Research looks at impact of grad school framing

An alumna and a student partnered with their University of North Georgia (UNG) psychology mentor to publish a research article: "How framing influences undergraduate students' attitudes toward graduate school." Their publication was in the Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research.

This research was of great personal interest to Hannah Hyman, a 2025 graduate from Gainesville, Georgia, with a degree in psychology, and Iris Wright, a junior from Gainesville pursuing a degree in psychology. Both plan to attend graduate school.

Their study with Dr. Ralph Hale, associate professor of psychology, noted how "undergraduate students often have limited or mixed knowledge about what graduate school involves" and "the framing effect shows that message tone can change how people judge the same information." Undergraduate student participants in the study read positive, neutral or negative framed statements about graduate school.

The results showed that "negative framing lowered students’ views of graduate school, whereas neutral and positive messages did not differ."

 "This study did a really good job of reminding us of how to frame what we're doing," Hyman said. "Our mindset shapes our reality."

The research and publication spun out of what was initially a class assignment where Hyman and Wright were partners. Hale assisted the students in pursuing the article, and they pushed through even as they faced some of the setbacks inherent in research. They hope other students can gain inspiration from their work.

"They might feel intimidated like we did at one point. We definitely felt impostor syndrome," Wright said. "I feel very lucky to have been able to do this in such a supportive environment."

Hale said this research is important in helping faculty, staff and others in higher education spaces understand the importance of their words in helping students realize they can succeed in graduate school.

"We want to make sure we're not talking to students in a way that will discourage them if they already have obstacles in their way," Hale said.

Wright is glad the group's article can be an important part of that conversation.

"There's so much that we can aspire to for ourselves if we believe it's possible," Wright said.

Hyman is grateful for Hale and how he has influenced her and Wright.

"He's such an incredible mentor. He wants the best for us every step of the way," Hyman said. "He's been instrumental in helping us get to where we are."