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Loras College Institutional Review Board

REQUEST FOR IRB REVIEW
Student Research Project

Please complete the following research application. Provide all information requested as part of this
application. Do not simply refer to other documents or grant applications. Once completed, send this form,
with the attached Research description, and all supporting documents (email preferred) to the Institutional
Review Board chair: Dr. Kristen Thompson, (7122); irb@loras.edu

Ethics Certification: In submitting this review request, you agree to conduct this research as described in
the attached documents. You agree to request and wait to receive approval from the IRB for any changes to
the research proposal. You will comply with the policies for conducting ethical research as outlined in the
Belmont Report (at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/policy/belmont.html .) and other applicable professional ethical
standards.
Sarah Mockler
Jessica Machovec
Luke Klein

1. Student Investigator(s) and contact information:

Sarah Mockler: (563)-258-1103 sarah.mockler@loras.edu
Jessica Machovec (563) 320- 5194 Jessica.Machovec@loras.edu
Luke Klein (773) 332-6339 Luke.Klein@loras.edu

2. Title of Project:
The Impact of Reading on Blood Pressure

3. Course Requiring Project:

Research Methods and Statistics II (Psy 212)

4. Faculty sponsor name and contact information:

Faculty sponsors should be satisfied the procedures outlined in this review application are in line
with the ethical principles of the Belmont Report as well as any appropriate professional ethical
standards. Faculty sponsors should email the IRB chair (irb@loras.edu) to indicate that they
have reviewed this application prior to it being submitted. Students, you should copy your
faculty sponsor on all IRB-related correspondence.

5. Proposed duration of all project activities: From _March 13, 2019_ to _May 13,2019_

6. Approximate number of subjects:

45 participants

7. Type of subject: (Mark all appropriate)

_x_ Adults, Non-student __ Persons with cognitive or

_x_ Loras College students psychological impairment
__ Other college students __ Persons with limited civil freedom
__ Minors (under age 18) __ Persons with HIV+/AIDS
__ Pregnant women

6. Special considerations: (Mark all appropriate)

_x_ No special materials __ Videotaping

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__ Audio taping __ Use of alcohol or drugs

__ Use of deception (explain in __ Other (explain):
attachment)

7. Funding source (other than Loras College):

We will not be taking funding from other sources.

Please complete the Research Description outlined on the next page.

RESEARCH DESCRIPTION
Please address each of the following points below. If a question or section is not applicable to your research,
please state this.

1. Purpose & Significance of Project.

We will investigate whether reading different topics affect blood pressure. Controversial is defined as a
topic that causes disagreement among others. Comical is defined as a topic that causes amusement.
Informative is defined as a topic in which provides useful or explanatory information.
We hypothesized that reading controversial topic will increase blood pressure in individuals, comical
readings will decrease, and informative will also decrease blood pressure.
We expect that reading derogatory language will cause an increase in blood pressure because we expect
reading this will ignite feelings of anger. We expect reading something comical or informative will lower
their blood pressure because it should.
We can suggest certain reading topics to individuals who want to lower blood pressure, or possibly
increase their mood.

The article I can tell when my blood pressure is up, can’t I? published in Health Psychology, volume
4 issue 3, discusses how blood pressure can affect mood, emotion, and the body physiologically. Baumann
and Leventhal (1985) with the purpose of testing whether or not individuals can tell if their blood pressure is
high or low based off of their current mood, emotions, and physical activity. Participants had their blood
pressure taken 2 times a day for 2 weeks. Each time they had their blood pressure taken, they filled out a
likert scale mood/symptom checklist. Moods recorded were: angry, tense/nervous, hopeful/optimistic, sad,
afraid, happy, energetic, relaxed, and worried. Symptoms recorded were: fast heartbeat, nasal congestion,
palpitations (heart pounding), lightheadedness, flushed face, shortness of breath, sweaty palms, shakiness,
headache, dizziness, confusion, and tiredness. After 2 weeks of testing and recording data, the results suggest
that a substantial portion of people can tell if their blood pressure is high or low. The participants responses
reported that about half of them say that their current emotions were the reason for high blood pressure.
Stress and anxiety were another reported cause of high blood pressure as well.

A within-subjects study on Short and Long-Term Effects of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain was
completed by Berns, Blaine, Prietula, and Pye (2013) to determine other ways reading presents benefits
besides the increase in vocabulary. This study focused on the effects of reading a novel in the brain. They
looked at participants for 19 days while reading a novel to look at the resting-state connectivity in the brain.
Results concluded that a major increase in connectivity within the posterior temporal gyri was seen within
the individuals. These researchers determined that reading novels can have some long-term effects in
sensorimotor regions of the brain. Results of fMRIs show that after reading there is heightened connectivity
in the left temporal cortex. This study suggests reading could have long-term effects on the brain by
strengthening the language-processing regions and the effects of embodied semantics. (Berns, Blaine,
Prietula, and Pye, 2013). If a novel effects long-term activity within the brain, it would suggest that reading
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certain content can increase or decrease blood pressure and mood. Engaged reading heightens brain activity
mainly in the temporal cortex around the Wernicke’s area.
The article Stress Management Strategies For Students: The Immediate Effects Of Yoga, Humor, And
Reading On Stress (2009) concluded that reading does have an impact on the developing brain and it can
enhance abilities later in life. Researchers Rizzolo, Pinto Zipp, Stiskal, and Simpkins looked at yoga, humor
and reading and determined that all three of these equally reduced stress in participants. These results suggest
that individuals can read certain material to help reduce their stress. This research shows that reading helps
decrease stress, but still raises the question about what type of reading needs to occur to reduce stress. Both
of these studies indicate that actively reading increases brain activity and can lower stress. More research on
the concept of reading for stress reduction should be conducted. Our study will be looking at the effects of
reading certain content and determine if certain reading subjects decrease blood pressure compared to others.
Little research has been conducted on reading and the effects on the brain. However, the few experiments
have shown that it decreases heart rate and anxiety levels. The results also show benefits for the left temporal
after reading and that lead us to question what other physiological benefits are present as a result of reading.

