NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Psychology was well represented at the Southwestern Psychological Association annual convention recently in Houston.

Thirteen psychology faculty members and 26 undergraduate and graduate students presented 21 research posters, eight research discussions and two workshops during the convention.

According to Dr. Scott Hutchens, chair of the Department of Psychology, the presentations were the result of more than 30 research projects carried out in the department’s social, developmental, cognitive, clinical, forensic, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience research laboratories this past year.

“It is important to note that the majority of these research projects were not class projects,” Hutchens said. “Rather, they were the result of students voluntarily working in faculty member’s active research teams and laboratories.”

Approximately 2,000 individuals volunteered to participate in the department’s research programs during the past year, which generated more than 6,000 hours of research credit.

“I am very proud we can offer our students transformative learning experiences outside of the classroom where they acquire hands-on experience conducting research using the scientific approach,” Hutchens said. “In doing so, we work very closely with our undergraduate and graduate students to mentor them in obtaining valuable marketable skills, including teamwork, critical thinking, research design, statistical analysis, data interpretation, and oral and written communication.”

To learn more about SFA’s Department of Psychology, visit sfasu.edu/sfapsych.