Stephen C. Nettelhorst
Curriculum Vitae
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My broad research interest focuses on understanding the psychological mechanisms of
persuasion. More specifically, I am interested in examining how properties of a persuasive
message, the current contextual situation, and an individual’s personality all interact to affect
one’s attitude. Currently I am exploring these factors in the internet domain. One line of
research is exploring how persuasion is affected by giving individuals the ability to
selectively expose themselves to persuasive content that they prefer. Another line of research
is exploring how persuasion is affected by changing the representation of base rate
information in Web based consumer contexts.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. (in progress) Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan. GPA is 4.0 on 4.0
scale.
M.A. (2009) Psychology, California State University, Northridge. GPA is 4.0 on 4.0 scale.
B.A. (2006) Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles. GPA is 3.54 on 4.0 scale.
PUBLICATIONS
Nettelhorst, S. C., & Brannon, L. A. (under review). The effects of advertisement choice,
sex, and need for cognition on attention. Computers in Human Behavior.
Nettelhorst, S.C., & Brannon, L. A. (under review). Examining the impact of consumer
feedback on internet product evaluation: Comparing base rate and case history information.
Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
Nettelhorst, S. C., & Youmans, R. J. (editorial review). The effects of advertisement
variation and need for cognition on product attitudes over time. The New School Psychology
Bulletin.
Nettelhorst, S. C., & Brannon, L. A. (2012). The effect of advertisement choice on attention.
Computers in Human Behavior, 28, 683-687. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2011.11.015
GRANT AWARDS
Nettelhorst, S. C. (under review). “The effects of advertisement choice, sex, and need for
cognition on attention.” Kansas State Psychology Department Graduate Student Travel
Grant.
Nettelhorst, S. C. (under review). “Examining the impact of consumer feedback on internet
product evaluation: Comparing base rate and case history information.” Kansas State
Psychology Department Graduate Student Travel Grant.
Nettelhorst, S. C. (under review). “The effects of advertisement choice, sex, and need for
cognition on attention.” Kansas State University Graduate Student Council Travel Grant.
Nettelhorst, S. C. (under review). “Examining the impact of consumer feedback on internet
product evaluation: Comparing base rate and case history information.” Kansas State
University Graduate Student Council Travel Grant.
Nettelhorst, S. C. (2011). “The effects of advertisement choice on attention.” Kansas State
University Graduate Student Council Travel Grant, $75.
Brannon, L. A. (2011). “Assessing and reducing the behavior of zipping through binge
drinking public service announcements.” Kansas State University Office of Research and
Sponsored Programs, $2,000 (with S. C. Nettelhorst).
Nettelhorst, S. C. (2011). “Message order effects as a function of strength and need for
cognition.” Kansas State Psychology Department Graduate Student Travel Grant, $300.
Nettelhorst, S. C. (2011). ““Message order effects as a function of strength and need for
cognition.” Kansas State University Graduate Student Council Travel Grant, $75.
AWARDS and HONORS
(2009) William Wilsoncroft G.E. Award Winner, California State University, Northridge
(2009) Honors Convocation, California State University, Northridge
(2009) Second Place, 18th Annual Undergraduate Research Competition
(2008) California Pre-Doctoral Program, Honorable Mention
(2008) Thesis Project Awarded $600 from CSUN Thesis Performance Support Program
(2006) Psychology Department Honors, University of California, Los Angeles
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Nettelhorst, S. C, & Brannon, L. A. (2012). The effect of advertisement choice on attention.
Poster presentation at the 13th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social
Psychology, San Diego, CA.
Nettelhorst, S. C, & Brannon, L. A. (2011). Message order effects as a function of strength
and need for cognition. Poster presentation at the 23rd Annual Convention of the Association
for Psychological Science, Washington, DC.
Bae, A. H., Youmans, R. J., Nettelhorst, S. C., & Borna, D. (May 2009). Towards tolerance:
The effects of a diverse environment on student attitudes and behaviors. Poster presentation
at the 18th Annual Undergraduate Research Competition, Northridge, CA.
Nettelhorst, S. C., & Youmans, R. J. (April 2009). The effects of advertisement variation on
attitude change over time. Poster presentation at the 89th Annual Convention of the Western
Psychological Association, Portland, OR.
Youmans, R. J., & Nettelhorst, S. C. (April 2009). Does the use of plagiarism-detection
software prevent plagiarism in college term papers? Paper presentation at the 89th Annual
Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR.
Bae, A. H., Youmans, R. J., Nettelhorst, S. C., & Borna, D. (April 2009). Towards tolerance:
The effects of a diverse environment on student attitudes and behaviors. Poster presentation
at the 89th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR.
Nettelhorst, S. C., & Youmans, R. J. (Feb 2009). The effects of advertisement variation and
need for cognition on attitude change over time. Paper presentation at the 13th Annual CSUN
Student Research & Creative Works Symposium, Northridge, CA.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
(2009-Present) Psychology Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan.
Principal investigator: Dr. Laura Brannon.
 One line of research investigates how persuasion processes are influenced by
individuals’ ability to selectively expose themselves to information. Another line
explores how different pictorial representations of base rate information influences
individuals’ perception of consumer products in online contexts.
 Tasks included running participants, data entry, and analysis of individuals’ attitudes.
(2007-2009) Psychology Department, California State University, Northridge.
Research advisor: Dr. Robert Youmans.
