Presenting at the Society for Research on Psychopathology Conference
Author: Caroline Dina | Major: Psychology | Semester: Fall 2023
My name is Caroline Dina, and I am a junior psychology major and statistics minor in the honors college here at the University of Arkansas. My research examined implicit willpower, affective distress, and distress tolerance levels. More specifically, my research looked at the implicit willpower’s moderation of affective distress and distress tolerance. This research can help in future clinical treatment by pushing clients to have more malleable beliefs about willpower.
In late September, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Society for Research in Psychopathology’s annual conference. This psychological conference brings together researchers and clinicians across several disciplines and ages. Attending this conference pushed me academically in several ways. To participate in the conference, I had to submit an abstract summarizing the work I would potentially present if accepted. Once I was accepted, I immediately began working on the poster presentation. Although this is not my first poster presentation, the statistics we used for this poster were more advanced than my last. I could apply the knowledge I had learned in my statistics courses firsthand. Working with advanced statistical tests is something that my profession will require greatly, so I am grateful for the opportunity to practice some of those skills here. Once the actual presentation was finalized, I prepped by having my lab mates ask me poster-specific questions. Conference attendees can ask you any question about your research, so practicing and implementing these skills pushed me to think outside the box to answer tough questions.
Attending the actual conference was a fantastic experience. I presented my poster on the first night, and throughout the weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in several talks and panels. Established researchers and clinicians presented their research findings to conference attendees and opened the floor for questions. It was incredible to see what other researchers are passionate about. Some of their findings inspired future research topics of mine and allowed me to develop interests I never knew I had. Additionally, getting to meet these professors will assist me greatly in the graduate application process. Finding a graduate mentor willing to help you grow and pursue your interests is key, so I enjoyed hearing from professors with similar interests to mine.
My biggest advice if you have the opportunity to attend a conference is to throw yourself into it. Before attending my first conference, I was scared I would ask the wrong questions or answer incorrectly. This made me much more nervous than I needed to be. When attending a conference, it is important to ask questions you are curious about, attend talks that you are interested in, and give answers to the best of your understanding. This conference was my second, and this attitude made it a much more enjoyable experience than my first.
Overall, this experience allowed me to develop my presentation skills and love for psychology. I felt constantly inspired by the incredible researchers that I was surrounded by. Many ideas inspired thoughts for research that I could accomplish in the future. I am extremely thankful to the University of Arkansas Honors College for pushing me to attend opportunities like these and helping me fund my efforts.