CLIR Studies
Active Studies
Fear of Spiders Study
This study aims to examine the fear in participants who observe an interaction with a spider. Whether responses differ between groups with high or low fear of spiders based on the Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ) will also be examined. Changes in expectation and fear will be measured through biometric and behavioral measures.
Self-Care Gamification Study
The purpose of this study is to investigate how gamification, the practice of incorporating elements of games into non-game activities, can improve self-care and increase self-care behaviors among prelicensure nursing students at Southern Adventist University. The information gained from this study could guide educators in implementing self-care elements into courses to motivate undergraduate students to engage in self-care behaviors more regularly, leading students to have more balanced lives.
Memory Retention Study
The purpose of this study is to examine the differences between several note-taking techniques—paper, iPad, and computer—and how well memory is retained by each medium. This is the first cognitive neuroscience study on Southern Adventist University’s campus, and the first study integrating a research-grade EEG machine. This study explores the gap in research between notes taken on an iPad and those taken on paper or a computer.
Name Tags Study
This study investigates how the use of name tags impacts undergraduate students' perceptions of professors. The Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC) was administered three times over the course of 15 weeks, measuring levels of care, support, and professional competency across two conditions: “name tag on” and “name tag off.” The quantitative quasi-experiment was conducted in 16 different university classrooms, with N = 446 student participants and N = 7 professors in 4 different departments.
Collaborative Engineering Study
This study examines Southern’s Senior Design Course in Engineering as a case study of higher education–industry collaboration. Using Vuoriainen et al.’s (2024) “6 C’s of Successful HE-Industry Collaboration” framework, the project aims to investigate how the quality of partnerships between students and industry partners contributes to successful outcomes for key stakeholders, including higher education students, industry partners, and the institution.
AI Prompting Study
This study explores how undergraduate students' interactions with generative AI can provide insight into their learning and comprehension in a course. Essays produced with AI will be compared to the quality of prompts given throughout the AI thread, and those relationships will be analyzed for changes throughout a semester. The purpose of the study is to better understand how AI prompts can be used in assessments of student learning.
Dino Dig Citizen Scientists Study
This study, conducted by Dr. Keith Snyder, aims to better understand the experiences and motivations of citizen scientists who have participated in the annual paleontology dig at the Hanson Research Station. Participants complete an online survey examining their demographic information, involvement at the site, motivation for participation, and perceived satisfaction with their experience there. This survey is intended to gauge how the participants view their own involvement at the site, which, in turn, helps the researchers understand how to improve the quality of instruction provided and ensure longer-lasting participation in future years.
Dino Dig Motivation Study
This study builds off of the Dino Dig Citizen Scientist Study. It looks to further examine the motivations of citizen scientists at the Hanson Research Station. Dr. Keith Snyder conducted on-site interviews during the 2026 annual paleontology dig. These interviews will be analyzed to uncover common themes and motifs brought up by participants. This allows for a more in-depth understanding of what first motivated citizen scientists to participate at the dig, and how their views may have changed over time.
Life Groups Study
The purpose of this research study is to examine the value of a transformational leadership coaching model to students’ sense of belonging in LifeGroups, student-led, spiritually-oriented small groups on Southern Adventist University’s campus. This research also seeks to understand the experience of students who participate in the LifeGroups coaching structure. Data was collected for this study using surveys, LifeGroups organizational data, and one-on-one interviews with LifeGroup coaches, directors, and leaders.
Social Wellness Study
This study aims to increase understanding of the wellness practices and social engagement among the student body at Southern Adventist University, examining the relationships between loneliness, strength of social network, and social self-efficacy. Additionally, participants were asked to rate common social activities according to how greatly each activity contributes to their overall social well-being in the past semester. This study seeks to provide a snapshot of the social wellness practices of undergraduate students at Southern, perhaps informing future interventions or providing a fuller picture of whether participation in school-sanctioned events is related to the fulfillment of students’ fundamental need for social interaction.