Student Research

Under the guidance of a faculty-mentor, students in APU’s MS in Research Psychology and Data Analysis master’s program work on a research thesis throughout their program centered on a topic of their choice, based on personal and career interests. The program culminates in the completion and presentation of their thesis. View a sampling of student research theses:

• Erika Aldana

  The role of religious coping in the relationships between trauma, PTSD, and substance use problems Thesis Advisor: Curtis Lehmann, PhD

• Evelyn Allen

  Does perceived similarity mediate the effect of minority-student exemplars on college choice? Thesis Advisor: Brian Collisson, PhD

• Adolfo Bermeo

  Topic: Family, Culture, Health Thesis Advisor: Priscila Diaz-Castaneda, PhD

• Leslie Castro

  Childhood trauma, impulsivity, and the relationship with Borderline Personality Disorder Thesis Advisor: Curtis Lehmann, PhD

• Weston Duong

  Life narratives Thesis Advisor: Priscila Diaz-Castaneda, PhD

• Britini Hester

  How the spiritual coping skill of surrender effects people with PTSD Thesis Advisor: Curtis Lehmann, PhD

• Andy Hurtado

  Bilingual Language Acquisition: An Examination of Language Influences on Facial Recognition Thesis Advisor: Benjamin Marsh, PhD

• Britni Killingsworth

  Peer influences on substance abuse recovery Thesis Advisor: Rachel Castaneda, PhD

• Tamara Lee

  Individual differences in working memory and face recognition Thesis Advisor: Benjamin Marsh, PhD

• Kyle McCarthy

  Exercise and recovery through the lens of Self-Determination Theory: Motivation determines quality of life Thesis Advisor: Rachel Castaneda, PhD

• Cindy Melchor

  Drug addiction Thesis Advisor: Rachel Castaneda, PhD

• Miranda Murarik

  Restorative environments Thesis Advisor: Teresa Pegors, PhD

• Jennifer Payne

  Mental health service use Thesis Advisor: Rachel Castaneda, PhD

• Angel Perdomo

  Expanded learning programs’ effect on academic achievement Thesis Advisor: Julianne Edwards, PhD

• Stephanie Sosa

  Does empathy moderate the cross-race effect? Thesis Advisor: Benjamin Marsh, PhD

• Brayden Stanton

  Substance use disorder Thesis Advisor: Rachel Castaneda, PhD

• Vanessa Weber

  A mixed-methods analysis of the stigmatization of military personnel within higher education Thesis Advisor: Brian Collisson, PhD

• Alison Winiarski

  The effect of suggestion of preferred learning style on memory Thesis Advisor: Julianne Edwards, PhD

• Zizhong Xiao

  The Light Triad Scale: A brief measure of mindfulness, warmth, and agreeableness Thesis Advisor: Brian Collisson, PhD

Learn more about our alumni.