Ilmo Konstantin Kotaja (Psychology/Interdisciplinary Field Studies major)
“The Biology of Compassion: Locating Goodness in the Heart”
Sponsor: Professor Dacher Keltner, Psychology
Project Description
Compassion, i.e. empathetic concern for another with the desire to further their wellbeing, is one of the noblest concepts known to man, but our scientific knowledge on the topic is surprisingly limited. Approaching compassion from an evolutionary viewpoint, Ilmo’s project will examine the biological underpinnings of compassion and centers upon a physiological measurement of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; an indication of the impact of parasympathetic nervous system activation in the vagus nerve on the heart). The goal of the project is to assess whether RSA is a reliable biological marker of compassion, and examine its relationship to perceived individual personality traits. To achieve this, existing data (including physiological measures and videos) will be analyzed and new experimental data will be collected with human subjects. The project is part of Ilmo’s senior honors thesis in Psychology.
Scholar's Photo
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Analyzing data in videos is one aspect of assessing whether RSA is a reliable biological marker of compassion.
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Scholar's Journal
If you had asked me before the summer, I would have told you that I know what I am doing. I would have told you that I am ready to jump in head first. Knowing what I know now, I would have started planning several months earlier, talked more to people, popped up more questions and asked for more help. However, I did not. The funny thing is that after seemingly endless revisions to my project proposal, I had managed to convince myself I knew all that there is to doing research. But then again, I sometimes start to think I know Kung-Fu after watching too many action films.
On paper, projects look clean and organized. You move in an orderly way from background information to action plan, through budget to conclusion and proposed future research. At no point do you consider that your lab room may get sweltering hot because the heating system is broken or that the lab computer may suddenly die on you. Equally, you do not anticipate the need for duct tape to hold things together. No sir, plans are made on the top floor of the ivory tower, far above such dirty details. Don't get me wrong, plans are important in the same way driving directions are. But great plans or driving directions are no substitute for creative problem solving when your tailpipe falls off or your car radio gets stuck between stations. Encountering these unanticipated details is crucial for learning. Gaining insight into what it takes to turn a few double spaced sheets into a real research project is the best lesson you can take with you from the Haas Scholars Program.
My summer research taught me that all the best laid plans of mice and men need to be supplemented with the ability to think quickly on your feet. Duct tape comes in handy, too, because even the most scientific equipment breaks at the most inopportune times. Another crucial aspect that often eludes habitual overachievers (hello Berkeley!) is the benefits of asking questions and soliciting ideas and advice from others. I can say that the best parts of the research plan and in-flight corrections were results of input from other people involved in the project or offshoots of conversations I had about the project. Academia is inherently interrelated, and the stories about solitary geniuses are myths invented for history books to make good stories. In reality, people talk and bounce ideas off each other. Your research project is about reality, so start talking. There are no dumb questions; the only dumb thing you can do is to not ask one if you are unclear on anything. But, chances are you will not listen to me (I know I did not). You wish you would have when you are in the middle of your project.
So what is the reality of running a psychology experiment? Quite fun, actually. Occasionally boring as hell, but hey - someone has to do it. I know I can't get myself riled up about data entry... But the data analysis part is fun, if you happen to be a psych nerd like me. Sitting in the lab, watching people fill in questionnaires beats watching paint dry, but only by a small margin. Getting in front of an audience to present what you found in the questionnaires is a rush, though. Nothing ever goes exactly as planned, and when you think everything is running smoothly, you are just few seconds away from discovering another wrinkle in your otherwise perfect plans. But solving those problems is part of the fun, and towards the end the peaceful lulls between emergencies tend to get longer. Those peaceful moments are great to catch up on everything else, like writing long overdue paperwork. Which brings me to time management. Start now, work steadily, avoid mad dashes before deadlines. Figure out a system that works for you - pen and paper is a time-honored method - and stick to it. I can offer some tips, but I am still learning, too. But I digress.
If you are planning on starting your own research project, congratulations. Weed through your plans with as many people as possible, from as many diverse perspectives as possible; get organized, know that the map is not the terrain, and get to it. Bring your duct tape. After you are done, we can share a knowing smile and a nod, then go right to it again.
Best of luck, and remember that the best way to know the road ahead is to ask those who are coming back.
Ilmo
