Psychology faculty, students present research at national organization conference in Washington, D.C.

Jennifer-Stiegler Balfour, Ph.D., associate professor and assistant academic director of UNE’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, along with research assistants Emily Newborough and Sarah Gray, presented new research focused on broadening understanding for how e-readers influence reading comprehension at the 35th annual Association for Psychological Science (APS) conference this summer in Washington, D.C. 

Newborough is a 2023 alum of UNE’s Psychology degree program and now attends Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, where she is working toward a dual master’s degree in forensic and legal psychology and clinical mental health counseling.

The APS aims to create and share psychological science across disciplinary and geographic borders. APS members include many leading psychological researchers, practitioners, teachers, and students from around the world, and the annual conference offers an opportunity to share the latest developments in their research.

Newborough and Gray (Psychology, ’25) presented research conducted with Nicole Martin, B.A. ’21 (Psychology), Genna Companatico, B.A. ’20 (Psychology), and Stiegler-Balfour on reading comprehension skill in both younger and older adults on texts presented on e-readers (e.g., iPads and Kindle Paperwhites) and traditional print.

In the study, reading performance was examined across both narrative and expository passages on these mediums. Computer experience and reading skill were found to be the two best predictors of reading performance across devices and text type. The study found that age-related barriers do not appear to significantly hinder reading performance as both older and younger adults performed well when reading on digital devices.

“The opportunity to attend the APS annual conference this summer was an amazing experience where I was able to attend presentations from experts in the field and fellow students at the beginning of our careers,” Newborough said. “My final presentation as a part of the Reading Comprehension and Cognition (RCC) lab was a bittersweet moment but I’m excited to see what the future holds for the RCC lab, my fellow research assistants, and myself.” 

In addition to attending the conference, Stiegler-Balfour, Newborough, and Gray were also able to reconnect with four UNE and RCC lab alums who now live and work in the greater Washington, D.C., area: Aubrey Sahouria, B.S. ’22 (Neuroscience), Emily Vasseur, B.S./B.A. ’17 (Education and Psychology), Lauren Hayden, B.A. ’16 (Psychology), and Kristine Franklin, B.A. ’14 (Psychology).

“It was an amazing experience to meet up with the lab alumni,” Gray said. “I am glad I had the opportunity to talk with them about their experience in the lab and their unique journey through graduate school and the various jobs they have. These conversations really made me think about what my future will hold.”

Sahouria currently works as a quantitative research assistant with the Center for Applied Linguistics, a non-profit in D.C. dedicated to promoting language learning and cultural understanding.

“Seeing the vast array of professions we former research assistants pursued reminded me of just how valuable our time in the lab was,” Sahouria commented. Regardless of which path we took, we all agreed that having those formational experiences in research gave us the skills and confidence to chase after our passions in psychology. I have great faith that this trend will continue with the next generation of research assistants, and I hope that as the lab continues to travel, they will get the opportunity to catch up with former members across the states. It’s one thing to have developed research experience, but another to have developed a research community.”

Vasseur received her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health from Johns Hopkins University after graduating from UNE. She currently is a lead therapist who has worked with individuals of all ages, families, and groups. She is pursuing her supervisor credentials and exploring new opportunities such as opening her own private practice. 

Hayden received her Master of Science in Sport and Exercise from Lock Haven University after graduating from UNE. She has spent the last seven years in collegiate athletics, most recently working at the U.S. Naval Academy with the women’s basketball team.

Kristine Franklin received her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology on the D.C. campus in 2016. She currently works as a high school counselor at National Cathedral School in D.C. 

Funding for the research was made possible through the UNE College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Summer Undergraduate Research Experienc) and UNE Center for Excellence in Aging and Health. Funding for travel was made possible through the support of the Undergraduate Student Government Club, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and CAS Dean’s Office.