PSY Student Researcher Spotlight with Jolie Kretzschmar

April 8, 2025 - Shelly DeJong

Meet Jolie Kretzschmar, a 4th year psychology student with minors in both cognitive science and social science quantitative data analytics. Jolie met with us to talk about her research in the Belief Systems Lab, what she'll be presenting at UURAF, and her extracurricular activities (including the Concert Orchestra)! 

 

How did you decide on this major/minors combination?

I've always been really interested in psychology. I took psychology classes in high school and realized that it was something I wanted to do as a career. For my minors, I chose quantitative data analytics because, while I’ve always been a little intimidated by coding, I wanted to learn more, especially since it’s so important in research. I took an introductory class for the minor and ended up really enjoying it. Now, I love coding and use it often for data analysis. For my cognitive science minor, I’ve always wanted to learn more about how the brain works and develops, so I started looking into related classes. I'm also a huge nerd when it comes to linguistics and it's something that I find really interesting. A lot of the linguistics classes fit into cognitive science, so when I mentioned my interest to my advisor, she suggested pursuing this minor. 

 

How did you get involved in the Belief Systems Lab with Dr. Mark Brandt? 

I took a Social Psychology course with Dr. Brandt in the spring of my first year, and it was so eye-opening. I realized that my interest in researching social psychology and behavior was something that I could pursue. One day after class, I asked Dr. Brandt if I could join his lab. He told me to email him, and after doing so he let me join! It has now been seven semesters, not counting this current one, which sounds like a long time when I say it out loud! It has been such a great experience - a great way to pursue my interests and meet the experiential learning requirement. Joining the lab was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I have learned so much and solidified my interest for continuing in this field.

 

What research are you currently working on? 

Right now, I’m writing a paper for a study we’ve been working on, which we hope to submit for publication. The focus is on a debate in social psychology whether people on the political left and right express partisan animosity in more similar or different ways, with partisan animosity being the dislike a person feels toward their political outgroups. Some studies have found evidence for more similarities, while others have found evidence for more differences. We wanted to expand on this debate by considering differences between political contexts on a more global scale, as most previous research in this area has focused on the United States. We utilized existing data in these two studies, with the first looking at European countries, and the second including countries from around the world to get a more comprehensive perspective. Working on this project has been such an incredible opportunity to develop my research skills and I’m excited to continue analyzing this data. 

 

Are you involved with anything else at MSU? 

I’m also a part of the Concert Orchestra here at MSU. I've been playing violin since I was about four years old, so it's something that's always been part of my life. I've always been in lessons and different orchestras, so I really wanted to continue that. Concert Orchestra has been a great option for me because non-music majors can participate in it! It's been nice to have that chance to continue doing something I love so much. 

I’m also on the Concert Orchestra Student Association board, which plans social events and aims to connect people in the orchestra. We’ve also started reaching out to the community, organizing trips and small ensembles where members can perform at places like hospitals in the area. Last year, I helped run the social media accounts as well, which was a great experience. This year, I’m one of the volunteer chairs, so I help wherever needed. It’s been a lot of fun! 

 

What advice would you have for psych majors who are thinking about how to get involved? 

My advice would be to get involved in research early and don't be afraid to reach out to professors. If you find a professor whose research interests you, don’t hesitate to email them. You can ask to learn more about their research or ask if there’s an opportunity to join their lab. It might seem scary, but many professors are open to these questions. I think expressing your interest can go a long way in getting involved.  

I’d also recommend getting involved with student organizations on campus. There are so many organizations out there with many ways for students to get involved, even if you are busy. I have found that these activities are so helpful in finding community at MSU and reducing stress from classes and work.  

 

Would you like to give a shout out to anyone that's helped you along your journey? 

Dr. Brandt has definitely been such an incredible mentor, both with research and grad school advice. I also want to give a shout out to the grad students in his lab: Shree V, Abby C, and Kenya M. They’ve been so welcoming and have helped me find my path in terms of research and future endeavors. I’d also like to give a shoutout to psychology professor Dr. Lucy Thompson and Dr. PJ Pettis in the sociology department. They’ve been incredibly helpful in preparing me for grad school, especially when it comes to applying for scholarships and navigating the grad school application process.