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Kathryn Longshore ’07 (Philadelphia, Pa.) played a vital role in research on gender differences and aggression that will be presented at the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2006 convention August 10-13 in New Orleans. Longshore shares credit on the project with two Lafayette graduates and two professors.
The project, entitled “Perceptions of Gendered Aggression Among College Students,” began as an honors thesis by Kristen Cahill ’04. Cahill’s work with Ann McGillicuddy-DeLisi, Metzgar Professor of Psychology, raised many questions. Susan Basow, Dana Professor of Psychology, added conditions and collected additional data with the help of Julie Phelan ’05.
Basow enlisted Longshore as an EXCEL Scholar to conduct a more thorough and updated literature review. In Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, students conduct research with faculty while earning a stipend. The program has helped to make Lafayette a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year share their work through articles in academic journals and/or conference presentations.
“It’s incredible; it’s a real honor to have been a part of and see my name associated with this research,” says Longshore.
The psychology major’s responsibilities also included rewriting the paper’s introductory material and editing the overall draft for submission to scientific journals. She also has been involved in communicating with the journals and editing the paper with their suggestions. Basow is optimistic about publication and will represent the group at the APA convention.
The project examines college students’ perceptions of aggressive actions among friends. The researchers focused on whether participants viewed female-to-female relational aggression as more harmful or more acceptable compared with the same behaviors in situations involving males. Relational aggression refers to indirect actions intended to harm the target’s relationships. Longshore notes this is largely considered a female phenomenon.
The research team found no gender difference in experience of relational aggression or in acceptability or harmfulness ratings of relational aggressive behaviors. They did find that gender stereotypes affect perceptions of aggressive acts.
“Gender differences were seen in perceptions and experience with physical aggression, such that males had more experience as perpetrator and victim and saw physical aggression as more acceptable than females,” explains Longshore. “Physical aggression was also seen as more acceptable for males than females.”
Longshore’s participation in the project improved her ability to evaluate sources critically and incorporate them effectively into a manuscript. She also has learned the amount of work necessary to prepare a manuscript for publication in a scientific journal. The prospect of having such a hands-on role with an article up for publication was daunting at first.
“Professor Basow has been an incredible mentor,” she says. “[She] has always been so supportive of me and believed in my academic ability. She has allowed and helped me to cultivate my writing and researching skills. I credit much of my success here at Lafayette to her willingness to take me on as an EXCEL Scholar and continually expecting excellence from me.”
Basow’s clinical psychology and gender expertise has been covered by a variety of media outlets, including the BBC, CBS, CNN, and Canadian CityTV. A widely published leader in her field, Basow is author of Gender Stereotypes: Traditions and Alternatives,printed in three editions, including a Chinese translation. She has made numerous presentations at professional conferences and has served as a consultant and expert witness. She is consulting editor for scientific journals Psychology of Women Quarterly and Sex Roles and a licensed psychologist. She helped found the Women’s Studies program at Lafayette.
Basow believes Longshore’s EXCEL work prepared her well for the honors thesis that she began this spring and will continue through her senior year. Longshore will research sports and gender under Basow’s guidance.
“Kat has been a great help on the project,” says Basow. “She is an excellent writer and a careful, organized researcher. She is able to critically evaluate research results and integrate the findings.”
Longshore is a member of the psychology honor society Psi Chi, varsity softball team, and Delta Delta Delta sorority. She also is a peer tutor.
As a national leader in undergraduate research, Lafayette sends one of the largest contingents to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research each year. Forty students have been accepted to present their research at this year’s conference.