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Social and Behavioral Sciences

Explore the various projects below categorized under the general theme of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Be sure to return to the Barrett College Fellows Program main page and explore projects under the other 11 themes as well. You might be surprised at what you find and maybe you will discover the perfect research project for what you hope to study!

Please do not contact the research centers or faculty listed below directly (a formal application process is a required step to joining these research opportunities).

For questions about the Barrett College Fellows Program or specific research projects, please contact Dr. Sarah Graff at: BarrettCollegeFellows@exchange.asu.edu.

Projects with an asterisk (*) indicate projects still taking students. If you would like to apply for any of these projects, please contact barrettcollegefellows@asu.edu and fill out the student application.

Back to Barrett College Fellows main page

Research projects

tDAR User Interface Enhancement

Project # 1

Center name: Center for Digital Antiquity
Campus/Location: Tempe, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Chris Nicholson

Project description

We are updating the user interface for tDAR (the Digital Archaelogical Record), our internationally recognized digital repository for archaeological data and information. The current design is outdated and in need of refinement to ensure users are finding the information they need.

Special skills needed

Website design and experience in user interface.

Majors

Computer Science, Applied Science, Business, Library Science, Anthropology

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Business and Entrepreneurship, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Remembering and Forgetting Past Atrocities

Project # 2

Center name: Dr. Güneş Murat Tezcür Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Güneş Murat Tezcür

Project description

Dr. Güneş Murat Tezcür is professor and the director of the School of Politics and Global Studies. He studies comparative politics and explores political violence and politics of identity with a focus on Iranian, Kurdish, Turkish, and most recently, American human geography. His scholarship has appeared in many leading scholarly journals and his recent book "Liminal Minorities: Religion and Mass Violence in Muslim Societies" was recently published by Cornell University Press. He is currently launching a comparative research project that explores how past atrocities are remembered (or forgotten) through public memorials, symbols, and narratives. How are sites of atrocities transformed into places of remembrance as opposed to entertainment, consumption, or habitation? How do marginalized communities create memorials and spaces that challenge hegemonic discourses and perceptions in such sites? Alternatively, how are collective memories of violence being silenced and prevented from transmission across generations? The project has a deliberately comparative edge and aims to document memorials as well as voids locally (Native American landscape in Arizona), nationally (Black landscapes in the United States), and cross-nationally (minorities in the Middle East). Barrett Fellows will think about politics of remembrance and forgetfulness with a focus on the experience of marginalized communities are encouraged to develop honor theses based on this project.

Special skills needed

Curiosity about the role violence plays in human affairs, the ways in which collective memories and public memorials are constructed, contested, and how marginalized groups express themselves, challenge hegemonic discourses and representations, and articulate alternative histories and remembrances.

Majors

Political Science, Global Studies, History, Art, Anthropology

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Learning From Family and Friends Who Helped with Dementia Care *

Project # 5

Center name: Former Dementia Care Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown, Fully remote, Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Faculty lead: Zachary Baker

Project description

We seek to understand the experiences of people who used to care for people living with dementia. We also want to learn how some former dementia caregivers meet their needs so we can share those strategies with others. Dr. Zachary Baker's long-term goal of this research is to develop interventions to meet the needs of bereaved Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) caregivers.

Special skills needed

Required skills include attention to detail, time management, verbal and written communication skills, and Initiative. Desired skills include quantitative/qualitative data collection, bilingual (Spanish/English), and interest in attending graduate school in the social behavioral sciences or medical/health-related professions.

Majors

Open to all majors

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Black Girls as Creators: An Intersectional Learning Ecosystem Toward Gendered Racial Equity in Artificial Intelligence Education *

Project # 7

Center name: Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tara Nkrumah

Project description

Part of a National Science Foundation grant this project is spearheaded by Assistant Professor Tara Nkrumah and is being conducted with two community organizations in Pittsburgh. The project aims to conceptualize an evidence-based intersectional AI learning ecosystem that enhances 4th- through 8th-grade Black girls’ engagement with AI education while advancing out-of-school facilitators’ critical consciousness to challenging systemic gendered racism.

Special skills needed

Required skills: exceptional research and data analytical skills; experience in conducting research and managing both qualitative and quantitative data; strong interest in teaching; and a passion for working with students of all nationalities, each with their own cultural and world views, linguistically and socially.

Majors

Computer Science, Education

Years

4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Global Inequalities and Health *

Project # 9

Center name: Inclusive Human Learning Group
Campus/Location: Tempe, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Daniel Hruschka

Project description

This project is led by Dr. Daniel Hruschka and explores how various forms of social and economic inequality around the world shape health risks and create health disparities. A major focus of the project is to characterize ethnic and caste disparities across a range of low-income countries and analyzing the consequences of such disparities for health and well-being in diverse contexts. Barrett Fellows will be expected to attend weekly one-hour lab meetings and complete lab activities in preparation for the lab meetings (roughly 2 to 3 of work each week plus the 1 hour lab meeting). Activities include investigating and documenting different forms of privilege and discrimination experienced by ethnic groups worldwide, analyzing qualitative data, contributing to team discussions, and writing up specific case studies of discrimination.

Special skills needed

Highly motivated students with a strong work ethic and attention to detail and experience using Excel (preferred).

Majors

Social and Behavioral Science-related majors, Health-related majors

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Relationships and Technology Lab

Project # 19

Center name: Relationships and Technology Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Liesel Sharabi

Project description

The Relationships and Technology Lab in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication is seeking Barrett Fellows for the 2024-2025 academic year. The lab conducts social scientific research at the intersection of interpersonal relationships and communication technologies (for example, dating apps, artificial intelligence, social media, and virtual reality).

Special skills needed

No additional skills required.

