Independent Study Information and Application Form for Fall of 2025—revised August 4, 2025
Studies on Sexuality: Research Opportunities for Undergraduates for Fall 2025
Professor Charlene Muehlenhard’s Lab
charlene@ku.edu; voice-mail: 785-864-9860
OVERVIEW:
Professor Muehlenhard and her students are seeking students interested in participating in research groups for fall of 2025.
Research assistants (RAs) help with studies in various ways. For a new study, RAs help design the survey; once we have data, RAs help identify themes in the data. RAs attend weekly research group meetings; between meetings, tasks can be done at the RAs’ convenience. The total time commitment would not exceed 9 hours a week.
Students can enroll for credit (for 3, 2, or 1 credits in PSYC 480, Indep Study; in WGSS 498, Indep Study; or, if data analysis is involved, in PSYC 481, Research Practicum), or they can participate as volunteers. Recent graduates can also volunteer. Sometimes, students participate during one semester and officially enroll the next semester.
Students of all majors and minors are welcome. Students of all sexual orientations and genders are welcome.
To apply, email the information below to me at charlene@ku.edu Mention “RESEARCH APPLICATION” in the subject line. Applications will be read by me and the grad student(s) in whose group(s) you express interest. We will let you know.
Research Groups for Fall Semester 2025
For the fall of 2025, there will be three research groups:
Tuesdays, 2:00–3:15 pm, Lauryn Collins's group:
Unless someone drops, this group is full.
Lauryn Collins is exploring whether feeling frustrated relates to increased acceptance of rape myths, which are false stereotypes about rape. We also have students' descriptions of rape myths, written in their own words.
RAs will help with reading and coding participants’ responses, identifying themes in participants' answers. RAs will also assist with finding relevant research articles. Don’t worry if you do not know how to do these things, we will teach you!
The group will meet in person in Fraser Hall.
Wednesdays, 5:05–6:20 pm, Chloe Grabanski's group:
Unless someone drops, this group is full.
Chloe Grabanski is doing a thematic analysis of individuals' requests for customizable pornography. “Customizable pornography” can be defined as sexualized content that individuals request from creators for a fee.
RAs will help with finding relevant research articles (e.g., research articles on pornography, on gig economies, etc.); they will also help with coding content requests. Don’t worry if you do not know how to do thematic coding, we will teach you!
The group will meet in person in Fraser Hall. The group will start at 5:05 pm. After 5:00 pm, students can drive onto campus and park in the lot behind Fraser Hall.
Fridays, 11:00 am–12:15 pm, Lori Lentenbrink’s group:
Unless someone drops, this group is probably full.
Lori Lentenbrink’s study is about people's experiences with faking (or pretending) orgasm. Several years ago, our lab studied college students’ experiences with pretending orgasms. In that study, we found that 50% of the women and 25% of the men had pretended (Muehlenhard & Shippee, 2010, Journal of Sex Research).
In the present study, we have collected data from PSYC 104 students, and we have tentatively coded participants’ responses to questions about why they either faked or did not fake. This fall, we will be doing a more thorough coding, such as coding reasons for not orgasming separately from reasons for faking. We might also code participants’ descriptions of their relationship with the other person and the sexual behavior during which they had faked.
The group will meet in person in Fraser Hall.
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TO APPLY, email the following information to Prof. Muehlenhard at charlene@ku.edu. Mention “RESEARCH APPLICATION” in the subject line.
1. Your name:
2. Your email address (and phone number if applicable):
3. Your major (students from any major are welcome):
4. You can participate for course credit, or you can volunteer without registering. Which do you prefer?
• PSYC 480 Indep Study
• PSYC 481 Research Practicum
• WGSS 498 Indep Study
• Volunteering
5. In a paragraph or two, explain (1) why you would like to work with us and (2) your background and skills. (FYI, no previous research experience is required. Students from any major are welcome.)
6. Include some evidence of your academic performance. This could be your GPA, OR a copy of your Degree Progress Report emailed as a pdf attachment, OR anything that seems reasonable to you.
7. Any questions or comments?
Email the information above to Prof. Muehlenhard at charlene@ku.edu. Mention “RESEARCH APPLICATION” in the subject line.