Madison tells us about the research she has embarked upon with one of our Schubert Faculty Associates, Dr. Sarah Hope Lincoln.
What interested you in knowing more about selective eating in young children, especially related to food texture and eating habits?
I have been interested in art my entire life but have always sought ways to use art as a mechanism for helping others. When I was in elementary school, I learned what art therapy was, and for many years my goal was to pursue art therapy to work with children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders). Though my psychology interests are broader than art therapy now, and I will be seeking graduate education in clinical psychology, the application of art is still of great interest to me. There has been limited research on art therapy, motivating my capstone study. Sensory difficulties and feeling problems are not uncommon in young children, especially those with ASD. Though caregiver reports identify texture as a primary reason for such feeding problems, it has been largely ignored dimension in research. Given my existing knowledge of exposure therapy and play therapy, I wanted to explore the role art exploration with a range of sensory experiences could play in the sensory integration of food.
What have you learned through your research?
I have learned so much from going through the entire research process, from a literature review to submitting an IRB to having children and their caregivers into the lab. Though my studies in psychology started with a primary interest in future work in clinical settings, this project, and my experiences in my labs as a whole, have fostered a passion for research too.
How has the Welter-Muzic Fellowship helped you to achieve your goals?
The Welter-Muzic Fellowship has provided financial support for my project, which I am incredibly grateful for. Additionally, the application process and receiving the fellowship was a valuable experience in talking about my research and its goals. Finally, in conjunction with the support of my advisor Dr. Lincoln, this fellowship has served as validation that the project is a worthwhile endeavor, helping to build my confidence as a researcher in psychological sciences.