Majors

Social Sciences, Communication, Psychology, Computer Science

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Advancing Fair Housing for Arizona’s Hispanic and Other Underserved Communities: Examining Housing Discrimination Pathways and Solutions *

Project # 20

Center name: Arizona Research Center for Housing Equity and Sustainability
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Deirdre Pfeiffer

Project description

This project led by Dr. Deirdre Pfeiffer is part of the Arizona Research Center for Housing Equity and Sustainability, a newly established Department of Housing and Urban Development Hispanic Serving Institutions Center of Excellence. Understanding and responding to fair housing issues facing Arizona Hispanic and other underserved households may help to improve their housing security, particularly through access to affordable homeownership and rentals. This research will examine two pathways of discrimination in Arizona housing markets. The first project will examine the pathway of coded language for Fair Housing Act (FHA) protected groups in public deliberations about proposed housing projects and policies diversifying types and costs. The second project will examine the pathway of home sale transactions. We also will investigate Hispanic and other underserved households’ perceptions of what it means to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH). This research will inform new strategic initiatives to dismantle these pathways to discrimination and help guide future AFFH policy implementation in Arizona. The research questions for the subprojects include: how does coded language for FHA- protected groups shape public deliberations about proposed housing projects and policies diversifying types and costs in Arizona; where do fair housing concerns arise in home sale transactions involving Hispanic and other underserved households in Arizona; how do these policies shape homeownership outcomes; how do Arizona Hispanic and other underserved communities perceive AFFH; and what kinds of AFFH policies and practices would most help these communities thrive?

Special skills needed

Commitment to racial and economic justice, interest in the topic, strong self-direction and data organization skills, experience using Excel, experience or interest in conducting qualitative research

Majors

Sociology, Urban Planning, Sustainability, Ethnic Studies, Law, Geography, other related fields

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Latinx Leadership Academy in the Performing Arts (LLAPA) *

Project # 27

Center name: Latinx Leadership Academy in the Performing Arts
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Micha Espinosa

Project description

The Latinx Leadership Academy in the Performing Arts (LLAPA) is an initiative to empower, inspire, and motivate Latinx high school students in Arizona. Latinx students and professionals are under-represented in the field and face multiple barriers. To that end, LLAPA uses culturally sustaining training and leadership development techniques to foster positive narratives that prepare Latinx students for successful careers in the performing arts. LLAPA is committed to systemic change and will work with administrators, teachers, students, and their families to transform beliefs, attitudes, and policies and will celebrate and invest in Latinx culture, heritage and identity practices, and creative leadership. Latinx students who study the performing arts are confronted with many factors that limit their success including, diminishing resources, lack of formal mentorship, systemic bias, structural inequality, and organizational barriers. This interdisciplinary academy will improve access to these resources and help these students realize the artists’ role in the relationship between cultural investment, economic development, and social impact.

Special skills needed

Required skills include: 1) communication skills - effective written and verbal communication skills are essential for conveying the organization's message clearly and building relationships with various stakeholders; 2) research skills - ability to conduct research to identify potential partners, opportunities, and community needs to tailor outreach efforts effectively; 3) cultural competency - sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to adapt outreach strategies to diverse communities; 4) management - oganizational skills to plan, execute, and track multiple outreach projects simultaneously; and 5) reporting and documentation - keeping records, documenting outreach activities, and preparing reports to measure progress and outcomes.

Majors

Open to all students interested in the project's mission

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Business and Entrepreneurship, Education, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Physician Wellness and Resilience: Narrative Prompts to Address Burnout

Project # 31

Center name: Dr. Pauline Davies' Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Pauline Davies

Project description

This project is developing a short book (to be published by Routledge) for use in medical school education and in physician wellness groups. The authors are Pauline Davies, Professor of Practice, Hugh Downs School of Human Communication and Cynthia Stonnington, Head of Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. The book consists of short, carefully edited stories told by physicians and medical students. The Barrett Fellows would primarily read the stories, help research relevant books and articles on-line to be listed alongside each story (as further reading for medical students), and prepare an index.

Special skills needed

Clear writing, motivated, uses initiative, and gives attention to detail.

Majors

Pre-Med majors, Psychology, Sociology, Human Communication

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Virtual Environments and Eye Tracking for Spatial Cognition

Project # 32

Center name: Virtual Environments and Cognitive Training Lab
Campus/Location: Polytechnic
Faculty lead: Heather Lum

Project description

We are looking for Barrett Fellows who can help us code, decipher, and analyze eye tracking data from a spatial cognition task in which participants navigated through Google Earth in a virtual environment. Barrett Fellows will learn basic research methods and data analysis skills that lead to a journal article and other dissemination.

Special skills needed

Time management, ability to work independently, ability to work in a group and ask questions, and a basic knowledge of scientific method.

Majors

Human Systems Engineering, Engineering Education

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Phone Dating Apps and Sexually Transmitted Infections *

Project # 36

Center name: Simon A Levin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Fabio Milner

Project description

Incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is sharply on the rise in the United States. Between 2014 and 2019, male and female incidence has increased 62.8% and 21.4%, respectively, with an estimated 68 million Americans contracting an STI in 2018. Some human behaviors impacting the rising STI epidemic are unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners. Increasing dating app usage has been postulated as a driver for increases in these behaviors. This study attempts to quantify the impact of dating apps on the incidence and prevalence of STIs utilizing a two-sex SIS ordinary differential equations (ODE) model of STI transmission. The study will begin with a characterization of the age and sex structure of the U.S. sexually active population that serves as the basis for the study of any sexually transmitted infections. The ODE model will be used to assess the possible benefit of in-app prevention campaigns. Scenario analyses will be performed to help better understand the impact of different types of sexually risky behaviors on the transmission of bacterial/protozoan sexually transmitted infections, namely chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.

Special skills needed

Must have taken calculus and introduction to statistics.

Majors

Biology, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The American Gun Experience *

Project # 40

Center name: Center for the Study of Guns in Society
Campus/Location: Tempe, Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Jennifer Carlson

Project description

Led by Jennifer Carlson (director, ASU Center for the Study of Guns in Society), “The American Gun Experience” project involves mixed methods data collection (surveys, in-depth interviews) on American attitudes on and experiences with guns. Today, millions of Americans own and carry guns largely for self-defense, while US gun violence remains at stark levels. These dynamics speak to the urgency of understanding the complex and contradictory ways that people actually encounter guns, gun violence, gun law, and gun politics in US society—what we can holistically conceptualize as the American gun experience. The goal of the project is to use social science methods to rigorously capture the rich nuances of the American gun experience in order to understand how Americans experience the contradictory significance of guns in their lives and how this reflects and reinforces distinctly American axes of inequality; how Americans in the “messy middle” navigate guns as a personal, social and political issue; how gun attitudes and engagement impact other life decisions; and how and why Americans’ attitudes and engagement with guns changes over time. Barrett Fellows can expect to participate in project design; recruitment; data collection, management, and analysis; and preliminary dissemination of results, including public-facing initiatives.

