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Contact: Nichole Johnson
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Capital Honors Its Scholars and Leaders, Celebrates Undergraduate Research April 16
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Monday, April 14, 2008 – Undergraduate research will take center stage at Capital University Wednesday, April 16, as the university community gathers for Honors Convocation and the 12th Annual Symposium on Undergraduate Scholarship.
The daylong celebration will begin with the annual Honors Convocation, a ceremony recognizing select students for their scholarship and leadership. Awards also will be given to faculty and staff members for their contributions to the campus community. Honors Convocation will run from 10 a.m. to noon in Mees Hall.
The Symposium on Undergraduate Scholarship, an annual celebration of the intellectual achievements of Capital students that gives them a formal setting to present their research, will begin at 1 p.m., when noted psychology-of-procrastination researcher and presenter Joseph R. Ferrari delivers the keynote address in the Bridge of Learning.
Ferrari is a professor of psychology and Vincent DePaul Distinguished Professor at DePaul University, in Chicago. The author of more than 40 scholarly research articles and three professional texts on procrastination, Ferrari is an international researcher on the study of chronic procrastination and a popular public speaker on the topic at colleges and corporations.
In this presentation, he will discuss categories of task delays, including arousal procrastination, where a person delays tasks because of a last-minute “thrill” expected from working close to a deadline; and avoidant procrastination, where an individual delays tasks because of fears and personal, psychological motives. Ferrari will discuss the developmental origins, excuse-making tendencies, impression management motives, and self-sabotaging tendencies of chronic procrastination.
From 2-5:30 p.m., more than 185 undergraduate students will present their research findings to their peers and faculty mentors. Oral presentations will take place from 2-4:30 p.m. in Battelle Hall and Ruff Memorial Learning Center, and poster presentations will take place from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in The Capital Center Performance Arena. Each year, several students go on to present their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Examples of discussion topics include:
“The Effect of Hypohydration on Anaerobic Exercise Performance”
The effects of hypohydration (dehydration) on aerobic exercise are well-documented. But, how does it affect anaerobic exercise, or brief, non-endurance activities such as sprinting, heavy weight-lifting, jump-roping, etc.? A Capital University student will present the results of his research.
“What is a Good Sex Education Program for Middle School Students?”
Capital University students, working with faculty mentors in psychology, taught the Become A Responsible Teen (BART) curriculum to middle-school students recruited from Franklin County neighborhoods with high rates of teen pregnancy. The BART curriculum was designed as a sex-education curriculum with a focus on HIV/AIDS awareness and decision-making skills for teens. The students administered pre- and post-tests to measure knowledge and attitudes about sex and sex-related behaviors. Students will discuss the outcomes of this important study.
“Calculators in the Mathematics Classroom”
During the last 20 years, calculators have become widely used in mathematics classrooms, presenting a challenge for teachers trying to balance traditional and modern mathematical approaches. A Capital University student observed classrooms and interviewed teachers to confirm her hypothesis that students have become dependant on calculators to solve even basic mathematical problems. The student will discuss her research findings and whether technology in the mathematics classroom is beneficial or detrimental to student learning.
Located in Columbus, Ohio, Capital University combines personal attention with a balanced liberal arts and professional studies education to prepare students for lifelong learning, leadership and service through five colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, Conservatory of Music, Law School, School of Management and School of Nursing. Capital also offers degree-completion opportunities for adult learners through the Center for Lifelong Learning. Founded in 1830, Capital is the oldest and one of the largest universities affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
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