OBU Continues to Lead in Psi Chi Regional Research Awards, Marking a Decade-plus of Academic Excellence

May 17, 2024

Students from OBU’s Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences continued to add to their impressive success, winning another Psi Chi Regional Research Award this year.

 Sydney Gardner received a Psi Chi Regional Research Award this spring for her study titled “Native Americans, College Students, and Job Interview Self-Efficacy.”

This study focused on job interview self-efficacy and the differences in levels of self-efficacy that may exist in Native American cultures versus non-Native American cultures. It researched two populations using the Multi-Dimensional Job Interview Self-Efficacy Scale (MJISE). One population consisted of undergraduate students and the other consisted of public-school teachers. The results were then compared based on the students’ Native Status, gender, and classification.

“I was excited to be recognized for my achievement,” said Gardner, who will graduate on Saturday, May 18, with a degree in psychology and a minor in women's ministry. “This area of research is quite new, and it is encouraging to know that the broader psychological community sees the need for this type of research.”

Gardner’s accomplishment continues more than 10 years of success for OBU students in the Psi Chi Southwestern region. Since 2012, OBU psychology students have received 12 Psi Chi Regional Research Awards. This is more awards than any other school in the Southwestern Region and the fifth-highest number of awards across all regional conferences in the United States.

“I am so proud of all the students who have conducted research projects here at OBU,” said Dr. Bret Roark, chair for the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences. “I’m pleased and honored to learn that OBU compares so well to other schools in the region and nation. This demonstrates the quality of our program and, more importantly, the high quality of our students.”

With help from OBU’s “world-class behavioral and social sciences faculty,” Gardner was able to conduct her research efficiently and have a strong support group to rely on. In addition, the OBU Honors Program gave her the ability to write her thesis and be advised by Roark directly.

“The direction I have received from Dr. Roark has been integral to being able to conduct research,” Gardner said. “His ‘research methods and statistics for the behavioral and social sciences’ courses provided a foundation for my ability to understand and conduct research."

Learn more about studying psychology at OBU.