Special skills needed

Familiarity with social science methods; strong communication skills, especially writing and editing; strong time management skills; open-mindedness/curiosity to better understand the impact and importance of guns in American society.

Majors

Social Sciences, Pre-Law, Public Administration

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Peer Learning *

Project # 43

Center name: Harmony Institute
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Sabina Low

Project description

Dr. Sabina Low has an NIMH funded project to evaluate technology-supported cooperative learning in high schools. Cooperative learning has demonstrated impressive benefits on academic, social, and psychological outcomes, but is difficult to implement in everyday practice with fidelity. Technology (see PeerLearning.net) is a solution to help promote more consistent, research-based cooperative learning. This four-year efficacy trial will evaluate effectiveness of PeerLearning.net on mental health and academic outcomes, and assess implementation and plans for sustainability. We have opportunities for involvement in training, supporting implementation, and involvement in publications/presentations.

Special skills needed

No additional skills required.

Majors

Psychology, Human Development, Education, Social Work

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Community Capital Dashboard Tool *

Project # 44

Center name: Community Capital Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe, Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Mark Roseland

Project description

This project is builds upon a sustainable community development performance assessment framework grounded in sustainability and social science indicator research, applied to the development of a unique dashboard tool. Using Artificial Intelligence, we plan to enable the dashboard to access and mine real time data and existing databases to allow the display of place-specific real-world data instantaneously and tailored towards the needs of the municipality using the dashboard. To accomplish this task, the relevant sources needed to create the indices illustrated in the dashboard need to be identified, automatically data-mined and potentially recoded, and visualized. This will provide the technological and theoretical foundation for the dashboard being universally applicable and opens the door for further improvements by working together with municipalities and using their feedback to identify shortcomings, barriers and needs.

Special skills needed

Any skills relevant to the project (for example, assessment, evaluation, programming, coding, AI, etc.).

Majors

Urban Planning, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Data Analytics, Policy, Sustainability, Computer Science, Augmented Intelligence

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Housing and Sustainability *

Project # 45

Center name: Community Capital Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe, Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Mark Roseland

Project description

This project will examine housing in the context of sustainability and climate resilience for Hispanic communities in the Southwest. Year 1 will focus on a comprehensive literature review of what housing and sustainability assessment tools are available in the US, their accessibility, their suitability, and the extent to which they have been used with Hispanic communities in the Southwest. We will also determine a short-list of communities to partner with for a pilot study and work with their leadership to ensure that if selected that they have the willingness and capacity to engage in the subsequent pilot study. Year 2 will be primarily focused on a process with one partner community, city, or neighborhood from the short-list identified in Year 1 to design and test a bilingual or Spanish-language housing and sustainability assessment tool. This process will require coordination and commitment from municipal elected officials, staff, and citizens, likely through a resident advisory committee or commission. Year 3 will analyze the survey data, prepare a draft article or research brief/background paper, then conduct a seminar/webinar/workshop to share insights on the strengths and weaknesses of the tool and ideas for refining it.

Special skills needed

Anything related to housing or housing policy, including Political Science, Economics, Business, Planning, Urban Land Economics, Real Estate, Development, etc.

Majors

Any major in the Social Sciences and other related fields

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Sensory Resilience to Climate Change

Project # 50

Center name: Dr. Emília Martins' Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Emília Martins

Project description

The Martins' Lab strives to predict how animals display resilience to climate change. We integrate lab and field experiments, work primarily with aquatic fish species, and address questions relevant to biomedical research and climate change. Climate change can have detrimental impacts on an animal's sensory systems, making it difficult for them to sense their surroundings, find food, and attract mates. Our work aims to identify how changes in temperature, acidity, water flow rate, and lighting can affect the sensory biology of zebrafish. Zebrafish have been well-studied as models for human disease and as sentinels for pollution, such that the results of this project will shed light on the detailed sensory, hormonal, and genetic mechanisms underlying the effects of climate change on aquatic animals. We will also use this knowledge to develop tools to improve the survival of desert fishes in the southwestern US. Native desert fishes are severely threatened by climate change and the introduction of non-native fishes. We will collaborate with researchers from the Arizona Game and Fish Department to develop ways to enhance the sensory resilience of native desert fish by manipulating stress, reproductive state, and experiences.

Special skills needed

Basic computer skills, reliability and professionalism, and the ability to work well alone and as part of a team (we will train students in other skills that are needed).

Majors

Biological Sciences

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences

EYEPlay ADAPT (Early Years Educators at Play - All Different Abilities Participate and Thrive) *

Project # 51

Center name: Literacy@Play Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Lauren van Huisstede

Project description

EYEPlay (Early Years Educators at Play) is a strengths-based, classroom-embedded apprenticeship program in which preschool teachers learn to integrate drama techniques into story time to facilitate engagement and whole-body participation for their students. This work is being conducted through a university-community partnership between ASU and Childsplay – a local youth theater company. Previous work through this partnership has shown EYEPlay’s effectiveness at promoting language, literacy, and socioemotional development in typically-developing preschoolers. Further, EYEPlay teachers in inclusive preschool classrooms have described increased participation, engagement, and story comprehension during drama lessons for students with diverse abilities. Yet, our past partnership efforts have not focused on these students, nor have our measures been sensitive enough to capture their learning. The proposed project, EYEPlay ADAPT (All Different Abilities Participate and Thrive), uses a design-based implementation research approach (DBIR; Fishman et al., 2013), expanding existing partnership structures to focus on developing strategies to support students with high communication needs (e.g., children with autism) and measures to capture their learning.

Barrett fellows would have the opportunity to be involved in observing classroom drama time, observational coding of student engagement and participation during drama-based story time, and helping to develop and pilot measures to capture student learning.

Special skills needed

Experience working with young children, especially children with disabilities; detail-oriented; self-starter; familiar with Microsoft Office; and the ability to learn new software quickly.

