Alicia got started in research through the Honors Undergraduate Thesis program. She also presented at Student Scholar Symposium and earned credit for research through 4912. 

Alicia works under the mentorship of Dr. Raymonde Neal on a research project investigates the impact between survival horror games on visual attention and anxiety levels. Through an extensive literature review of peer-reviewed articles, this study explores how video games serve an important role in psychological research, as they can be used as a mechanism to expand upon various psychological theories. Alicia has submitted her thesis for review, and once it has been approved, her research paper will be published in UCF’s STARS repository.

Alicia’s advice: “Some advice I would give current or aspiring undergraduate researchers is to surround yourself with those that will support your research, and if you’re interested in researching a specific topic, go for it! I personally thought that research sounded like a daunting task before I tried it, but I have since found that it is an incredibly interesting and rewarding experience. I have learned important skills from research, such as organization, communication, and time management. I am so glad that I was able to partake in such wonderful opportunities.”