On March 20, students in the psychology department presented their research findings on religious conformity, behavioral modification, and obesity in the evangelical community.Sarah Rykwalder, a psychology junior, along with three other students conducted an observational study during Midwestern university church services to track the factors associated with conformity. The raising of hands in a service is one example of behaviors they tracked. They witnessed individuals conformed when they received reinforcements.“The students were reinforced to conform by receiving something desired: a sense of affiliation, social approval, and feeling closer to God. The students wanted to avoid certain aversive stimuli,” Rykwalder said.They also found an association with the number of hands raised and the music crescendos. Rykwalder plans further research regarding the implications of conformity in musical worship by testing different decibels to find out if certain volumes are related to behavioral responses.Lennon Mueller, a psychology senior, discussed the results of his six week study on articulation disorder and overcorrection procedures. He worked with two elementary aged students: a boy that struggled with initial L sound words and a girl with overall slurred speech. Mueller used overcorrection and positive reinforcement to change their speech patterns. At the end of the study, the boy’s L sounds improved by 50 percent and the girl’s slurred speech decreased from 100 percent to 50 percent. He found the biggest impact in their therapy was through overcorrection: when he would stop them upon error and make them repeat the appropriate sound five times.“Before going into this work, I would not have considered myself a behaviorist. After this project, I’m not only sold as a behaviorist, but I have also decided to pursue applied behavior analysis as a career, “Mueller said.Under the advisement of Professor Decker, Assistant Professor of Psychology, both Rykwalder and Mueller will be presenting at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference next month.Matthew Merringer, a Christian ministries sophomore, is developing an obesity treatment process tailored for an evangelical faith community. After doing research, he felt obesity was an issue the church could not continue to ignore.“Church people are the most overweight group of people in the States and being overweight has spiritual implications whether it is in self-discipline or the sin of gluttony,” Merringer said.He has created a 16 week plan that incorporates Biblical values into the fitness and diet regime. Merringer is arranging to train research assistants in the fall 2013 and begin pilot studies in the spring 2014, with full training for local churches on the method in fall 2014.“The church has separated itself from science because it does not understand how to balance science with theology. I want to change this,” Merringer said. “Psychology and religion can combine and work hand in hand for the glory of God.”
Articles of Interest
2019 Georgia Commencement
Published: April 11, 2019
On Saturday, April 6th, Ohio Christian University held its fourth
commencement ceremony in Jonesboro, Georgia at the Clayton County Performing
Arts Center. This is the first year at this location.
OCU President, Dr. Jon Kulaga welcomed the record crowd of nearly 1,300
students, family and honored guests declaring, “We are living in a time
where Christians have never been more needed-to be out there in society being
salt and light.” He further challenged them stating that “your community
needs you, your city needs you and your country needs you”.
Terence Chatmon was the commencement
On Saturday, April 6th, Ohio Christian University held its fourth
commencement ceremony in Jonesboro, Georgia at the Clayton County Performing
Arts Center. This is the first year at this location.
OCU President, Dr. Jon Kulaga welcomed the record crowd of nearly 1,300
students, family and honored guests declaring, “We are living in a time
where Christians have never been more needed-to be
On Saturday, April 6th, Ohio Christian University held its fourth
commencement ceremony in Jonesboro, Georgia at the Clayton County Performing
Arts Center. This is the first year at this location
Faith and Work Seminar a First on Campus
Published: April 10, 2019
On Saturday March 23rd, Ohio Christian University hosted the Faith
On Saturday March 23rd, Ohio Christian University hosted the Faith
On Saturday March 23rd, Ohio Christian University hosted the Faith
Archived Articles of Interest
School of Business & Government Israel Tour Creates Lasting Impressions
Published: June 20, 2018
Ohio Christian University’s School of Business and Government traveled to
Israel May 23 through June 3, 2018.
Thirteen students toured the Holy Land with Passages Israel, a program
sponsored by Philos Project and the Museum of the Bible Foundation.
Passages specialize in providing Christian college students with leadership
potential a fresh and innovative approach to experiencing the Holy Land.
The OCU students encountered the historic landscape of their Christian faith
and modern-day Israel. Significant sites visited were Jerusalem, the Sea of
Galilee, the Dead Sea, Nazareth,
Ohio Christian University’s School of Business and Government traveled to
Israel May 23 through June 3, 2018.
Thirteen students toured the Holy Land with Passages Israel, a program
sponsored by Philos Project and the Museum of the Bible Foundation.
