During my senior year of undergrad, I immersed myself in the research projects I was unable to contribute to in earlier years while I balanced a full-time job and course schedule. My first research experience in the Department of Psychology at CSU, Fullerton involved working with Drs Kristin Beals and Jessica Tessler on their Consensual Non-Monogamy Pilot Study.
Research Objective: To describe the unique and shared experiences of consensually non-monogamous (CNM) couples living in Southern California.
Semi-Structured Interviews
I helped with participant recruitment and interviewing couples about the benefits and challenges of committing to an alternative relationship style. The interviews followed a semi-structured format, in which I asked couples to share about the trajectory of their primary relationship, and any secondary romantic relationships that formed over time. In doing so, I asked them to create a historical timeline using color-coded caption cards to pair significant events with any emotions they experienced.
Data Analysis
In analyzing the interview transcripts, I coded for themes that helped our research team better understand how CNM relationships operate for different couples, and the benefits and challenges of committing to an alternative relationship style.
I also collaborated with lab members to create a poster for the 2016 Western Psychological Association (WPA) conference. The study continued on after I graduated, and extended to what eventually became The Felt Love study.
