Rather than just reading about a study after it has been published, as many students do, Trent Oshawa student Farah Sultani capitalized on the unique learning opportunities at Trent and seized the opportunity to conduct one herself, alongside one of her professors.
In 2012, armed with a keen affinity for gender issues and unlimited determination, Ms. Sultani, a fourth-year Psychology student, approached her professor, Dr. Beth Visser, about working alongside her on a research project. Professor Visser was working on a study that focussed on sexual attitudes, behaviour and personality. Ms. Sultani was hooked. Fast-forward through months of diligent research and a published study co-authored by a Trent student is born.
The paper, entitled “Enjoyment of sexualization: is it different for men?” is currently published in the widely respected Journal of Applied Social Psychology. (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jasp.12241/abstract). In addition to Ms. Sultani, co-authors included Becky Choma of Ryerson University and Julie Pozzebon of Brock University. The study examines the enjoyment of sexualized attention experienced by men and women compared to the potentially harmful effects of self-objectification where individuals see one’s body from a third-party point of view. The study, which focused on university students, found that men reported they enjoyed sexualized attention equally to women.
To earn her credit as second author of the study, Ms. Sultani diligently conducted literature reviews, formed hypotheses and collected and interpreted data. Within the process she also developed and presented an academic poster on the study at the 34th Guelph Sexuality Conference in Guelph.
Regarding the support she received from Prof. Visser and the Department of Psychology at Trent Oshawa, Ms. Sultani said, “The experience of going through the entire process of conducting research and having it published in a major psychological journal has been a huge success for me. I am a big activist in promoting the types of research opportunities that are available for Trent Oshawa students.”
Ms. Sultani also appreciates the impact the study had on her. Relevant to her work with the Trent Women’s Support Group, a group she founded, Ms. Sultani feels the study helped her understand certain social concepts and the lasting effects they have on behaviour. Alternatively from a professional standpoint, she now has an impressive co-author credit to add to her resume.
Describing her experience working with her student on the study, Prof. Visser said: “She really inserted her own unique point of view at every step of the project. Farah came into her own as she progressed through the Psychology program at Trent Oshawa.”
Proud of the hands-on education that Trent provides, Prof. Visser added: “We’re the kind of university that is really good at giving students the supports and opportunities they need to truly blossom. We have many promising undergraduate students at Trent who are capable of this level of contribution, and here at Trent Oshawa, we are great at recognizing and nurturing this talent.”
Since recently graduating from Trent, Ms. Sultani now works with autistic children as an instructor therapist. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology and to one day operate her own practice to counsel women, children and families.
Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2014.