Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia • August 19, 2010
Julie Woodzicka, associate professor of psychology at Washington and Lee University, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study humor and the effects of humor.
The award of over $300,000 is to be shared between Woodzicka and her collaborator, Thomas Ford of Western Carolina University, one of the nation's top humor researchers.
"Humor is omnipresent in our daily lives and in everyday conversation," said Woodzicka, "but it hasn't been studied very extensively. We don't understand it or completely know what the consequences of our humorous interactions are."
The study will use between 500 and 600 participants over three years, half at W&L and half at Western Carolina University. "We'll ask them to watch videos, listen to jokes and complete questionnaires," said Woodzicka. "We'll be studying what people find funny and what the consequences of humor are."
The grant will also allow Woodzicka to employ two W&L students as research assistants for the next three summers, and will support their travel to conferences.
