SCASB 2025 Poster Presentation

Author: Becca Allen | Major: Exercise Science | Semester: Spring 2025

Over the course of the Spring 2025 semester, I collaborated with my mentor, Dr. Abigail Schmitt, to investigate how obstacle crossing behaviors differ between environments. This project will go on to serve as my master’s thesis, where I will examine whether significant differences are present in obstacle crossing measures inside the laboratory compared to those observed outdoors. Our long-term goal is to assess the same obstacle crossing task inside the lab and outside on a nearby sidewalk to determine whether the environment leads to measurable differences in the results.
Environmental context is critical in gait research, as different stimuli can affect the way we walk. Sterile laboratory settings— especially with research members present— have proven to increase participant’s gait speed and alter variables like stride width. While it is established that the environment can impact walking behaviors, it remains unknown how environmental context impacts obstacle crossing behaviors specifically.
Dr. Schmitt and I set out to explore whether the laboratory itself presents as a limitation for studying obstacle crossing. If significant differences are found between behaviors in both environments, it would suggest that data collected in a lab may not accurately represent how people cross obstacles in real-world environments. It is crucial to fill this gap— the ultimate goal of our research is to understand how humans navigate obstacles in daily life. Reaching inaccurate conclusions due to faulty methodology would defeat this purpose.
This semester, we collected our indoor trials in the lab, which comprises half of the data required to fully answer our research question. Watching participants complete trials sparked a deeper interest in the topic for me, as I observed a variety of crossing strategies with my own eyes. It was fascinating to see how each person approached the task; some consistently used their dominant foot across all 10 trials, while others alternated feet from trial to trial. These differences made me even more eager to continue collecting data and explore how these strategies shift in each environmental context.
Our team faced challenges over the course of this project, and I am proud of how well we adapted. Our initial dataset was discarded due to technical issues, and we had to recollect our indoor collections entirely. While this setback was frustrating, it taught me resilience and gave me insight into the reality of the scientific process. I learned that progress comes from trial and error, and that results aren’t always immediate or clear. Repeating this process helped my team develop more effective data collection practices, and it bolstered our collaboration and efficiency.
Beyond expanding my research knowledge, this project also provided me with the opportunity to present my first research poster. My team and I attended the South Central American Society of Biomechanics Conference, where I learned how to present findings and network with other academics in the field. Presenting my poster taught me a lot about myself as a researcher. I discovered that I enjoy the challenge of answering questions about my work— it required me to think critically and respond quickly, which was both stimulating and rewarding. I also realized how important my involvement in data collection was. Without attending these collections, I wouldn’t have been able to confidently answer most of the questions I received.
As mentioned earlier, this project is far from over. I am eager to continue data collections over the Fall 2025 semester as a graduate student. The knowledge and experience I gained from this semester will stay with me throughout the rest of my career in research. I am incredibly grateful for my opportunity to be a part of this project. After earning my master’s degree, I plan to pursue a Ph.D., and this early research experience has been fundamental for both my professional and personal growth. I’m thrilled to continue my work with Dr. Schmitt, and I am eager to see where this journey takes me next.