Nine StFX students have a unique opportunity to enhance their learning and gain research skills this summer as they participate in the inaugural Summer Research Institute in Educational Psychology.
The institute is an opportunity for undergraduate researchers from the Department of Psychology and Faculty of Education interested in community-based research projects in education and psychology to develop their research skills and participate in the research process, with paid summer stipends.
Students engage with the Barker Psychology Lab, led by Dr. Conor Barker, and/or the Mazerolle Lab, led by Dr. Erin Mazerolle.
“Students are working progressively through the development of research, including participation in grant development and ethics applications, performing literature reviews, participating in qualitative data analysis, and disseminating of research through social media, conference presentations, and academic journal publications,” Dr. Barker says.
“Each student is provided a project which they take the lead on, and benefits from training and mentorship opportunities with StFX faculty members, and support from their co-researchers and community partner organizations.”
Projects are diverse.
Students Jeneva Denis and Shane Kenney are working to develop Africentric Frameworks in mathematics instruction and assessment. Tavneet Kaur and Anna Dollimount (University of Regina) are working on a validation study of the oral exam used to assess the competency of psychologists in Saskatchewan. Cheryl Chisholm, Grace Madden, and Kenyan Nagy are exploring adverse school experiences among adults who are under-employed or who are attending adult basic education programs. Ethan Draper and Heather Burgess (Dalhousie University) are developing neuroscience knowledge translation activities that integrate the experiences of individuals living with housing insecurity or who are aging out of the foster care system.
"StFX offers a very unique opportunity for undergraduate students, and students in education to participate in research. The students are excited and engaged in the problems we are trying to solve this summer, and I think are going to come up with some very meaningful work within the field of educational psychology,” Dr. Barker says. “I certainly did not have these same opportunities as an undergraduate student, so I think the future is bright for these students, whether their career paths take them into education, psychology, or just being good consumers and producers of research."
This year's projects include work with Family Service in Mi'kma'ki, Delmore Buddy Daye Learning Institute, SaskAbilities - Partners in Employment, the Saskatchewan College of Psychologists, and Great Plains College.
Collaborators with the institute include Dr. Erin Mazerolle, Dr. Lisa Lunney Borden, Prof. Ellen Carter, and Dr. Kristi Wright (University of Regina).
Funding for this summer's institute has been provided through the University Council for Research, Social Studies and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), MITACS Accelerate program, StFX Student Union OER Grant, Canada Summer Jobs Grant, Irving Undergraduate Mentorship Awards, and the Change Lab for Action Research Initiative (CLARI).
"Support from the research office, and David Bruce and Natasha Neal in particular, has really made this summer possible, so we are very grateful for their support! This university really does want to create research opportunities for their undergraduate students," Dr. Barker says.
To follow the outcomes from the institute, stay up to date on Twitter @BarkerPsychLab or @ConBark.
This research is, in part, made possible by the Government of Canada Research Support Fund.
