Psychology professors study student reaction to tragedy

In light of the events of Sept. 11, psychology department chair Joan Girgus and researcher Gilda Paul have decided to conduct a study analyzing "how college students are feeling in the wake of the tragedies."

On Nov. 8, 900 randomly selected University undergraduates received the survey via e-mail. Questions in the survey focused on a variety of different topics that related directly and indirectly to the tragedies of Sept. 11., including negative feelings, relationships, impact of the event, sensation inventory, mood, views of the future, world assumptions, responses to situations, beliefs about involvement, personal impact and attention and activities.

Girgus and Paul, who have been doing research together for the past 14 years, would not speculate about what the study might reveal.

"It is in the nature of research," Girgus said, "that it doesn't make much sense to talk about it until you not only have the data but have analyzed it."

Paul added, "So far, we have not made any hypotheses about the information and are still in the process of collecting data."

Historically, surveys of this nature been done through the mail and usually between 30 and 50 percent of the test group respond. In this study, the percent return might be skewed by the use of the Internet and e-mail to solicit responses, Girgus said.

"In three months or so (in the beginning of the spring semester), we will have collected data and analyzed it in at least a preliminary way," she said in an e-mail.

The survey is estimated to take 15 to 20 minutes to complete, and students who participate will earn five dollars, the half hour payment rate for research subjects. The money that will be given to students comes from a research fund subsidized by the University.

Professor Girgus — who has chaired the psychology department since 1996 and served as dean of the college from 1977 to 1987 — specializes in researching the transition from childhood to adolescence and gender differences in this transition, development of depression in childhood and adolescence and psychosocial bases of depression.