UNE students and faculty present research at the 96th Annual Eastern Psychological Association Conference
University of New England Professor Jennifer Stiegler-Balfour, Ph.D., the assistant academic director in the UNE School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and several research assistants presented two research studies at the 96th annual Eastern Psychological Association conference in New York City earlier this month.
Mckenzie Kunesh (Psychology, ’25), Ella Murthi (Medical Biology, ’26), and Jadyn Stevens (Psychology, ’27) presented research conducted with Stiegler-Balfour examining how reading medium (Kindle vs. print) and individual reading comprehension ability affect comprehension of expository and narrative texts. The findings of their study, which involved 460 undergraduate participants, emphasized the significance of individual reading skills over the reading medium itself.
Psychology students Sarah Gray (’25) and Natalie Higgins (’28) presented research conducted with Stiegler-Balfour on the use of audiobooks in educational settings to enhance accessibility for diverse learners. Their study investigated comprehension differences across three modalities — reading, listening, and reading while listening — while also assessing levels of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among college students. Their analysis and findings suggested that individuals with higher levels of the disorder benefit from reading while listening over reading or listening alone.
Travel to the conference was made possible through the support of the Undergraduate Student Governance.
“Traveling to New York to present at (the conference) was an amazing experience,” Murthi said. “This was my first time presenting at a conference, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to share our research with other psychology students and professionals. Additionally, I enjoyed connecting with fellow undergraduates and learning more about their research.”
The students’ participation in the conference highlights UNE’s commitment to foster undergraduate research and prepare students for future careers in psychology and related fields. Their contributions demonstrate the high caliber of scholarship being conducted at UNE.
“I am very grateful for the many conferences I have been able to attend during my time at UNE and feel very well prepared to continue my passion for research in graduate school,” Gray said.
The Eastern Psychological Association is dedicated to advancing psychological science and the profession through the dissemination of professional research. Its annual meeting serves as a platform for members —including clinicians, neuroscientists, experimental psychologists, and applied psychologists — to showcase their research and network with colleagues from across the discipline.
