The Effects of Whispering on Perceptions of Ostracism -- Hannah Van Wyk & Beth Hengeveld
This study examined the effect of whispering on perceptions of ostracism (the exclusion of a person from a group when he or she should be included).  Participants rated perceptions of ostracism after viewing a video in which one actor was excluded by two additional actors through a whispered (or normal volume) conversation.  As hypothesized, participants viewing the whispered conversation perceived more ostracism than those viewing the normal volume conversation.  These findings supported previous research on ostracism and its social/emotional consequences.  Implications and consequences of whispering as a form of ostracism are also discussed.

The Effects of Vegetation on Mood After Exercising -- Amanda Vander Ploeg & Josh Van Essen
Research shows that exercise has a positive effect on an individual’s mood.  Other studies show that vegetation also has a positive effect on mood.  However, little research exists on how the two interact.  In this study, 30 students were divided into two groups (plants in the exercise room and no plants).  The students ran on a treadmill for 15 min to increase their heart rate 75% from normal resting heart rate.  They then filled out a survey that assessed their well-being.  The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two conditions.  It was noted however that males scored higher than females in both conditions.

The Effect of Reward Type on Intrinsic Task Motivation -- Gwen Bakker & Jessica Walker
The present study explores the effect of reward type on intrinsic task motivation in college students with intrinsic motivational styles, as determined by the WPI. Thirty students completed two word- search puzzles with the expectation of either task- and performance-contingent rewards or no reward expectations. Students completed a task motivation survey after each puzzle.  The results showed that task-contingent rewards and no rewards significantly decreased task motivation; performance-contingent rewards had no significant effect on ITM.

The Effect of Differing Musical Genres on Internal Tempo -- Elisanna Bell & Jeff Schutter
This study looked at the effects of different musical genres on internal tempo. Previous research has found that different levels of arousal affect internal tempo in different ways (Boltz, 1996). It was thought that the differing musical genres would affect internal tempo. Participants at a computer listened to one of three audio stimuli: a punk music clip, a bluegrass music clip, or a silent clip.  The participants were instructed to tap on the space bar for 30 seconds while listening to their clip.  The number of taps was recorded then participants filled out a demographic survey.  Contrary to previous findings, no significant effect of different music conditions was found.

The Effects of Helping Behavior on Interpersonal Attraction -- Dustin Vander Haar & Libby Bock
The present study examined the effects of perceived helping behavior on attraction. Female participants viewed a male helping (or not helping) a female in a short video and rated attraction towards the male with the Interpersonal Judgment Scale. Statistically significant differences were found between the Helping and No-help groups, with the participants exposed to the helping video rating the male as more attractive. The study could be expanded to look at the effects of perceived helping behavior on attraction across genders and to examine how long attraction ratings last. Helping behavior may therefore be one way that people can increase their attractiveness to others.

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