2008 Proceedings - St. Cloud State University

Abstracts
Session A All Disciplines Ballroom
Gender and Emotion: Ignoring Emotional Faces
In the current study, participants had to decide whether a hat was centered on a head. The expression of the face and gender were
irrelevant to the task. There are numerous studies (e.g., Eastwood, Smilek, & Merikle, 2003; Fenske, & Eastwood, 2003; Valdes,
Rutledge, Miles, & Olah, 2006) that have found that people are less able to ignore sad faces than happy faces. It was hypothesized that
making judgments about women‘s sad faces will be slower than men‘s sad faces because of the automatic activation of this gender
stereotype. Faces were constructed using Poser software. Results are discussed.
Presentation Index: A1
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Department: Psychology
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Shelton, Lisa; Spanier, Hannah
Valdes, Leslie
Land Use Changes in St. Michael, Minnesota
Many studies have been done on global and regional land cover and land use changes, but less attention has been paid to land use
changes in individual cities. This article analyzes the land use changes in the city of St. Michael, Minnesota from 1996 to 2006. The study
area was mapped by using high resolution remote sensing imagery and GIS software, which provided the tools and information that are
needed to analyze changes in the urban and rural landscape spatially and temporally. The reasons for these changes in land use and
their implications are also discussed.
Presentation Index: A2
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Department: Geography
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Schrofe, Ryan
John, Gareth
False Memory: Effects of Distractor Relatedness
In this study participants studied a list of words that were related to a single concept or theme. They then took a recognition test with the
theme word presented. Generally people remember incorrectly the theme word or critical lure more frequently than unrelated words
(Roediger & McDermott, 1995). The current study is going to manipulate how related the distractors are to a single concept. It is predicted
that when distractors are related to a theme instead of being all unrelated to each other more false memory will occur. Results will be
discussed.
Presentation Index: A3
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Department: Psychology
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Shelton, Lisa; Antunez, Leyda; Langlois, Renee;
Valdes, Leslie
Morgan, Tiffany
Analysis of Nutrient Loading in Johnson Creek
Land use has a significant effect on water quality. Agriculture and residential development are two main contributors of this degradation.
Fertilizers are being overused on agricultural land and in residential areas. Furthermore, animal waste and septic systems are frequently
not managed correctly. Fertilizers and animal wastes contain nutrients which can be carried to waterways during rainfall. Johnson Creek, a
trout stream, starts in a wetland and flows to the Mississippi River near St. Augusta, MN. From November 2007 through May 2008, a study
was conducted on Johnson Creek to examine water quality indicators of the creek. The water was analyzed for pH, conductivity,
phosphorus, nitrate, ammonium, total suspended solids, total solids, total coliform, and E. coli. Samples were taken once a week, as well
as after significant rainfall events. The creek and the river it drains into are impacted by the surrounding land use and may result in the
impairment of water quality.
Presentation Index: A4
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Department: Environmental and Technological Studies
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Nadeau, Daniel; Stafne, Joe
Bender, Mitch; Rose, Chuck
St. Cloud State University Student Research Colloquium 18
April 22, 2008