Majors

Speech and Hearing, Psychology, Education, Family and Human Development

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

African Transnational Adoption Project *

Project # 52

Center name: Dr. Cassandra Cotton's Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Cassandra Cotton

Project description

This project, led by Dr. Cassandra Cotton, focuses on understanding how transnational adoption from sub-Saharan Africa is understood by those in 'sending' countries and those in 'receiving' countries. We explore how (primarily) white adoptive parents make decisions about transracial international adoption, how adoption agencies and government agencies facilitate these decisions, and how we talk about this form of adoption in the news and through social media, both in sending and receiving countries. Currently, we are assembling an archive of materials ranging from adoption agency resources, government legislation, legal rulings, social media, and news media focused on adoption of African children by parents in the US, Canada, and Europe, to better understand the multiple perspectives of how those involved consider issues of family, belonging, and race and culture. Barrett Fellows will assist in curation of the archive and will learn content analysis techniques using these materials.

Special skills needed

Students should be proficient with Google Drive (sheets and docs) and Zotero (we will provide training); have experience conducting literature searches and reviews (using the ASU library, databases, Google Scholar, etc.); and have completed a research methods course in their major.

Majors

Sociology, Family and Human Development, African and African American Studies, Anthropology, Gender Women and Sexuality Studies, Global Studies, Justice Studies

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Role of Evaluation in Assessing Impact of a Nonprofit Organization in Phoenix *

Project # 53

Center name: Dr. Megan Pontes' Research Team
Campus/Location: Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Megan Pontes

Project description

Nonprofit organizations are uniquely positioned to play a vital role in social change, and many integrate advocacy in their efforts to address the root causes as well as provide services to address immediate needs. However, much remains unknown as to how nonprofits evaluate the impact of their advocacy work. This qualitative study will build on the work of Dr. Megan Pontes' dissertation study, examining how a human service nonprofit organization in the Phoenix area, engaging in both service and advocacy, evaluates the impact of its advocacy through formal and informal methods. The initial focus is to identify an organization working in the area of homelessness. Data collection will consist of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with staff/volunteers working on the advocacy campaign(s), community and coalition partners, and other stakeholders; social media analysis; document analysis; and field notes.

Special skills needed

Critical thinking, critical reflection, time management, communication, and interview experience are a plus (but not required).

Majors

Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Community Advocacy and Social Policy, Social Work, Public Policy

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Health Research Communication and Dissemination

Project # 59

Center name: Global Center for Applied Health Research
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Flavio Marsiglia

Project description

Directed by Dr. Flavio Marsiglia, the Barrett Fellow will support the Global Center by enhancing its research dissemination and public health education strategy through social media content strategy, marketing materials, and reports. Ideal for a student interested in public health education, health communication, social media marketing, or public relations.

Special skills needed

Strong writing skills and experience with social media, graphic design, journalism, report writing, and Public Health communication.

Majors

Graphic Design, Journalism, Social Work, Communications, Sociology, Public Health

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Academic Detailing and Hepatitis C Evaluation

Project # 60

Center name: SIRC-Office of Evaluation and Partner Contracts
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Maria Aguilar-Amaya

Project description

This project involves assisting the project lead with the evaluation of the academic detailing and hepatitis c programs. This involves analzying secondary data using SPSS, conducting literature reviews, report writing, and assisting with the development of conference presentations and posters.

Special skills needed

Strong writing skills, great communication skills, ability to work with little supervision, willingness to learn and use SPSS, ability to conduct and write literature reviews, and willingness to learn PowerPoint and create presentations.

Majors

Social Work, Health and Wellness, Healthcare, Health Management, Behavioral Health

Years

4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Safe Routes to School *

Project # 61

Center name: Active Schools and Communities Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Allison Poulos

Project description

Join Dr. Poulos in the College of Health Solutions and an interdisciplinary research team to support a local Phoenix community to make the streets around schools safer for walking, riding, and rolling. On this project, you would assist with data collection including conducting surveys around school sites and environmental assessments of street and neighborhood conditions, tallying pedestrian and vehicular traffic counts, data management, and dissemination of results. Our project will measure changes in behavior and attitudes after the installation of protected bike lanes around three schools, and provide a great opportunity for hands-on, community-based research.

Special skills needed

Availability for at least one morning and one afternoon in the Fall Semester to collect data in a Phoenix neighborhood; interest in health, sustainability, safety; and interest in community-based work.

Majors

Health Education, Health Promotion, Public Health, Population Health, Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Design, Sustainability, Psychology, Education

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

School Health Survey Project *

Project # 64

Center name: Active Schools and Communities Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Allison Poulos

Project description

Join Dr. Allison Poulos in the College of Health Solutions and an interdisciplinary student and faculty group working on a joint project with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to promote children's health in schools. Our team works with ADHS and ADE to administer a statewide survey to schools in Arizona to understand which schools have supportive wellness and physical activity policies and practices, and which schools need more assistance. Our Barrett Fellows assist with data management, data analysis, and dissemination of results. The goal of our project is to translate evidence from our survey directly to school administrators, champions, and policymakers to support children's health.

Special skills needed

Experience or interest in working with large amounts of data.

Majors

Public Health, Health Sciences, Population Health, Education, Social Work, Public Service, Communication, Family and Social Dynamics

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Couple Health, Aggression, and Socio-Economics *

Project # 68

Center name: Couple Health, Aggression, and Socio-Economics (CHASE) Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown and other campuses (weekly lab meetings are held via ZOOM with additional monthly in-person meetings)
Faculty lead: Julia Hammett

Project description

The CHASE Lab led by Dr. Julia Hammett investigates intimate partner violence (IPV) from the angle of socioeconomics. We conduct basic correlational and longitudinal research examining sociocultural and economic predictors of IPV. We then apply the knowledge gained from this work towards the development and evaluation of innovative and accessible interventions aimed at decreasing risk for IPV specifically among vulnerable and underserved groups. We focus on both members of the couple, which allows us to study the complicated, dyadic dynamics of IPV, socioeconomic stress, and health.

Special skills needed

Students will contribute to research projects via a variety of tasks, including: development of study materials (for example, Qualtrics surveys, website design); participant screening and recruitment; literature reviews; data coding; data analysis. Thus, any skills related to these tasks are a plus. Interested students will have the opportunity to seek out individual research projects or thesis-related work by receiving support in data analysis and dissemination of research conducted within the lab. Students interested in completing a thesis are expected to have been a part of the lab for at least one semester prior to starting work on their thesis.

Majors

Majors in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Psychology, Criminology, other related fields

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

How Do Cognitive and Personality Factors Affect How People Change Their beliefs?

