Ruth Robbins

Psychology
Los Angeles, CA
Mentor: Amy Overman
Project title: Memory improvement in older adults through cognitive training

Spring 2012

This was an extremely productive semester. I began this semester by coding and analyzing the data we had obtained from our previous two cohorts of elderly adult participants. We found statistical significance on the Satisfaction With Life Scale and on one neurological measure, the Matrix Reasoning, which was very exciting for my mentor, Dr. Amy Overman, and I. After I analyzed the data I worked on revising my existing literature review and writing up the methods section, results section and the discussion section of my manuscript. In addition to writing about our research I was able to physically present my research twice this semester. I was accepted to present my research in both oral and poster form at the Southeastern Student Mentoring Conference in Atlanta, George at the end of March. This was a great experience as I was able to network with other students and professionals in the geriatric field and present our findings from my Lumen prize project. I also won an award for runner up of best poster at the conference which was great. This conference was unique in that it was geared towards educating undergraduate students about research which was very helpful as I learned about obtaining Post-Docs and the different options after graduate school is finished. The second time I presented my research this semester was when I gave an oral presentation of my research findings to fellow peers and Elon faculty at SURF. Lastly, I was offered a spot for the fall of 2012 at the University of Arizona which I have accepted and plan to obtain my PhD in clinical psychology. At the University of Arizona I will deepen my knowledge about cognitive training as I will be studying cognitive interventions within geriatric populations.