USS Bits and Bytes - Electronic Newsletter of the Miami University's Undergraduate Summer Scholars Program (USS)

Vol. 1, #1, August 22, 1997

Turning Points: Understanding the Impact of Positive and Negative Interracial Experiences in College
Summer 1997 project of Erin P. Maher under the mentorship of Dr. Margaret O. Wright, Department of Psychology

Photo of Erin Maher Race matters, or does it? This summer, Erin Maher adapted this heated issue to a study, designed with her mentor Dr. Margaret Wright, on the psychological impact of interracial interactions between college students. Working from surveys completed in the spring and background materials gathered during her ten weeks as a Summer Scholar, in the fall she will expand the scope of the study by testing the impact of racial interactions on the cardiovascular system.

At the beginning of her research, Erin hypothesized that individuals experience negative psychological impacts from negative interracial interactions. However, the surveys completed in the spring by Hispanic, African American, Asian, Caucasian, bi-racial and multi-racial individuals (roughly 20-25 from each group) indicate that positive interactions have much greater impact in general than negative ones. In addition to analyzing survey results, this summer Erin researched the history of racial classification and started preparations for the fall when the same sample group will participate in monitored conversations. At this point, the interracial aspect of the study will become just one part of the overall picture of the effects of stress on the cardiovascular system and comprehensive health.

During the fall research sessions, the subjects will be paired and given three different topics of conversation ranging from neutral at first to racially charged. During these conversations, Erin will monitor the individuals' cardiovascular response to each topic. In order to plan for this segment of the project, Erin spent time familiarizing herself with the cardiovascular system and means of monitoring it. In theory, the study will serve as a model to describe effects of racial interaction on campuses similar to Miami.

Even though her initial hypothesis was disproved by the spring surveys, Erin notes that it was only one small part of the overall scope of the project and therefore more interesting than surprising. The one difficulty she mentions was the isolation she felt working independently in the lab for long hours at the beginning of the summer. However, this problem was alleviatedby speaking to her advisor in Psychology who in turn arranged a weekly meeting for students to reflect upon the ups and downs of life as a Summer Scholar.

The larger picture of this project coincides with Erin's interest in health psychology and working with young adults and children. Besides her research experience, Erin's intern and volunteer experiences support these interests as well. Accordingly, Erin interned and will continue to work as a mediator for juvenile delinquents at the Hamilton County Courthouse. She also volunteers at the Rape Crisis Center as well as the Crisis Center in Oxford that serves all of Butler County. Each of these endeavors required many hours of interviews and training which she hopes will help her achieve her ultimate goal of a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology.

Erin Maher is one of 120 Miami University undergraduates who participated in the 1997 Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) Program. This University program is an initiative aimed at heightening the intellectual challenge of the learning environment at Miami University. This program enables Miami undergraduates to do research or other creative activities in the summer under the supervision of faculty.

In 1997, some of the USS activities were supported by a National Science Foundation Grant to Miami University entitled "Creating a Research-Rich Curriculum: A Model for Lifelong and Continuous Learning" (DUE-9652063, Dr. J.A. Czaja, PI). This funding was provided under the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education's program on Institution-Wide Reform of Undergraduate Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology.

Summary and Photo by Cindy (Cynthia) Bubb, a Mass Communication major with a minor in Marketing, Miami University class of 1998.