Project # 69

Center name: Dr. Derek Powell's Research Team
Campus/Location: West, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Derek Powell

Project description

Changing people’s minds can be hard, and it can be made harder by cognitive biases that lead people to fail to integrate evidence in proper ways. A wide literature suggests people’s belief revision can sometimes be affected by a tendency toward “motivated reasoning,” whereby motivational factors like identity preservation lead to biased rejection of evidence. However, pinning down exactly when people’s reasoning is biased can be tricky, as many apparent instances of bias can also be explained by rational applications of people’s wider belief systems. This project deploys a new behavioral survey paradigm that can better distinguish between biased and unbiased reasoning. Using this paradigm, the project aims to examine how personality and cognitive factors affect belief revision and attitude change. Barrett Fellows involved in this project would learn about developing cognitive test items, applying online survey methodologies, and (optionally) advanced statistical techniques.

Special skills needed

Interest and experience with Psychological study design.

Majors

Psychology, Statistics, Political Science, Business, Social Science, Behavioral Science

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Autism Classroom Models - A Qualitative Study

Project # 70

Center name: Project OASIS (Optimizing Access for Students in Schools)
Campus/Location: Tempe (data collection occurs at school sites in the Phoenix-area)
Faculty lead: Jesse Fleming

Project description

In partnership with Dublin City University (Ireland), our research team based in Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College is seeking the insights of teachers, school leaders, parents and students in regards to their experiences with autism specialized classrooms and different school models. Many schools in Arizona and in Ireland offer specialized programs for autistic students, but there is a need for a deeper understanding of the advantages and challenges of these various models. Our research will compare the practices and perspectives between Arizona and Ireland by using quantitative methods (e.g. interviews, observations) to collect data. This project is led by Dr. Jesse Fleming, Dr. Erin Rotheram-Fuller, and Juliet Hart Barnett, who have extensive experience in autism research.

Special skills needed

Reliable, detail-oriented, strong communication skills, and experience or interest in working with children with special needs.

Majors

Education, Speech and Hearing Sciences, Family and Human And Development, Sociology, other health-related fields and students interested in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Actionable Science in Biodiversity Conservation *

Project # 71

Center name: Center for Biodiversity Outcomes
Campus/Location: Tempe, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Candice Carr Kelman

Project description

In recent years, conservation scientists (knowledge producers) have recognized that partnerships with stakeholders (knowledge users) are essential for innovation and realizing measurable conservation outcomes. These partnerships – referred to here as knowledge partnerships – represent a model of discovery that can advance public value outcomes. Public value is an important concept in science and innovation policy research and management, but there is little research on how partnerships between institutions can deliver public value, especially in conservation science. We propose to fill this gap by studying the role of knowledge partnerships in linking the supply of and demand for conservation knowledge.



In particular, we ask: 1) What are the mechanisms by which the demand for knowledge informs the production and supply of science in the field of conservation?; 2) What role do knowledge partnerships play in linking the supply of and demand for conservation knowledge, and what effect does the design of these partnerships have on their ability to deliver public value?; and 3) How can research projects and knowledge partnerships be designed to avoid public value failures, improve the connection between the production and use of science, and thus increase the public value of scientific activity? By analyzing the experiences of knowledge users and the possibilities inherent in knowledge partnerships as a distinct organizational form, we aim to understand the organizational configurations best suited for facilitating demand-driven conservation science.



We will produce a framework for understanding how the processes of scientific research can be transformed to be more inclusive of knowledge users, improve the connection between the production and use of science, and therefore increase the public value of scientific activity. Our work identifying the indicators of public value success is directly relevant to many governmental, private and non-profit organizations, both those working on conservation and those focused on other areas.



This research will provide guidelines on how to design knowledge partnerships for public value and will offer new models of institutional partnerships to address complex social and ecological aspects of biodiversity conservation, thus enabling solutions that are relevant, culturally sensitive, economically viable and nimble.

Special skills needed

Writing ability and analysis skills.

Majors

Sustainability, Conservation Biology, Natural Resource Management, Community Resources and Development, Public Policy, Administration and Management

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Caring for the Caregivers Project (C4C) *

Project # 73

Center name: Dr. Cady Berkel's Research Team
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Cady Berkel

Project description

Parental incarceration is an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) that has lasting negative effects on children’s health and well-being and affects more than five million children a year in the United States. Caregivers are one of the most important sources of resilience for vulnerable children in a range of stressful circumstances, including parental incarceration. Caregivers often face unique stresses and have very limited resources and support. The Caring for the Caregivers (C4C) program is designed to support caregivers so that they can support the children in their care by utilizing evidence-based parenting practices. The Qualitative Research Team of the C4C Project is conducting rapid qualitative analysis of interview data to inform the development of this program. Members of the Qual Team attend weekly meetings of the Qual Team as well as monthly meetings of the larger C4C Project team, are assigned weekly or biweekly coding assignments, and complete to these assignments after receiving feedback to ensure the accuracy with which incoming qualitative data are coded. Analyses are conducted in Word and Google Sheets.

Special skills needed

Good time management skills, ability to work well independently and on a team, detail oriented, strong written and oral communication skills, turns in assignments on time and is on-time to meetings, basic skills in Excel/Google Sheets and Microsoft Word.

Majors

Psychology, Counseling and Applied Psychological Science (not including Sports and Performance Counseling), Substance Abuse and Addictions, Family and Human Development, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Community Advocacy and Social Policy, Exploratory Social and Behavioral Sciences, Social Justice and Human Rights, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sociology, majors in the College of Health Solutions, Integrative Social Science, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, American Indian Studies, Applied Quantitative Science, Public Service and Public Policy

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

A New VR-based Experimental Paradigm for Interpersonal-coordination Cesearch *

Project # 75

Center name: The Perception, Action, Language, and Meaning (PALM) Lab
Campus/Location: West
Faculty lead: Ben Falandays

Project description

During two-person interactions and conversations, humans coordinate in many ways - they align their gaze, speech, movements, gestures, brain rhythms, heart rate, and more. The mechanisms of such coordination and the consequences of it for successful interactions are open questions, but currently there is no way to experimentally manipulate interactions in order to address these questions. This project will use VR and motion capture to transport dyadic interactions into the virtual world, allowing us to manipulate the perceptual information available to each person during an interaction. We will use this approach to try to disrupt or strengthen patterns of coordination, in order to find out which perceptual cues are most important for developing interpersonal coordination during an interaction. Barrett Fellows can contribute to building/coding VR experiments, running participants, collecting data, and more.
Faculty lead: Dr. Ben Falandays (bfalandays@asu.edu), School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Special skills needed

Some coding experience preferred.

