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Tips for Sophomores and Freshmen

Tips for Juniors in Experimental I

My Senior Thesis

Brief Description of my Thesis

Learn about my summer job!!

For information about this page please contact me, Sarah Gelinas: sgelinas@anselm.edu

TITLE: The Relationship Between Self-Concept and Social Interaction Styles During Early and Late Adolescence

LAST NAME: Gelinas

FIRST NAME: Sarah

YOG: 1999

KEY WORDS:  Self-esteem, self-concept, adolescence, adolescent development, gender differences, social interaction styles, self-monitoring & interpersonal orientation

INSTRUMENT: Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, Self-Monitoring Scale & Interpersonal Orientation Scale

ABSTRACT: A literature review of relevant material concerning adolescent development, self esteem, self-monitoring and interpersonal orientation was conducted for this study. This study hypothesized that significant relationships between self-esteem and social interaction styles (self-monitoring and interpersonal orientation) would be found during adolescence. Developmental trends were examined by comparing early and late adolescents. Also of interest in this study were possible gender differences in the variables in question. Significant results supported the notion that there are differences between early and late adolescents concerning self-esteem. Significant results also indicated that the two social interaction styles weren’t as closely related in construct as previous literature has shown. Gender differences were discovered in the two social interaction styles. Implications for this study concern healthy social interactions during adolescence and continued education on gender equality. Future suggestions are made concerning research within the field of social and developmental psychology.
 
 

TIPS FOR JUNIORS 
(EXPERIMENTAL I STUDENTS)

FIND OTHER PROJECTS

Utilize the research that other seniors have done! This can be very helpful, especially in the begininng stages of your research.  You can work from a similar idea as someone before, often there are suggestions for future research (That's YOU!).
FIND YOUR PROFESSORS

The professors in the department will be your best resource!  Talk to them!  Find out if any are working on their own project and if it interests you, get involved with that! (They've done this before, and are more than willing to help you with your project!)  Take advantage of the willing expertise that you have at your finger-tips!

  ALWAYS REMEMBER, YOU WILL FINISH!!!!!!!

This is a long and not so fun project, but keep in mind that everyone puts it together (SOME HOW).  It is a nice feeling of accomplishment to finish something this demanding.  Keep things in perspective, take a break when you need it.  Just think of the turkey that will be awaiting you on Thanksgiving.

TRY NOT TO  PROCRASTINATE

This tip, perhaps the best advice to give,  runs completely counter to human nature.  The more drafts you hand in, the earlier, the better for you.  This project is a long and tiring endeavor.  When you are trying to finish everything the last week, you will be thoroughly sick of this project, and your proofreading/writing skills will not be as good as earlier in the semester.  Therefore, the earlier you hand in drafts, and the more drafts you hand in the less you have to worry about when trying to finish.  You'll have already done a great deal of proofreading and made sure your project conforms to APA format.

KEEP IT SIMPLE!

This is an extremely challenging project, and completely new to you.  Therefore, keep it as simple as possible.  It may sound neat to have a title like "The effects of malingering on multi-aphasic, left-brained, hermaphroditic, cats from the jungles of south Africa as evaluated with assessments from the functional magnetic resonance imaging technique."  However, the more difficult and elaborate you design your thesis the more difficult it will be to follow through with a good product.  Keep it simple and do it well.

GRADE IS BASED ON PRODUCT NOT EFFORT

Ask your Experimental II. professor for an example of  a thesis they graded as an A.  Read over it, understand what they believe is an A thesis.  You have never done this before, and so have no reference point of your own.  Look to someone else's success to help guide your own.  A great deal of effort is required for successful completion of this project, it does not follow however, that your grade will reflect your effort.  The product is what is evaluated, if you find a thesis which is a good product you will have a good idea of what you need to produce.

BUT, I suppose if you are interested in a fulfilling career in a dynamic and challenging field you should stick with psychology.

BUT, if you are interested in excelling and achieving at the high standards held in this department, perhaps you should stay....

BUT, maybe this is necessary for your future goals of fame, wealth, health and happiness... (OK, so this does not promise any of the four previously mentioned goals)

IF you remain as a psychology undergrad, and are interested in the field, there are wonderful opportunities.  This department is supportive and will help you with their demanding requirements. SO don't be afraid of the T-word...... (maybe a healthy does of anxiety......)

Requirement for THESIS:
nothing

Requirement for THESIS:
read ONE book and write a summary of it, probably will take about 2 hours

Requirement for THESIS:
Whatever, as long as it has a cool reference section and a good first page, we'll just assume the paper is good.  Automatic B+.

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