ORU Research Wins First Place at Oklahoma Psychological Society Conference

Research Revealed Fixed Traits and Flexible Habits That Suggest Why Some Students Struggle and Others Seem to Thrive

Oral Roberts University (ORU) won first place at the Oklahoma Psychological Society’s multi-state competition for undergraduate research. ORU took first place in “Undergraduate Paper Presentation,” competing against universities from Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. ORU's group research, presented by psychology major Emily Castille, focused on “Fixed Traits and Flexible Habits: Balancing Personality, Chronotype, and Lifestyle in Whole-Person Education.”

Why Some Students Thrive and Others Struggle

“Our group has been researching student learning experiences,” said Emily, “and trying to figure out what factors cause students to thrive in school. We looked at several factors and found some interesting relationships that suggest why some students struggle and others seem to thrive.”

The research, which was led by Dr. Philip Nelson, Chair of ORU’s Behavioral Sciences Department, was the culmination of several years of collaborative student and faculty projects. Previous studies explored individual factors, such as chronotype (morning vs. night preference), personality type, and physical activity levels in relation to GPA. ORU’s latest study brought all of these elements together, analyzing 10 to 15 variables to examine how they interact to impact student academic performance.

Emily Castille Achievements 

“As nerve-racking as this process has been,” said Emily, “my professors and friends cheered me on and reminded me that I knew what I was doing. I‘ve grown in my contributions to projects, progressing from simply checking grammar to now explaining complex statistical analysis at three different conferences this past semester.”

Dr. Nelson, who helped guide Emily through her multi-year research journey at ORU, reflected on her achievement and the deeper purpose behind their work:

“Emily’s dedication,” said Dr. Nelson, “to understanding how psychology and lifestyle intersect with health and well-being truly reflects ORU’s whole-person philosophy. Her win shows that ORU’s research is not only rigorous but also relevant and impactful. It’s incredibly meaningful to see our students’ work recognized beyond campus and to know that the whole-person approach we champion is resonating with others.”

The paper Emily presented is currently under review for scientific publication. In addition, Emily is already a co-author of two published, peer-reviewed research articles, which she attributes to the commitment of ORU faculty to help her thrive.

“I feel equipped,” said Emily, “to integrate research-grounded knowledge, Christ’s biblical truth and love, and Holy Spirit discernment into my future career. ORU trains its graduates to become excellent teachers, nurses, engineers, and counselors while never forgetting that we are doing it all for the Lord.”

Co-Authors to Paper

Faculty: Dr. Philip Nelson, Dr. Andrew Lang, Dr. Nancy Mankin, Dr. Scarlet Jost, Dr. Enrique Valderrama Araya, Ms. Myra Bloom, Ms. Nancy Mankin, Ms. Scarlet Jost.

Students: Nathan Anderson, Victor Rodrigues da Costa Gomes, Eva Trompler, Chloe Winkler, Nathan Andreson, and Duoduo Cai.

For more information on ORU’s Psychology program or student research initiatives, visit www.oru.edu

About Oral Roberts University

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 165 nations in the last 5 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.

The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society.

ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
#1 in Undergraduate Teaching
#2 in Most International Students
#3 in Best Value
#6 in Best College for Veterans
#7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West

For more information, visit www.oru.edu.