Majors

Psychology and related fields, Computer Science, Human Systems Engineering

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Computational Modeling of Cognition, Development, Culture, and Evolution

Project # 77

Center name: The Perception, Action, Language, and Meaning (PALM) Lab
Campus/Location: West
Faculty lead: Ben Falandays

Project description

This is a modeling/simulation project aimed at understanding how cognitive, developmental, cultural, and evolutionary processes are intertwined. Barrett Fellows can contribute to the development of agent-based models in which simulated humans are born/die, grow, evolve, interact, and learn from one another. This project is lead by Dr. Ben Falandays from the New College's School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Special skills needed

Some coding experience required.

Majors

Psychology and related fields, Anthropology, Computer Science

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Computational Modeling of Perception-action and Language Processing Using Artificial Neural Networks

Project # 79

Center name: The Perception, Action, Language and Meaning (PALM) Lab
Campus/Location: West
Faculty lead: Ben Falandays

Project description

This is a modeling/simulation project in which we use artificial neural networks to control simulated organisms. We will apply these models to understand how neural activity relates to the control of perception, action, and language processing. This project is led by Dr. Ben Falandays from New College's School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Special skills needed

Some coding experience required.

Majors

Psychology and related fields, Neuroscience, Computer Science

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences

24h Behaviors Laboratory

Project # 80

Center name: 24h Behaviors Laboratory
Campus/Location: Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Matthew Buman

Project description

The 24h Behaviors Laboratory utilizes emerging technologies (including wearables, smartphone applications, and other novel devices) and health behavior change interventions to understand the dynamic interplay of sleep, sedentary, and more active behaviors, and how collectively these behaviors may be harnessed for health promotion and disease prevention.

Special skills needed

Attention to detail, excellent organizational and communication skills, a self-started, and a genuine interest in clinical research.

Majors

Population, Public Health, and Health Care Policy; Neuroscience; Movement Science; Medical Studies and Health Sciences; Nutrition; Healthy Lifestyles and Health Education; Neuroscience; Nutrition; Biomedical Informatics; Data Analytics

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Language, Thought, and Culture in Children and Adults *

Project # 82

Center name: Thinking Across Languages and Contexts (TALC) Lab
Campus/Location: West, K-12 schools and museums in Phoenix, potential for international work
Faculty lead: Alex Carstensen

Project description

Do speakers of different languages think about the world in qualitatively different ways, or do they just talk about it differently? How do children learn to understand abstract ideas, like similarity or time, and how do their day-to-day experiences with language and culture shape their cognitive development? This research investigates similarities and differences in cognition between kids and adults from different contexts, as a function of the language(s) they speak and the cultures they have experience with. Our studies involve interactive puzzle games like guessing how to make a music box play or identifying a hidden picture, and open-ended play, like drawing pictures on a tablet. We use responses in these games to infer the structure of our participants’ concepts, and identify influences from language, culture, and other experiences. Barrett Fellows will be instrumental in recruiting participants and collecting data from speakers of their language. Data collection will occur on campus and off campus at schools, museums, and other organizations like the Desert Botanical Garden. The ideal candidate is motivated, organized, excellent at working independently, and passionate about science and research in general.

Special skills needed

We are seeking Barrett Fellows who are native speakers of English, Spanish, and Korean (though bilinguals in Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and other languages are also encouraged to apply); multilingual and multicultural students are particularly encouraged to apply, especially those with Asian or Indigenous American heritage (in any part of the Americas: north, central, and south); Barrett Fellows who want to work with kids should have extensive experience with young children, ages 3-8 years, though this may be in formal (for example, daycare and summer camp) or informal (family) settings; experience with R, Javascript, or other programming languages is a bonus; applicants must be available to run participants at least 10 hours per week.

Majors

Psychology, Linguistics, Education, Data Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Supporting Social Media Sensemaking of Science-Related Issues *

Project # 83

Center name: ASU Social Media Observatory @ Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
Campus/Location: Tempe, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Bryan Henderson

Project description

This research seeks to identify trends in how students make sense of science-related information (for example, climate change; COVID vaccinations) through social media, and then informed by these trends, design classroom interventions to support students in more critically evaluating the different ways science information is spread throughout digital social networks like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Our research team has been developing classroom activities for middle school students designed to help them think more critically about the science-related information they encounter on social media. For example, we have been developing classroom activities where students have to make sense of conflicting evidence about climate change being shared by two different hypothetical accounts on social media. These activities are being delivered to students through a classroom technology that we created called Braincandy. Barrett Fellows will further the development of these social media classroom activities and assist with pilot testing them at local schools.

Special skills needed

While all necessary skills can be trained during the research itself, some experience with digital content creation (for example, graphic design; presentation creation; image editing) is desirable; a genuine interest in education or science-related issues is also a plus.

Majors

Open to all majors though students who are interested in social media misinformation; developing classroom materials that support more critical sensemaking of social media information; and the intersections of science/technology, Psychology/Sociology, and Education may find this project particularly relevant

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Governing the Energy Transition Towards Solar *

Project # 84

Center name: Center for Behavior, Institutions and the Environment
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Marco Janssen

Project description

A transition to a solar-based energy system experiences several behavioral and social challenges. Led by Marco Janssen and Marty Anderies, in our lab we study these challenges using a coupled infrastructure systems perspective (and specifically, the problems associated with the so-called energy "duck curve"). The duck curve refers to the mismatch in the peak in electricity production by solar (mid-day) and the electricity demand (late afternoon) peaks that require expensive fossil fuel solutions to meet the demand. Ineffective response to this problem increases the risk of blackouts. Energy companies try different incentives to change people’s behavior (timing of energy use), for example, via price differences during the day. What incentives work for which kind of households? In this study, we will systematically review existing literature on the diverse interventions to change households' energy use timing. Results will be used in a simulation model on energy system transitions.

Special skills needed

Literature review and basic knowledge of energy systems.

