Our Research
Faculty in social sciences frequently pair with students on innovative research. Read some recent research projects below.
Communication
Amy Becker, Ph.D.
This past year, working with Amy Becker, Ph.D., Natalie Bello, a student in CM342 D Media, Culture, and Society, did a thought-provoking project on representations of disability in the Sherlock Holmes series (mental disabilities in the original books, BBC series, movies, etc.). She gave an oral presentation at the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Colloquium. Additionally, Katelyn Barone, a junior and also a student in this class, did a project on representations of power, politics, gender, etc. in the Harry Potter series. Her project was not selected for the colloquium.
Paola Pascual-Ferra, Ph.D.
Paola Pascual-Ferra worked with undergraduate student, Kaitlyn Gallagher, who applied for and received a summer grant in 2015 to support her project “Latina Women in the U.S. Media.” This project was recognized at the Department of Communication’s Honors Dinner where Kaitlyn received an award for this project for work she did as a junior.
Psychology
Jeffrey Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
Dr. Barnett worked with Kathleen C. Hynes, B.A., on "Boundaries and Multiple Relationships in Psychotherapy: Recommendations for Ethical Practice." Additionally, Dr. Barnett worked with Caroline Coffman on both "Confidentiality and its Exceptions: The Case of Duty to Warn" and "Termination and Abandonment: A Proactive Approach to Ethical Practice."
Marianna Carlucci, Ph. D.
As an applied experimental psychologist Dr. Carlucci has a steady stream of students working with me on a variety of projects. However, one of the most rewarding aspects of my job is when she gets to work one-on-one with students on research they are passionate about. Coming from a 60,000+ institution, Dr. Carlucci appreciates the luxury of individualized research mentorship. Last year, for example, she worked with an undergraduate student, Angelica Puzio, on a project that investigated media representations of women and attitudes about cosmetic surgery. In addition to being able to explore a topic she was passionate about, Angelica was able to use her knowledge and training when applying to graduate schools. Indeed, her experience allowed her to have meaningful conversations about this research area during graduate school interviews. Angelica is now at Wake Forrest University, conducting research at the intersection of psychology and gender and will be presenting the research we collaborated on at the National Women’s Studies Association annual conference. As Angelica put it in a letter she sent Dr. Carlucci after graduation: “I am now at a time in my life where I seek to honor and nurture your guidance through my life and academic career”. These are the research relationships that move me and our students beyond the classroom.
Angelica Puzio (now a PhD student at Wake Forrest University) worked on an independent
study project with Dr. Carlucci in 2014 that investigated media representations of
women and attitudes about cosmetic surgery with Dr. Marianna Carlucci. In addition
to being able to explore a topic she was passionate about, Angelica was able to use
her knowledge and training when applying to graduate schools. Angelica will be presenting
this research in November 2015 at the National Women’s Studies Association annual
conference.
Emily C. Mariotti, Master’s student working with Sharon Green-Hennessy, Ph.D.
Jessica D. Turral, M.S. - PsyD student working with Marianna Carlucci, Ph.D.
Mary Jo Coiro, Ph.D.
Corey H. Molzon, M.S. - PsyD student and Mary Jo Coiro, Ph.D.
Theresa DiDonato, Ph. D.
Since joining Loyola’s Psychology department in 2009, Dr. DiDonato has involved over 70 undergraduates in my “Self and Social Relationships” lab, a lab dedicated to learning more about relationships, social interactions, social perceptions, and psychological well-being. While some students serve as research assistants, helping with data collection or providing other forms of research support, a subset of students work alongside her as collaborators, helping to design and implement new projects. She is inspired by how much students transform through the independent thinking, trouble-shooting, and creativity required by scientific research. Under her mentorship, more than 20 students have presented their research at Loyola’s Undergraduate Student Research and Scholarship Colloquium, and the pride they feel in their research achievements at this event is well-deserved. Of the projects she has completed in collaboration with students, two have been published in professional peer-reviewed journals, two have appeared in undergraduate student journals, and six have been presented at regional or national conferences as posters. Dr. DiDonato loves mentoring undergraduate researchers and take great pleasure in witnessing their intellectual and personal growth throughout the process.
