you are involved in data analysis), or
... participate in the research group as a volunteer, or
... decide not to participate at all.
5.During the semester, you would meet with the research group each week. Each research group works on a different study; each study is a graduate student’s master's thesis or dissertation or an undergraduate’s senior honors thesis. Usually each group consists of 3-8 undergraduate research assistants, the graduate student/honors thesis student, and me.
6.In addition to attending the weekly research group meetings, research assistants read relevant articles and help with the studies in numerous ways (e.g., helping design a questionnaire, collecting data, and entering data into Excel, depending on which study they are working on).
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, but you cannot attend our research groups, or your interests lie in different areas, consider contacting other professors. You can
•check the Psychology Department website at
•look for flyers that are posted in Fraser Hall.
•contact a professor who teaches classes or does research related to your interests and ask if they are offering independent study opportunities.