Majors

Economics, Psychology, Political Science, Civil Engineering, Sustainability

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Education for Planetary Futures

Project # 90

Center name: Learning Futures Collaborative on Education, Sustainability, and Global Futures
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Iveta Silova

Project description

Despite efforts stemming from the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, schools and higher education institutions continue to perpetuate the status quo by reproducing the logic of human exceptionalism, liberal individualism, and the hierarchical “man over nature” relationship, fueling infinite economic growth on a finite planet. This Learning Futures Collaborative aims to reimagine and reconfigure education toward the future survival of the planet and people. Join Professors Iveta Silova and Andrea Weinberg to explore the latest literature on education, sustainability/climate, and global futures, as well as engage in hands-on research projects and participate in ongoing events that explore these questions from various perspectives.

Special skills needed

Literature review, qualitative data analysis, social media, and data visualization.

Majors

Open to any Social Science and Humanities major (and others if there is a compelling reason)

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Education, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Towards Space Sustainability: Lessons from Climate Governance *

Project # 97

Center name: Space Governance Lab at SFIS
Campus/Location: Tempe, Downtown, Polytechnic, West, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Timiebi Aganaba

Project description

There currently exists no precedent for mitigating the conflict of interest of private and non-state actors in outer space. In a field like International Environmental Law, corporations influence the content and application of environmental law, making the very rules they follow, through a variety of mechanisms that could result in conflict of interests with the goals of environmental protection. For example, a conflict of interest potentially exists in the United Nations climate change system (UNFCCC) where the very businesses that are emitting greenhouse gasses are the ones influencing the decision-making process of decarbonization. There are many lessons learned from this for space governance and space environmentalism. This research will provide a framework to think about potential conflict of interests as the sector contemplates giving private actors more rights in space governance.

Special skills needed

Research, attention to detail, and curiosity.

Majors

Open to all majors

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Humanities, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Space and Economic Development: The Case of Arizona *

Project # 98

Center name: Space Governance Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe, Downtown, Polytechnic, West, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Timiebi Aganaba

Project description

While Arizona’s Aerospace and Defense Sector has a rich and prosperous history, it has operated in isolation from the state’s much larger and more impactful “5 Cs” economy. Iit is also isolated from the economic drivers of the state (real estate, mfg, health, retail). Space within Arizona is ill defined, a portfolio for commercializing space has to be clearly defined to apply resources (capital, workforce and focus) by key stakeholders. The state has an extensive and comprehensive structure to develop STEM-focused talent and there is potential for additional expansion and growth (JTED, Charter schools, 2-year institutions, etc.), but the aerospace and defense industries have a relatively small footprint in the state (Tucson and Phoenix areas) and as a result the messaging, decision-making, and process to integrate workforce to help grow this industry (including space) is limited. There are commercial opportunities within the government subcontracting sector, marketplace, and supply chain along with possibilities for investment that provide returns both in public and private markets. An Investment and Finance approach to economically developing space is recommended to enable economic growth utilizing space as a focus without compromising the other economic drivers in the state and our research (and the work of our Barrett Fellows) will help explore this hypothesis.

Special skills needed

Research, curiosity, attention to detail, and interviewing skills.

Majors

Economics, Data Analytics, Public Policy

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Conservation Education

Project # 102

Center name: Conservation Innovation Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Leah Gerber

Project description

Our Conservation Education Immersive Program works with and studies 6th through 12th grade students - researching their responses to a number of ecological and conservation affinity measures and analyzing how our program influences those attitudes and behaviors.

Special skills needed

Skills required include transferring paper surveys into a digital format (through Google Sheets). As part of this project, Barrett Fellow will gain exposure to quantitative measures in social science, experience with a conservation education research project, mentoring, participation in team meetings, and a letter of recommendation (with satifactory job performance).

Majors

Sustainability, Conservation, Education, Biological Sciences, Behavioral Sciences

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Linking Everyday Caregiver-Infant Communication to Neural and Behavioral Synchrony *

Project # 107

Center name: Communication and Learning Lab
Campus/Location: West
Faculty lead: Jessica Kosie

Project description

This project, led by Dr. Jessica Kosie, is a mixed-methods investigation (combining behavioral, experimental, and neural measures) with the goal of better understanding how everyday caregiver-infant communication supports infants’ language development. We have built a large longitudinal dataset to characterize infants’ everyday interactions with their caregivers and track their language development. This dataset includes daylong audio recordings, video recordings, and survey-based language assessments collected when infants were 12, 18, and 24 months of age. At 24 months of age, caregivers and toddlers were invited into a research lab and played together as neural activity was recorded from both using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The resulting fNIRS data will be used to assess neural synchrony by measuring similarity (and differences) in neural activity between the caregiver and infant as they played. In this ongoing work, there is opportunity for Barrett Fellows to get involved by coding behavioral data, analyzing data to explore links between behavioral and neural measures of synchrony, and contributing to new research about how everyday experience influences learning and development.

Special skills needed

No specific skills required (though interest in infant development and experience with transcription or video coding would be helpful).

Majors

Psychology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Neuroscience, Education, Linguistics, Early Childhood Studies, Communication, other related fields

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Proliferation of Lawyers as a Runaway Selection Process

Project # 109

Center name: Complexity Economics Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Joffa Applegate

Project description

The industrial structure of the United States has changed dramatically over the last few decades, with the share of employment in manufacturing declining and those in professional services, including legal services, increasing. Daniel Markovits, in The Meritocracy Trap, explains through a dynamic where workers with more education change their jobs to include technologies that require increasingly higher degrees of education. While we agree that some form of niche construction is occuring, we suspect the explanation has more to do with a response to changing business trust and scale patterns rather than technology. Furthermore, this increase in legal services may also have a dampening effect on entrepreneurship and innovation, which suggests a runaway selection effect like that of the peacock's tail. Our project analyzes public employment data sources to craft a socially-oriented story around this increase and its consequences, employing evolutionary concepts such as niche construction and selection.

Special skills needed

Knowledge of R and statistical regression.

Majors

Economics, Business, Social Science

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Do Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Have Additive Health Benefits

Project # 117

Center name: Cenfer for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Shawn Youngstedt

Project description

Led by Dr. Shawn Youngstedt our project studies aerobic exercise and resistance exercise both have multiple health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure. It seems intuitive that combining aerobic and resistance exercise would have additive benefits. However, a cursory examination of the literature does not support this assumption. The aims of this project are to systematically explore whether there are additive benefits of aerobic and resistance exercise across the scientific literature. Outcomes will include blood pressure, insulin resistance, and cognitive function. The simplest approach would be to find studies that included aerobic or resistance exercise as well aerobic+resistance exercise treatments. Another approach would be a network meta-analysis that comparing aerobic or resistance exercise with aerobic + resistance exercise across the literature that reports these effects. The project will require extensive use of PubMed, finding articles, and gathering data from the articles (many articles will likely be retrievable by using Inter-library Loan from ASU).

