2021 Agenda (Eastern Time Zone)

Todd Joseph, Executive Director of the Central Florida Psychology Summit, will welcome all attendees to the summit and will explain the format. He will also acknowledge the new Psi Beta inductees! Professor Joseph is Division Chair for Public, Social, & Behavioral Sciences at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL.

 "It Takes Money to Make Money: Economic Precarity in College." 

Dr. Wilcox will talk about the research on the economic stressors and barriers that college students experience, including her own research and her own experience as a first-generation, non-traditional college student. 

 "Factors for Student Success: Research Training and Mentorship" 

 At Queensborough Community College (QCC) of the City University of New York (CUNY), students interested in social science research can apply to the Summer Intensive Research Program (SIRP), a three-week introduction to research designed to stimulate students’ overall interest in research and increase the number of students entering social science careers. SIRP students are recruited from the department based on academic merit, individual experiences, and future goals. In addition to research training, SIRP students experience “nested mentoring,” building bonds with research-focused faculty, SIRP alumnae, and peers farther along in the research process and program. Through mentoring received and delivered, SIRP students develop new academic identities grounded in research and relationship. SIRP has four primary aims for participants: transfer or graduate within two years; enroll in four-year programs; earn a bachelor’s degree, and apply to graduate programs. Consistent with these results, this talk will also feature former SIRP alumnae who will speak to research as a learning and social-psychological development tool in the community college context. 

  "The origin and manifestation of science-skepticism" 

While certainly the Flat Earth Worldview has gotten attention in the media, we know so little about how science skepticism originates and is maintained, even in the the face of overwhelming evidence. We will begin with an overview on the formation and purpose of attitudes to frame our understanding of science skepticism. Then, we will consider the cognitive errors that maintain science skepticism. Finally, we will briefly discuss behavioral manifestations of science skepticism (e.g., vaccine hesitancy) and methods for addressing such distrust.

 "How Important Is It? The Real and Perceived Value of Psychology " 

Psychology is valuable in a wide range of settings, including everything from accounting to zoology.  But, to what extent do people in the United States value psychology's applications? Why does the public's perception of psychology matter?  During this talk, we explore how psychology benefits society, how the public views psychology, and how we can enhance the public's appreciation for our discipline. 

Todd Joseph of Hillsborough Community College will deliver the closing remarks of the summit.