RELEASED: June 19, 2003

DANVILLE, KY—For the past two summers Centre senior Jenny Lambdin (left) has done collaborative research with Mykol Hamilton, professor of psychology at Centre. It's paid off in a big way.

Their joint research project, with fellow senior Kristen Greer, The Animal=Male Hypothesis: Children's and Adults' Beliefs About the Sex of Non-Sex-Specific Stuffed Animals, will be published in the June issue of the psychology journal Sex Roles.

"It's a rare and great accomplishment for an undergraduate student to get published in a professional journal," said Hamilton, who chose the project because of her scholarly interest in sex bias and language, gender and education, gender differences and gender issues relevant to children.

The research involved telling stories about a stuffed animal to groups of children and adults, then asking what sex they thought the animal was. The aim is to make people aware of gender bias and consequently reduce sexual inequality and the low self-esteem that it can contribute to in women.

Lambdin, a native of Williamsburg, Ky., enjoys spending her summers doing research.

"What other project allows you to travel to New Orleans, work on an equal level with a professor and see your work published in a respected journal?" Lambdin said.

This summer she is doing more collaborative work with Hamilton as they revise the instructor's manual for the textbook Women and Gender.

"Collaborative research at Centre allows me to gain valuable research and work experience that will definitely help me when I go to graduate school and study school psychology."

Lambdin, a double major in psychology and Spanish, is a member of Alpha Delta Pi, a Bonner leader, a junior marshal and has studied abroad in Mérida, Mexico.

Centre offers many opportunities for students to do collaborative research with faculty members during the academic year and the summer. A number of students are doing collaborative research this summer.

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