Kaitlyn Doshier

Author: Kaitlyn Doshier | Major: Biology | Semester: Fall 2024

My name is Kaitlyn Doshier, and I am a Departmental Honors student in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. I am majoring in Biology and conducting my research in the Department of Psychology under the mentorship of Dr. Grant Shields. I began my research in the Fall of 2024 and will continue working on it throughout the Spring of 2025.

As I explored research opportunities at the University of Arkansas, I was particularly drawn to the work being conducted in the Psychology department, especially Dr. Shields’ studies. His work integrates principles of psychology and biology, combining topics like stress and neurobiological processes, which deeply resonated with my interests. In the Fall 2023, I assisted with running studies for a semester, which led to discussions with Dr. Shields about potential ideas for my honors thesis. Dr. Shields proposed that I take over a previous study with limited data due to recruitment challenges. After he explained the study’s objectives, I found the topic fascinating and eagerly agreed to continue the project. The aim of the research is to examine the effects of stress and alcohol on decision-making. With guidance from Dr. Shields and graduate student Colton Hunter, we adjusted the study design, including lowering the intended blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

I connected with this study idea because, in college, all three of these variables – stress, alcohol, and decision-making – interact in significant ways, making it crucial to understand how these factors influence one another. The study features four experimental conditions: alcohol-stress, alcohol-control, placebo-stress, and placebo-control. Participants receive either three alcoholic beverages made with vodka and lemon-lime soda or three placebo beverages consisting of lemon-lime soda with a diluted alcohol mist for masking. Stress is induced in certain participants using the cold pressor method, where they immerse their hand in water at 2 degrees Celsius for three minutes. Control participants immerse their hand in water at 38 degrees Celsius. Participants complete a series of questionnaires, a memory task, and a decision-making competence assessment. All data collection took place in the Psychology building at the University of Arkansas. Throughout this semester, I have learned that precision is critical to minimizing external factors that could influence data collection. Managing these variables requires careful attention to detail and adherence to protocol.

One of the challenges I faced this semester was recruiting eligible participants. Since many Psychology students are freshmen, it was difficult to find participants over the age of 21. Additionally, the study’s design—requiring two sessions exactly 48 hours apart, each lasting at least three hours—posed scheduling difficulties for participants and for me. Balancing the study with my coursework, volunteering, and other responsibilities required careful time management. By prioritizing the study and blocking out time in my schedule, I was able to meet the demands of the research. While lowering the BAC did speed up certain aspects of the study, the two-day commitment still proved difficult to fit into potential participants’ schedule. Furthermore, finding participants who passed the medical screening process was more challenging than anticipated. Factors such as medication use, medical conditions, and drinking habits over the past year significantly narrowed the pool of eligible participants.

Due to recruitment difficulties, I was unable to collect enough data for a thorough analysis. I had a few no-shows and eligible participants that stopped responding, despite my repeated follow-ups. As a result, I had to pivot my research in a different direction in order to have more data to analyze. Dr. Shields offered to let me focus on his previously collected data that examined chronic stress in relation to decision-making competence. While this shift was initially challenging, it ultimately highlighted the importance of flexibility and adaptability in research. Although I dedicated a year to the alcohol study, this transition still allows me to continue contributing to meaningful research. Dr. Shields and Colton Hunter have been instrumental in my research journey. They provided invaluable support in refining the logistics of my thesis and assisting with my Honors Research Grant application. Their consistent availability to answer my questions and provide guidance has been particularly helpful. I have weekly meetings with Colton and monthly check-ins with Dr. Shields to discuss project updates and track data collection progress.

In the Spring 2025 semester, I plan to analyze the collected data and interpret the results under Dr. Shields’ supervision. I will also begin drafting my thesis with the goal of defending it by the end of Spring 2025. Conducting this research has been an enriching experience that has taught me perseverance, adaptability, and collaboration in the research process. The Honors College Research Grant has not only allowed me to lead a study but also to navigate and overcome challenges, fostering my growth as a researcher, and deepening my commitment to the field of Psychology.