Psyc 406–2016

Islamophobia — What is it and how is it measured?

Islamophobia is an extremely contentious topic in contemporary society — particularly in light of recent terrorist attacks perpetrated against the Western world. If unfamiliar with the subject, Lee et al. (2009) operationalize Islamophobia: “the fear of Muslims and the…

The Power of the Questions

While I was looking for a topic to talk about in my blog, I stumbled upon an interesting TED Talk by Dr. Dan Ariely who was talking about decision-making. I have always been fascinated about cognitive psychology and I decided to listen to it. I learned something very interesting…

The SAT: Time For A Change?

In the United States, every student considering education past high school is faced with the dreaded SAT. It’s a long, daunting exam that compares students across the world. But, are the results of this exam actually meaningful?

Personality drawing tests: Do they Hold Up?

When I was about ten years old a psychologist asked me to draw a sun, a house, a river, a tree and a snake. I remember being puzzled as to why this very official looking lady who had been asking me questions for the last hour or so suddenly wanted me to draw a picture…and why so…

Predicting Athletic Performance in Anxious Individuals: Combining The SAS-2 and the DSS

When competing in sporting events, I have always had an internal struggle between my instincts and my conscious. I would always worry about making mistakes and how I could…

Tests from a homeschooler’s perspective

Growing up home-schooled, tests were never a particularly salient part of my life. Compared to my friends who went to public school, I was able to simply enjoying learning without worrying about being evaluated. After we finish a chapter of biology, my parents…

Dissociative Identity Disorder and Miss Dorsett

The NFL Combine: Strength, Speed, and Intelligence?