Research Presentations at Conferences
The Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice is committed to providing students with opportunities to present their research at conferences with the support of faculty. Two of these conferences, the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Social Research Conference and the annual meeting of the Eastern Sociological Society, specifically encourage undergraduates to present their research to their peers and faculty members from colleges and universities across the east coast.
Each year, students in our department have participated in these conferences by either giving a presentation or preparing a poster about a research paper they’ve written in a research methods and theory course or senior seminar. Participation is free and transportation is provided on your behalf, so talk to your research methods or senior seminar professor about this opportunity today! This experience hones analytical and professional skills and is a valuable addition to your résumé or graduate school application. Here is what Kensi Ho, a Sociology graduate (class of 2011) who is currently in graduate school, shared with us about her experience as a research conference participant:
“Dr. Arvanites, I appreciated all of your help as my advisor and for 'making me' present my research paper at the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Social Research Conference. Now that I’m in graduate school, I will actually be using that topic and presentation for one of my projects this semester. You really made a difference in my Villanova experience.”
Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Social Research Conference
The Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Social Research Conference is held in March or April at a university or college in the mid-atlantic region. Since the first annual meeting in 1981, the conference has provided undergraduate students a forum to present their research to their peers and faculty members from colleges and universities across the region. For this conference, students can report the findings of a research paper they have written or are in the process of writing in an upper-level methods and theory course or senior seminar. Students receive coaching from faculty members and transportation is provided to the conference.
Eastern Sociological Society
The annual meeting of the Eastern Sociological Society (ESS) occurs in February or March in cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, and Boston. During this annual meeting, undergraduates have the opportunity to present research posters that are displayed in several separate sessions during the heart of the conference. Alternatively, undergraduates may give an oral presentation about the findings of a research paper they have written or are in the process of writing as part of a “regular paper session” at annual meeting. Students receive coaching from faculty members and transportation is provided to the conference.
- Check out highlights from the 2012 ESS Annual Meeting...
- Overview of 2013 ESS Annual Meeting
- ESS call for undergrad submissions for 2013 Annual Meeting
2012 Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Social Research Conference Highlights
On Thursday, April 12, sixteen students from our department presented their research at Elizabethtown College (PA) as part of the 32nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Social Research Conference. The students, along with Drs. Tom Arvanites and Brian Jones, were among over a hundred students and faculty who participated in this year’s conference. The students and their research topics were:
Amanda Mathew
The Causes and Effects of Female Empowerment in Developing Nations
Samantha Abbatiello & Robert Sweeny
The Effects of Political Views on Marriage in the United States
Leann Riether & David Marino
Life Satisfaction and Education
Megan Backus & Alexandra Hayes
Sex Differences in Regards to Alcohol Consumption
Nicole Accurso
Education and Street Crime
Grace Kinda
Sex and Health: Determining the Effect of Gender on American Self-Reported Health Responses
Christie Verdier & Marlon Johnson
The Factors of Fear
Katelyn Mazenko & Michael Mazzella
Race and Trust
Kathleen Bullock
Educational Effects on Religiosity
Amanda Waleko & Allison Beatley
The Effects of Education on Close Friendship
2012 Eastern Sociological Society Annual Meeting Highlights
On February 25, 2012, seven Arts & Sciences students, along with Drs. Rick Eckstein and Emmanuel David, traveled to New York where they gave research poster presentations at the Eastern Sociological Society’s 2012 annual meeting. After presenting and discussing their research, the students attended other conference sessions before debriefing at a well-known Portuguese restaurant. The students and their research topics were:
Elka Peterson Horner (’12; Sociology, Honors)
“How High Do Sports Score?: The Real Significance of Sports in University Attendance.”
Weddy Worjroh (’12; Sociology, Global Interdisciplinary Studies)
“Racial and Ethnic Self-Identity Among Black Immigrants.”
Michelle Garzia (’12; Sociology; Communication)
“Private Educational Counseling’s Impact on Traditional Processes for Selecting Colleges.”
Kristen Valosky (’12; Sociology Honors)
“The Criminalization of Homelessness in Chester PA.”
Ellen Salmi (’12; French, Honors)
“Active Social Pluralism: Community Building Among Cameroonian-Americans.”
Melissa Madden (’13; Sociology, Math, Honors) & Kristen DiGloria (’13; Sociology, Honors)
“Juvenile Criminal Background and Most Recent Arrest.”
Ellen Salmi’s work was part of a Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellows (VURF) project under the guidance of Dr. Eckstein. The other students’ research grew out of projects in Dr. Eckstein’s senior capstone seminar or Dr. Allison Payne’s research methods course. Ms. Valosky and Ms. Salmi also presented their research in March at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Salt Lake City.
