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There’s little that is pure about scientific research — a lesson hard learned by Karen Mandel ’05, whose perseverance and academic expertise were challenged as she assisted Susan Basow, Dana Professor of Psychology, in studying gender issues and student evaluations.
“We hoped to look at how male and female students evaluate their professors based on the gender of the student and the faculty member. Since many colleges utilize such evaluations for granting tenure, they can have a major impact,” says Mandel, a double major in psychology and women’s studies.
Before any analysis could be made, Mandel had to come in and “sweep clean” the data, which at times was provided by “uncooperative participants.” She notes, “I had to unscramble answers, translate garbled answers.”
“Karen tackled the enormous task of straightening out the messed-up data files from a study conducted in 2000-2001 using over 1,000 Scantron sheets. She doggedly discovered the problems and came up with ways to resolve them, going back to the original forms where necessary,” says Basow.
“It was mass chaos,” says Mandel. “I slowly organized the data and ‘fixed it up’ so that I could then input it into the computer. Many of the students when they filled out the survey didn’t answer properly or answered with mock comments. I had to sort out all the confusing data before we could even begin to evaluate it.”
Mandel’s efforts to clean up the data did no gone unnoticed by Basow, who notes that “two of her strengths are organization and persistence and both have been vital for this task. She will continue to get the files in order during the fall so that we can proceed to conduct statistical analyses. I’ve had several students working on this project before Karen, but she took it most seriously and has persevered where others have not. I really appreciated her work on this as I was about ready to give up!”
Basow’s expertise has been covered by television and radio stations, magazines, and newspapers, including the BBC, CBS, CNN, and Canadian CityTV. A widely published leader in her field, Basow is author of Sex-Role Stereotypes: Traditions and Alternatives, printed in three editions, including a Chinese translation. She also has shared her knowledge through many presentations at professional conferences and as a consultant and expert witness. She is consulting editor for Psychology of Women Quarterly and an ad-hoc editor for a dozen other publications. A licensed psychologist in two states, Basow is founder and coordinator of the Feminist Research Group of the Lehigh Valley.
“The work could be tedious at times,” admits Mandel, “but that was a crucial lesson in learning to do research. I learned not only how to use the library for research, say via Inter-Library Loan, but I also learned there is no easy way to reach your goals. I learned the things you need to get where you want to go as a researcher.”
Lafayette is a national leader in undergraduate research. The two worked together as part of Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, in which students collaborate with faculty on research while earning a stipend. Many of the 180 students who participate each year go on to publish papers in scholarly journals and/or present their research at conferences.
Mandel, who has already helped Basow prepare a chapter on gender for publication, says “Lafayette and its EXCEL program step beyond the traditional roles of student and teacher. Professor Basow is accessible outside of the classroom. When we were working on the chapter, she was open to whatever ideas I had to offer. I enjoy the fact that my professor knows not just my name, but who I am.”
Mandel, who plays club rugby, is looking to go on to graduate school in psychology. “The lessons I’ve learned at Lafayette with Professor Basow and as part of the EXCEL program should be a good foundation for my future work in Women’s Studies.”
She is a graduate of Irvington High School.
As a national leader in undergraduate research, Lafayette sends one of the largest contingents to the annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research each year. Over the past five years, more than 130 Lafayette students have presented results from their research with faculty mentors at the conference.
Karen Mandel ’05 researched how students evaluate their professors with Susan Basow, Dana Professor of Psychology.