 This research investigates the interaction between individuals’ need for cognition and
different types of advertisement variation on attitude change of a product.
 Applied to present to the 2009 Western Psychological Association Conference and
the 2009 CSUN Student Research and Creative Works Symposium
(2007-2008) Psychology Department, California State University, Northridge.
Principal investigator: Dr. Robert Youmans.
 This research investigates how cognitive feedback changes subsequent decision
making on a performance task.
 Tasks included running participants, data entry, and preliminary analysis of
individuals’ performance.
(2005-2007) Psychology Department, International Center for Talent Development
Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles. Principal investigator: Dr. Tara K.
Scanlan.
 This research examines the lifespan consequences of adolescent after-school activity
participation including identification of the underlying mechanisms at work using a
new interview method to establish theory.
 Initial tasks included data entry and verification of interviews as well as organization
and summary of interview data for analysis. Further tasks included content analysis
of inductive data using a new interview method focused on achieving the following:
 An understanding of the long-term psychological and behavioral outcomes related
to adolescent after-school activity participation.
 Beginning theory development to explain how after-school activities influence
lifespan accomplishments
 Concrete recommendations for structuring programs based on knowledge of the
underlying mechanisms through which adolescent activities impact lifespan
accomplishments.
(2005-2006) Psychology Department Honors Research, University of California, Los
Angeles. Research advisor: Dr. Paul G. Davies.

This research project examined whether attitudes toward a consumer product would
differ based on the number of product reviews and the tone of these reviews.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
(Spring 2012) Teaching assistant, Abnormal Psychology, Kansas State University,
Manhattan. Instructor: Dr. Mark Barnett.
 Tasks included grading papers and exams.
(Spring 2012) Teaching assistant, Basic Concepts in Clinical Psychology, Kansas State
University, Manhattan. Instructor: Dr. Quinten Lynn.
 Tasks included grading papers and exams.
(Spring 2012) Teaching assistant, General Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan.
Instructor: Dr. Laura Brannon.
 Tasks included grading papers and exams.
(Fall 2011) Teaching assistant, Laboratory in Clinical Concepts, Kansas State University,
Manhattan. Instructor: Dr. Dorothy Farrand.
 Tasks included grading papers.
(Fall 2011) Co-instructor, Social Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan. Primary
Instructor: Dr. Laura Brannon.
 Tasks included preparing and delivering lectures three days a week for multiple
months.
(Spring 2011) Lab instructor, Experimental Methods Laboratory, Kansas State University,
Manhattan. Lecture Instructor: Dr. Richard Harris.
 Tasks included preparing and delivering lectures two days a week, helping students
write APA manuscripts, create research projects, analyze research data, create
posters, and develop their research presentations.
(Fall 2010) Lab instructor, Experimental Methods Laboratory, Kansas State University,
Manhattan. Lecture Instructor: Dr. Gary Brase.
 Tasks included preparing and delivering lectures two days a week, helping students
write APA manuscripts, create research projects, analyze research data, create
posters, and develop their research presentations.
(Spring 2010) Lab instructor, Experimental Methods Laboratory, Kansas State University,
Manhattan. Lecture Instructor: Dr. Richard Harris.
 Tasks included preparing and delivering lectures two days a week, helping students
write APA manuscripts, create research projects, analyze research data, create
posters, and develop their research presentations.
(Fall 2009) Teaching assistant, Introduction to Health Psychology, Kansas State University,
Manhattan. Instructor: Dr. Brenda McDaniel.
 Tasks included grading papers and exams.
(Fall 2009) Teaching assistant, Social Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan.
Instructor: Dr. Laura Brannon.
 Tasks included grading papers and exams.
(Spring 2009) Teaching assistant, Advanced Statistical Methods and Lab, California State
University, Northridge. Instructor: Dr. Sun-Mee Kang.
 Tasks included helping students analyze statistical data, and grading student’s exams
and labs.

Average evaluation rating was 4.59 out of 5. The evaluation rating is calculated by
taking the average of six ratings, each using 5-point Likert scales.
(Spring 2009) Teaching assistant, Experimental Psychology and Lab, California State
University, Northridge. Instructor: Dr. Robert Youmans.
 Tasks included helping students write APA manuscripts, create research projects,
analyze research data, create posters, and develop their research presentations.
(Summer 2008) Teaching assistant, Experimental Psychology and Lab, California State
University, Northridge. Instructor: Dr. Bradley McAuliff.
 Tasks included helping students write APA manuscripts and analyze research data.
(Spring 2008) Teaching assistant, Experimental Psychology and Lab, California State
University, Northridge. Instructor: Dr. Robert Youmans.
 Tasks were the same as ones noted above.
 Average evaluation rating was 4.65 out of 5. The evaluation rating is calculated by
taking the average of six ratings, each using 5-point Likert scales.
 Invited lecture, “Review of Descriptive and Inferential Statistics”. Experimental
Psychology and Lab, 04/22/2008. Instructor: Dr. Robert Youmans.
(Fall 2007) Teaching assistant, Experimental Psychology and Lab, California State
University, Northridge. Instructor: Dr. Robert Youmans.
 Tasks included helping students write APA manuscripts, create research projects,
analyze research data, create posters, and develop their research presentations.
 Average evaluation rating was 4.48 out of 5. The evaluation rating is calculated by
taking the average of six ratings, each using 5-point Likert scales.