Passages specialize in providing Christian college students with leadership
potential a fresh and innovative approach to experiencing the
Ohio Christian University’s School of Business and Government traveled to
Israel May 23 through June 3, 2018.
Thirteen students toured the Holy Land with Passages Israel, a program
sponsored by
Trauma Informed Care Training Hits Needs Head-On
Published: June 20, 2018
On June 4 and 5, Ohio Christian University hosted over 150 participants
attending the Southern Ohio Trauma Informed Care Training.
OCU undergraduate and graduate teacher education students as well as area
educators, pastors, administrators, and social workers listened to
informative sessions covering topics ranging from classroom teaching to
social work case management. They engaged in dynamic discussions, break-out
activities and tasks that raised questions and prompted fresh thinking by
even the most inquisitive participants.
Hosted by social workers Amanda Knotts and Bryston
On June 4 and 5, Ohio Christian University hosted over 150 participants
attending the Southern Ohio Trauma Informed Care Training.
OCU undergraduate and graduate teacher education students as well as area
educators, pastors, administrators, and social workers listened to
informative sessions covering topics ranging from classroom teaching to
social work case management. They engaged in
On June 4 and 5, Ohio Christian University hosted over 150 participants
attending the Southern Ohio Trauma Informed Care Training.
OCU undergraduate and graduate teacher education students as well
First 2018 Orientation Day Biggest Ever!
Published: May 21, 2018
Seventy-eight newly enrolled Ohio Christian University students, including
nine transferring in from other schools, attended the day-long initial
orientation with luncheon and campus tours.
This day was the first of OCU’s several annual spring and summer
orientation days. The next days are scheduled for June 8 and 29.
Many students were accompanied by parents who appeared as eager to learn
about the University experience as their daughters and sons.
The day began at 8:30 am with a continental breakfast and concluded after
walking tours of campus facilities. Cool-to-warm sunny
Seventy-eight newly enrolled Ohio Christian University students, including
nine transferring in from other schools, attended the day-long initial
orientation with luncheon and campus tours.
This day was the first of OCU’s several annual spring and summer
orientation days. The next days are scheduled for June 8 and 29.
Many students were accompanied by parents who appeared as eager to learn
Seventy-eight newly enrolled Ohio Christian University students, including
nine transferring in from other schools, attended the day-long initial
orientation with luncheon and campus tours.
This
New Digital Marketing Micro-Credential Program
Published: May 8, 2018
Ohio Christian University (OCU) is partnering with education and technology
leader Accelerated Retention Institute (ARI) to provide a first-to-market
digital marketing and e-commerce micro-credentialing course designed to
address training for the overwhelming demand for digital marketing jobs in
the US and abroad. For more on ARI's educational products, click ARI.
ARI’s digital marketing and w-commerce micro-certification course is
designed to be a complete immersive program offering 20 days of intense
study. The firm deploys advanced learning, video-based technology giving
Ohio Christian University (OCU) is partnering with education and technology
leader Accelerated Retention Institute (ARI) to provide a first-to-market
digital marketing and e-commerce micro-credentialing course designed to
address training for the overwhelming demand for digital marketing jobs in
the US and abroad. For more on ARI's educational products, click ARI.
ARI’s digital marketing
Ohio Christian University (OCU) is partnering with education and technology
leader Accelerated Retention Institute (ARI) to provide a first-to-market
digital marketing and e-commerce micro-
Class of 2018 Celebrates Commencement
Published: May 1, 2018
Ohio Christian University’s April 28 commencement filled the sunny, still
chilly, spring day as 392 students graduated in two sessions from the
University’s on-campus and online degree programs. The entire class of
2018 numbers 770.
Participants in the commencement represented twenty-four states. The oldest
graduate was 73 years old; the youngest was 20. Of those present, one
hundred and eleven received associate degrees; two hundred and fourteen
received bachelor degrees; and, sixty-seven received master degrees.
Degrees conferred included Associates of Arts in Business, Christian
Ohio Christian University’s April 28 commencement filled the sunny, still
chilly, spring day as 392 students graduated in two sessions from the
University’s on-campus and online degree programs. The entire class of
2018 numbers 770.
Participants in the commencement represented twenty-four states. The oldest
graduate was 73 years old; the youngest was 20. Of those present, one
hundred and
Ohio Christian University’s April 28 commencement filled the sunny, still
chilly, spring day as 392 students graduated in two sessions from the
University’s on-campus and online degree programs.