Latest News | FGU Department of Psychology Showcases Research Excellence at the 64th TPA Annual Convention — Connecting Research with SDGs
Faculty and students from the Department of Psychology at Fo Guang University—led by Professors Chih-Wei Huang, Wei-Lun Chou, Yi-Wen Kung, and Jung-Kuo Liu—demonstrated strong academic energy at the 64th Annual Convention of the Taiwanese Psychological Association held at National Cheng Kung University. About 20 undergraduate and graduate students presented 18 research projects, five of which won the Best Student Poster Award (Audience Choice).
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the "Professor Yang Kuo-Shu Graduate Thesis Award for Chinese Indigenous Psychology," the highest honor for graduate theses in Taiwan. Master's student Tzu-Yu Lin (supervised by Professor Jung-Kuo Liu) received this award for her research on the "Sense of Control in Folk Religious Rituals," a study closely aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Award-Winning Student Posters
Five research projects received the Best Student Poster Award by audience vote:
-
Memory Effects: The impact of task completion on memory (Hsi-Chiao Huang et al.).
-
Stereotypes (SDG 10): How age-related stereotype vocabulary affects behavior (An-Li Cen et al.).
-
Social Sharing: Factors influencing the willingness to share posts online (Shang-Yun Chang et al.).
-
False Memory: The influence of text misleading types and image color on false memory formation (Yung-Chi Peng et al.).
-
Mindfulness & Flexibility (SDG 3): Examining the relationship between mindfulness and cognitive flexibility (Yun-Jou Hsiang et al.).
Diverse Research & Global Interaction
Other student research covered a wide spectrum including neuroscience, eye-tracking in reading, feedback effects, and secondary traumatic stress, directly contributing to SDG 3, 4, 5 (Gender Equality), and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
Notably, FGU students engaged in face-to-face academic exchanges with international researchers, even swapping research posters with Japanese scholars as mementos of transnational collaboration.
Faculty Contributions
FGU professors also presented diverse research directions:
-
Prof. Chih-Wei Huang: Neural substrates of ethanol-induced reward and aversion (SDG 9).
-
Prof. Jung-Kuo Liu: Emotional suppression and marital quality; applications of the Panel Study of Family Dynamics (SDG 3 & 4).
-
Prof. Yi-Wen Kung: Social support and secondary traumatic stress in healthcare professionals (SDG 3).
Concurrent Success in Mindfulness Research
During the same weekend, Professor Yi-Ting Chen led students to the 2025 Mindfulness-Based Helping Association Conference, presenting three studies on mindfulness-based helping skills, cognitive awareness, and creativity. These works further promote the practical application of SDG 3 and SDG 4.
The Department of Psychology at Fo Guang University continues to pursue academic excellence while bridging the gap between research and social impact, ensuring that psychological science contributes meaningfully to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
(Photo: Group photo from the first day of the conference)
Research Sharing and Record Photos:
Students engaging in academic exchange with Japanese scholars, including inviting them to exchange research posters as mementos at the conclusion of the poster session:
Research receiving the Best Student Poster Award (Audience Choice):
