Close Relationships

The Close Relationships preconference is back with all of the traditional content, including invited addresses from Jenny Olson (Indiana University), Gurit Birnbaum (Reichman University IDC, Herzliya), Peggy Clark (Yale University), and our Rusbult Early Career Award winner. Our special session discussion panel this year will focus on why and how close relationships researchers can best contribute to worldwide efforts to improve social connectedness to promote better health and well-being, and will include expert panelists such as Julianne Holt-Lunstad (Brigham Young University), Deb Umberson (UT-Austin), and Liz Necka (NIH National Institute on Aging). In addition, the preconference features new opportunities to present your work and connect, including a student networking breakfast event and a poster session. We hope to see you there!

Preconference Organizers

Allison Farrell, [email protected], Miami University
Jessica Maxwell, [email protected], McMaster University
Phakkanun Chittham, [email protected], Chulalongkorn University
Rosie Shrout, [email protected], Purdue University

Call for Applications: Graduate Student Paper Award

The Relationship Researchers Interest Group (RRIG) within the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) presents an annual award to a graduate student who has published an empirical manuscript that makes original and important contributions to relationship science. The recipient of this award will be honored and presented with the award at the 2024 SPSP Close Relationships Preconference.

Eligibility: The primary selection criterion is that the publication must be an outstanding empirical contribution in the general area of close relationships. The following specific criteria are considered when evaluating papers: theoretical contribution, addressing underrepresented populations, attention to best practices such as considerations of power and replicability, strength of evidence presented, and applicability to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The graduate student must have been first author on the publication, it must have been published within the past year (that is, official acceptance for publication or in print between September 1, 2022, and September 1, 2023), and the nominee must be a current graduate student. A paper may be submitted for consideration only once. Previous winners are not eligible to apply for this award.

Submission materials: To be considered for this award, please send the following: (1) The empirical manuscript. (2) A brief statement of how this work contributes to the broader literature in close relationships more generally. (3) If not obvious from the manuscript, evidence that it meets award criteria (i.e., that the first author was and is a graduate student, time of publication). Self-nominations will be accepted.

Please create one PDF file with all of your materials, and email the file to Sara Algoe, chair of the 2024 RRIG Graduate Student Research Award Committee, at [email protected]. Please include RRIG GRADUATE STUDENT PAPER AWARD NOMINATION in the email subject line. The deadline for nominations is September 6, 2023. The committee members this year are: Sara Algoe, Allison Farrell, and Jessica Maxwell. The award recipient will be notified in late October/early November.

Call for Applications: Caryl E. Rusbult Early Career Award

The Relationship Researchers Interest Group (RRIG) within the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) presents an annual award to a new investigator who has made original and important contributions to relationship science. The recipient of this award will be invited to give an award address at the 2024 SPSP Close Relationships Preconference.

Eligibility: The primary selection criterion is an outstanding record of original research in the general area of close relationships. Because this award recognizes a new investigator, nominees will typically have received their Ph.D. within the past 10 years at the time of the conference (i.e., 2014 or later). However, applicants who received their Ph.D. before 2014 and have taken a leave or have another extenuating circumstance should feel free to apply and should briefly explain their situation in their letter (see submission materials).

Submission materials: To be considered for this award, please send the following: (1) A 1-2 page letter that provides a summary of your major research contributions and a brief description of the general topic that you would likely present in your address at the Preconference; (2) A recent CV; (3) PDF files of 2 representative publications; and (4) A letter of recommendation from a scholar in the close relationships field who is familiar with your work. (They can send the letter separately.)

Please create one PDF file with all of your materials (excluding the recommendation, which can be sent separately), and email the file to Marci Gleason, chair of the 2024 RRIG Early Career Award Committee, at [email protected]. Please enter RRIG EARLY CAREER AWARD NOMINATION in the email subject line. The deadline for nominations is September 6, 2023. The committee members this year are Marci Gleason, Sara Algoe, Judith Gere, and Brian Ogolsky. The award recipient will be notified in late October,

Preconference submissions are now closed. If you have any questions about this preconference, please email the organizers (listed above).