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
Ohio Christian University Hosts Epidemic of Hope Event
Published: February 27, 2018
Former Major League baseball great Darryl Strawberry and his wife Tracy
joined Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine at Ohio Christian University in
Circleville, Monday, February 26 in the new Ministry
Former Major League baseball great Darryl Strawberry and his wife Tracy
joined Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine at Ohio Christian University in
Circleville, Monday, February 26 in the new Ministry
Former Major League baseball great Darryl Strawberry and his wife Tracy
joined Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine at Ohio Christian University in
Circleville, Monday, February 26 in the new Ministry
Positive Thinking Will Enhance Your Life
Published: February 26, 2018
Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost
Thinking positively will greatly enhance your life and how God can use you.
Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking had a significant
impact on my life while I was in high school.
As I read this influential book, I resolved to think positively about
everything to which I put myself. I aimed to attend the U.S. Air Force
Academy. Therefore, I applied, was accepted, and graduated four years later.
My positive thinking helped me succeed!
I learned you become what you constantly think about: “Think positively,”
Peale says, “and you set in motion
Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost
Thinking positively will greatly enhance your life and how God can use you.
Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking had a significant
impact on my life while I was in high school.
As I read this influential book, I resolved to think positively about
everything to which I put myself. I aimed to attend the U.S. Air Force
Academy. Therefore, I applied
Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost
Thinking positively will greatly enhance your life and how God can use you.
Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking had a significant
impact on my life
Family Research Council's Tony Perkins Receives 2018 Faith & Liberty Award
Published: February 21, 2018
The Ohio Christian University’s School of Business and Government’s
Center for Faith and Liberty presented its seventh annual Faith
The Ohio Christian University’s School of Business and Government’s
Center for Faith and Liberty presented its seventh annual Faith
The Ohio Christian University’s School of Business and Government’s
Center for Faith and Liberty presented its seventh annual Faith
Student Profile: Sophia Donaldson is Conquering the Calling
Published: February 7, 2018
If asked a year ago if she would ever consider going on a mission trip to
Cambodia, OCU sophomore Sophia Donaldson would have exclaimed, “You were
crazy!” Yet, today, Sophia with 12 other adventurous students is set to
be on mission in Cambodia, May 29th through June 12th, 2018.
Unlike some participants, Sophia has felt a clear calling from God to
undertake this mission. Playing guitar since age ten, but not serious about
it until this year, Sophia strongly feels God wants her to go to Cambodia and
play music for the people. It’s that simple and clear. Despite initial
doubts, she
If asked a year ago if she would ever consider going on a mission trip to
Cambodia, OCU sophomore Sophia Donaldson would have exclaimed, “You were
crazy!” Yet, today, Sophia with 12 other adventurous students is set to
be on mission in Cambodia, May 29th through June 12th, 2018.
Unlike some participants, Sophia has felt a clear calling from God to
undertake this mission. Playing guitar
If asked a year ago if she would ever consider going on a mission trip to
Cambodia, OCU sophomore Sophia Donaldson would have exclaimed, “You were
crazy!” Yet, today, Sophia with 12 other
Lifelong Learning
Published: January 2, 2018
by Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost
As the soil of the Earth needs to be fed to blossom, our brains are the
absorbent sponge waiting to be fed with new ideas and concepts. Water it
daily to stimulate growth, and you will yield a bountiful harvest of
information and knowledge. –Matt Mayberry
An education is important and prepares you to succeed in life, but if you do
not continue to learn, increasing in knowledge and skills, you will
eventually stagnate. All too often promising leaders plateau early in their
careers—because they stopped learning. Even if you never change jobs
again,
by Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost
As the soil of the Earth needs to be fed to blossom, our brains are the
absorbent sponge waiting to be fed with new ideas and concepts. Water it
daily to stimulate growth, and you will yield a bountiful harvest of
information and knowledge. –Matt Mayberry
An education is important and prepares you to succeed in life, but if you do
not continue to learn,
by Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost
As the soil of the Earth needs to be fed to blossom, our brains are the
absorbent sponge waiting to be fed with new ideas and concepts. Water it
daily to stimulate