36th Annual CSU, SSRIC Student Research Conference

Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012
Host campus: California State University, Los Angeles
For additional information, contact: Dr. Ali Modarres, Department of Geosciences and Environment, CSU Los Angeles,
323-343-3788

Attention Presenters: Click here for some tips on making your presentation more effective, and here for additional tips (in PDF format) specifically geared toward this conference.

Cal State LA logo

Registration Deadlines:
To be considered for an award: April 16, 2012
To make a presentation only: April 27, 2012

The CSU, SSRIC Student Research Conference is modeled on professional conferences in the social sciences.  The Council invites both undergraduate and graduate students, from all CSU and California Community College campuses and in all areas of the social sciences, to present their research to their peers.  Research that has human subjects involvement must have appropriate institutional review.

Individual and group papers are welcome.  Participants should be prepared to make oral presentations of about 15 minutes in length.  Papers accompanying the presentation should be 20 pages or less in length. Lunch will be provided to participants.

The atmosphere of the Conference is relaxed, and the emphasis is on meeting and sharing with students with similar interests from throughout the CSU. Dress should be dressy casual. Three prizes are awarded.  The Charles McCall award is given for the best paper by an undergraduate student or students.  The Betty Nesvold award is for the best graduate paper.  The Gloria Rummels award is given for the best paper using quantitative data.  Each award consists of a certificate and $100.  

A written paper is not required for participation, but both a written paper and an oral presentation are required for award consideration, though the oral presentation itself is not considered in deciding on the awards.  To be considered for an award, email your paper, along with an abstract of not more than 100 words, not later than April 16 to . Include on the title page of your paper your major and whether you are a graduate student or an undergrad.

If you are not interested in being considered for an award, but would like to make an oral presentation at the Conference, email an abstract (not longer than 100 words) by April 27 to the same address.

The Conference will be held in the ________________ Building.

Windows-based computers with PowerPoint and projection units will be available in Conference rooms. To avoid problems in loading presentations, bring your PowerPoint presentation on a CD or flash drive. Be sure to let Dr. Modarres know if you have any additional needs.

For more information, contact (in order of priority):

Note: The CSU SSRIC Student Research Conference is separate from the similarly-named CSU Student Research Competition, which will be held at Cal State Long Beach on May 4-5. It is OK to present your paper at both events.

Notes on the 35th annual conference (2011) conference . The 35th Annual SSRIC Student Research Conference was held on Friday, April 29 at San Jose State University. There were 14 presentations from 4 CSU campuses. The conference program (including presentation abstracts) is available in PDF format.

Winning papers:
  • Samantha Paine (Antropology, San Jose State University). TheCharles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper, "An Ethnography of Water Birth and Its Representations on YouTube.com."
  • Juan Pablo Mercado (Mexican American Studies, San Jose State University). The Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper, "Re-visioning the Mexican American Experience in World War II."

Notes on the 34th annual conference (2010) conference . The 34th Annual SSRIC Student Research Conference was held on Friday, April 30 at Cal Poly Pomona. There were 33 presentations (involving a total of 37 students) from 9 CSU campuses. The conference program is available in PDF format, as are abstracts of the papers submitted.

Winning papers: 2010 Best Paper Award Winners, shown with SSRIC Chair Dr. Ellen Berg (right)

Dr. Ellen Berg (left), SSRIC Chair for 2009-2010, shown with (left to right):

  • Daniel Krystosek - Sociology, Sacramento - Gloria Rummels Award for Best Quantitative Paper, "The Church Influences the State: Religion and Marijuana Laws."
  • Mark Ocegueda - History, San Bernardino - Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper, "Lopez v. Seccombe: The City of Sn Bernardino's Mexican American Defense Committee and Its Role in Regional and National Desegregation."
  • Andria Black - Political Science, Long Beach - Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper, "Composing a Nation: A Multidisciplinary Approach to French Nationalism."

Notes on the 33rd annual conference (2009) conference . The 33rd Annual SSRIC Student Research Conference was held on Friday, May 8 at CSU, Sacramento. There were 43 presentations (involving a total of 50 students) from 12 CSU campuses. The conference program is available in PDF format.

Winning papers: 2009 Best Paper Award Winners, shown with SSRIC Chair Dr. Kathy Naff (right)

Dr. Kathy Naff (right), SSRIC Chair for 2008-2009, shown with (left to right):

  • Christopher Lewis - Business Management, Long Beach - Gloria Rummels Award for Best Quantitative Paper, "Capitalization or Lock-In? An Empirical Study of the 2003 Capital Gains Tax Cut."
  • Daniel Liu - Government, Sacramento - Betty Nesvold Award for Best Graduate Paper, "US-China Relations Viewed through the Lenses of Prospect Theory."
  • Vivian Helliwell - Economics, Humboldt - Charles McCall Award for Best Undergraduate Paper, "Fisheries Management for California Dungeness Crab: Adaption to Change."

Notes on the 32nd annual conference (2008) conference . The 32st Annual SSRIC Student Research Conference was held on Friday, May 2 at CSU Long Beach. Students from 11 CSU campuses made a total of 43 presentations.

    Video: Watch highlights of the conference, including:
  • The opening ceremony (time = 10:19), including welcoming remarks from Dr. Jose Moreno (who, along with Dr. Stafford Cox, represents CSULB on the SSRIC), Dr. Karen Gould (CSULB Provost and Senior V.P.), Dr. Gerry Reposa (Dean, CSULB College of Liberal Arts), and Dr. Lori Weber (Chair of the SSRIC).
  • The keynote address (time = 21.58)by Dr. Elizabeth Ambos (CSU Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Initiatives and Partnerships).
  • The award ceremony (time = 9:34).
Winning papers:
  • The winner of the Charles McCall Award for best undergraduate paper was Chris Curd (Sociology, Long Beach) for his paper, "Male Virgins: Social Isolation, Religion and Self-esteem.
  • Elizabeth P. Adie (Psychology, Long Beach) won the Betty Nesvold Award for best graduate paper for her paper on "The Effect of Social Support on Depression and Maternal Stress Dduring Pregnancy."
  • The Gloria Rummels Award for best paper using quantitative data went to Jeff Hemsley (Economics, East Bay) for his paper, "Tobacco Interests, Information Policy and Market Failure: An Empirical Analysis.
Honorable Mentions (awarded for the first time this year):
  • Melanie Duncan (Sociology, Chico), "Young Feminists and the Beauty Ideal: Analysis of Internalization and Reduction Behaviors."
  • John J. Eddy (Anthropology, Northridge), "Source Characterization of Santa Cruz Island Chlorite Schist and Its Role in Stone Bead and Ornament Exchange Networks."
  • Brooke Hundtoft (Anthroploogy, Long Beach), "Stylistic Variability of Stemmed Obsidian Biface Tools on Easter Island Using a Frequency Seriation."

Notes on the 31st annual conference (2007) conference. The 31st Annual SSRIC Student Research Conference was held on Friday, April 27 at CSU East Bay. Students from 11 CSU campuses made a total of 24 presentations.

    • The winner of the Charles McCall Award for best undergraduate paper was Paula Wright (Economics, Fresno) for her paper on "Breathing and Wheezing: The Effects of Home Environment on Asthmatics' Income."
    • Patrick Lynch (History, Los Angeles) won the Betty Nesvold Award for best graduate paper for his paper on "Sheridan Downey and the 160 Acre Limitation."
    • The Gloria Rummels Award for best paper using quantitative data went to Lucinda Winward (Public Policy and Administration, Sacramento) for her paper, "Emergency Room Overcrowding: Policy, Problems and Potential Solutions."
Last Updated: January 26, 2012.