Last year, during her senior year at Loyola, Laura Andrews (now a Ph.D. student at the University of Maine) completed an independent study with Theresa DiDonato, Ph.D. in which she designed and implemented an experimental investigation of the effects of heterosocial competence and perceived mate value on the fear of being single. Her work was presented at Loyola’s 2015 Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Colloquium and at this year’s national conference for the Association for Psychological Science.
Amy Wolfson, Ph.D., Beth A. Kotchick, Ph.D., and Christopher Higginson, Ph.D.
Rachel A. Lawson, M.S. - PsyD student along with Beth A. Kotchick, Ph.D. and Christopher Higginson, Ph.D.
Rachel A. Lawson, M.S. - PsyD student and 2015 Psychology medal recipient along with Amy Wolfson, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs
Sociology
Amanda Konradi, Ph.D.
Amanda Konradi supervised undergraduate student Angelica Puzio on an independent study research project during the 2014-2015 academic year. Angelica presented the results of her research project “ Sexual Assault Resource Knowledge: Survey and Analysis” at the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Colloquium and won first place. Dr. Konradi and Ms. Puzio are presently working together on a manuscript on this research that they plan to submit for publication.
Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
Sally Galena, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Under the guidance and support of Sally Galena, Ph.D., master’s student Betsy Stickel completed her master’s thesis titled “Listeners’ Perception of Gender after Raising Fundamental and formant Frequencies in a biological Male Voice.” Betsy presented her research at the Voice Foundation Symposium in Philadelphia in June 2015, where it was selected as one of the top five student papers. She also presented it at the Acoustical Society of America 5th mini conference in May 2015 where it won second place. Betsy will be presenting a poster on this research at the ASHA conference in Denver, CO in November and she and Sally Galena are presently preparing a manuscript on the topic that they will submit to a peer reviewed journal. Sally Galena also supervised the following master’s students on these research projects that were presented at Emerging Scholars in April 2015:
- Sarah Councill - The Impact of Theater on Social Skill Development
- Allison Ortolano - The Impact of Incorporating Music Therapy on Joint Attention Skills
- Briana Figallo - The Effectiveness of Speech Therapy on Vowel Formant Frequencies in Transgender Male-to-Female Speakers. Briana Figallo is also presenting a poster with the same title at the ASHA convention in Nov. 2015. She has opted to do a thesis for which I am her primary advisor
Lisa Schoenbrodt, Ed.D., CCC-SLP
Last year, Lisa Schoenbrodt, EdD collaborated with a junior, Diana Dautzenberg, who participated in a research study with her in which they evaluated narrative language development improvements in children at risk for language and literacy disorders using parent training. Diana presented a poster session at the LUM Undergraduate Research Colloquium on this research and won first place in social sciences. This research was then presented nationally at the ASHA Schools Conference.
Diana Dautzenberg who won first place at the Undergraduate Research Colloquium. Undergraduate student in Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences working with Lisa Schoenbrodt Ed.D.
Diana Dautzenberg and Jennifer Lynds, both undergraduate students in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences working with Lisa Schoenbrodt Ed.D.
Samantha Thompson - undergraduate student in Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences working with Lisa Schoenbrodt, Ed.D.
Annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention
Several faculty and graduate students from the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences presented posters and research at the annual ASHA Convention in Philadelphia from November 17-19, 2016. This professional education event for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists brings together more than 12,000 attendees to hear the latest research and gain new skills and resources. View a complete list of Loyola presenters at ASHA.
Brianne Roos, Lisa Schoenbrodt, Donna Pitts, Marie Kerins, and Lena Caesar as ASHA Convention.
Lena Caesar and Marie Kerins with graduate students at ASHA Convention.
Cindy Nichols and Theresa Alexander, poster presentation at ASHA Convention.
Donna Pitts and Laura Kelly, poster presentation at ASHA Convention.
Brianne Roos and Lisa Schoenbrodt, poster presentation at ASHA Convention.