2. Participants
Recruitment: We will be asking individuals in Loras classrooms, with permission of the course professor,
emailing, or posting on social media for those who meet the requirements to participate in the study.
Participants are currently residing in the Dubuque, Iowa Community and are going to be randomly selected
and assigned to a reading. The participants will not be restricted by gender, race or ethnic group.
Consent:
Participants will be given a written consent document to read and sign before the study starts. A copy of the
consent form is attached.
Collaboration: We will not be collaborating with other groups.

3. Methods and Procedure:

We are asking our random research participants to read a small article that will either spark humor,
interest, or frustration. Participants will come to classroom (202) on the main floor of the Loras library in
five minute increments one at a time. Participants will fill out a survey through google forms to select a time
frame to come in, but we will keep the names confidential and will not associate the names with their data.
Before and after reading the article, the participants will have their blood pressure taken by the same
recorder. Participants will be in a classroom in the library at Loras College where they will be participating
alone. The procedure will take at most 10-15 minutes. We will have two separate sessions on weeknights
during the same hour(s) (More sessions if needed). They will be exposed to three recorders, a person taking
the blood pressure, and the atmosphere of the library.
Instruments/Materials: We will have a consent form, three articles, and we will be using a
sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff). The articles are attached.

4. Risk & Benefit Analysis

A particular participant could be impacted by a possible malfunction with the sphygmomanometer.
They could be emotionally affected by the readings that are randomly assigned to them. We will inform
the participants of the content that they could be reading. We will explain to the participants the risks and
that they will feel pressure on their arm when the blood pressure is taken. The participants may gain a
better understanding on how reading certain materials could affect their blood pressure. No
compensation will be given to the participants. We will provide a debriefing by thanking them for their
time and we will explain the purpose of our study. There will be no deception or withholding of
information in this study.

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5. Data Handling
The consent form is the only place where their names will be recorded. Once assigned to a group
they will be given a participant number, to keep the participants anonymous.
The data will be stored on SPSS. Only the three researchers will have access to the data.
Our research will only be shared within a classroom unless our results get approved to be shared at a
higher level.

6 If Participants Will Be Minors (Under age 18)

No minors will be participating in this study.

7. Investigator Background (Student researchers only)

All three researchers have completed psychology and sociology courses to prepare for this study.
All three researchers have completed observational studies for previous classes. Dr. Grinde
(Lisa.Grinde@loras.edu) will be available to oversee and review our research as well as review our results.

8. Consent Form:

We invite you to participate in a student research project The Impact of Reading on Blood Pressure that is
being conducted as part of a Research Methods and Statistics II course at Loras College. The student
researchers are Luke Klein, Jessica Machovec, and Sarah Mockler. The faculty sponsor is Dr. Lisa Grinde.
The purpose of this research project is to investigate whether reading different topics affect blood pressure.
We are asking for a total of 45 participants, 15 individuals in 3 separate groups (controversial, comedic, and
informative). Please take caution that volunteering for this research could cause a rise in blood pressure due
to the controversial reading that may be assigned to you. We will be gathering data from the article you read
and how that affected your blood pressure. Blood pressure will be taken before you start the reading. You
will then have 15 minutes to read the article. Once 15 minutes is up or you finish, we will take your blood
pressure again.
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In order to maintain confidentiality, participants will be assigned a number as identification. Using this
anonymous number, you will be assigned a reading and your blood pressure will be recorded before and after
the reading. The participants will be shown their blood pressure and how that may have been affected by
their specific reading. The data collection and results will be kept by the researchers in a safe, undisclosed
area and will be destroyed in a paper shredder at the end of the semester.
Participation in this research project carries a small risk that there could possibly be a malfunction with the
sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff). Participants can be emotionally affected by the readings, which
are randomly assigned to them. The participants may gain a better understanding on how reading certain
materials could affect their blood pressure. However, no other compensation will be given to you for
participating in this research.
Participating in this research project is voluntary, and you may withdraw from it at any time without penalty–
even after you have started it. Participating in this research project or declining to participate in it will have
absolutely no effect academically.
If you have any questions about this research study, please feel free to ask Luke Klein, Jessica Machovec, or
Sarah Mockler in person or to contact them at Luke.Klein@loras.edu, Jessica.Machovec@loras.edu, and
Sarah.Mockler@loras.edu. If you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject,
contact Dr. Kristen Thompson, chair of Loras College’s Institutional Review Board, at irb@loras.edu, tel.
563 588-7122.

__________________________________ ______________________________
Signature Date
_________________________________________
Print name
Your signature indicates that this research study has been explained to you, that your questions have been
answered, and that you agree to take part in this study. You may request a copy of this form.