Special skills needed

Organizational skills, proficiency with Excel, and computer search skills.

Majors

Health Solutions, Kinesiology, Biology, Psychology, Nursing, Pre-Med fields, Statistics, Math

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation Analyses *

Project # 119

Center name: DataDevils
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Connor Sheehan

Project description

Working with ASU’s Office of University Affairs and Social Embeddedness, Dr. Sheehan seeks to collaborate with Barrett Fellows to conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to improve outcomes for Arizona’s Foster Children. Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF) is a well-established organization entering its 40th year of operations. Since 2014, they’ve invested in a unique program, Keys to Success, that supports foster care kids as they transition into adulthood. The program, a first-of-its-kind in Arizona, provides activities related to career, education, employment for youth leaving the foster care system. The CEO is interested in the impact of the Keys to Success Program as well as which program elements were the primary drivers for that impact. AFFCF is also interested in documenting the program as a replication model. We are interested in working with Barrett Fellows to evaluate the effectiveness of this program.

Special skills needed

Research experience, statistical skills, and experience working with focus groups.

Majors

Any major in the Social Sciences or Liberal Arts

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Sleep/Circadian Rhythm Disturbances and Chronic Pain

Project # 121

Center name: Biobehavioral Pain, Addiction, Sleep, and Momentary Experience (Bi-PAS ME) Rese…
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Chung Jung Mun

Project description

Join Dr. Mun's lab and contribute to an NIH-funded research project investigating the mechanisms behind multiple chronic pain conditions. Emerging scientific evidence points to sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances playing a significant role in the progression of chronic pain and psychological distress. In this study, we aim to recruit 300 participants with chronic low back pain and follow them for 12 months. Barrett Fellows will have opportunities to learn about sleep and circadian rhythm assessments using cutting-edge tools, such as ambulatory sleep EEG machines, 24-hour urine assessments, and smartphone and wearable devices. They will also have unique opportunities to work directly with clinical pain populations, as well as to gain hands-on experience in quantitative sensory testing that assesses somatosensory functioning, and conducting structured clinical interviews.

Special skills needed

Strong interest in research, attention to detail, effective communication, empathy, teamwork, critical thinking, and a commitment to research ethics.

Majors

Health Sciences, Medical Studies, Nursing, Public Health, Population Health, Personal Health, Applied Science, Psychology, Nutrition, etc.

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Complex Networks and Motifs Census

Project # 122

Center name: Dr. Enrico Borriello's Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Enrico Borriello

Project description

In network theory, a motif census is a method for the systematic and categorical enumeration of various subgraphs within a network. Understanding the occurrence of motifs is pivotal in comprehending the intricate structure and dynamics of networks. Throughout this project, Barrett Fellows will immerse themselves in the process of describing complex systems as networks, followed by a thorough study of their topology to extract valuable insights about the system, comprehend, and predict their evolution over time. The study provides flexibility, allowing students to choose between analytical, computational, or a combination of approaches. Analytical exploration entails the development of expressions for motif census, while computational exploration focuses on the analysis of real-world network databases using Python. Barrett Fellows are encouraged to apply these ideas to their areas of interest. Additionally, they have the option to participate in an ongoing activity at the School of Complex Adaptive Systems, exploring the application of these concepts to biological networks as well as socio-economic networks.

Special skills needed

Either familiarity or desire to learn programming in Python (alternatively, basic knowledge in linear algebra for the more analytical proposed approach).

Majors

Students with interests in Applied Math, Data Analytics, Physics, or Biology may find this project particularly relevant

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

How Financial Incentives Improve Medication Adherence and Healthcare Outcomes: Evaluating the Wellth App

Project # 123

Center name: Dr. Chad Stecher's Research Team
Campus/Location: Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Chad Stecher

Project description

The Wellth app offers daily financial incentives to users for submitting a photo through the app of their prescribed pills in their hand. Research has demonstrated that the Wellth app is feasible, acceptable, and shows preliminary efficacy, but more work is needed to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of this mobile health approach on medication adherence and subsequent healthcare utilization and outcomes. In 2021, the Wellth app was randomly offered to 3,300 AZ Medicaid enrollees with chronic conditions and who are nonadherent to their prescribed medications over the past year. Using AZ Medicaid insurance claims data for the population of 30,000 Medicaid enrollees who were eligible to receive Wellth (only 3,300 were randomly provided the app), we will estimate the effect of receiving the Wellth app on participants medication adherence, healthcare utilization and cost, and health outcomes. This project will provide invaluable experience working with health insurance claims data, running advanced econometric models, and writing a paper for publication in a top peer-reviewed health economics journal.

Special skills needed

Statistics, Econometrics, or regression analysis; familiarity with data analysis software (for example, SAS, Stata, R).

Majors

Economics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Analytics

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Data Analytics and Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Ancestral Technologies of Transcendence: Exploring How Breath, Movement, Music, and Dance Inoculate Against Diseases of Despair *

Project # 124

Center name: Evolutionary social Cognition Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe, Polytechnic, Fully remote
Faculty lead: D. Vaughn Becker

Project description

A growing number of people are pursuing meaning and health through ancient methods of embodiment and social attunement, through individual practices like yoga, meditation, and breathwork, as well as through social/group methodologies like communal singing, drumming circles, and ecstatic dance. These practices are purported to have many positive physical and mental health outcomes, and a growing body of science supports this. Have we evolved to need such practices for wellbeing? What consequences do these practices have for promoting general health and meaning-making? Can they serve as an antidote to diseases of despair like substance abuse? In this project, Barrett Fellows will develop an annotated bibliography of the emerging research on these embodiment and social attunement practices, with a focus on 1) the socio-cultural and evolutionary reasons for their efficacy, 2) their health outcomes, and if possible 3) the use of psychophysiological measures known to index health (for example, heart rate variability). Gaps in the literature will be identified, and participatory qualitative research will be used as a way to explore these methods and formulate new hypotheses. Each week participants will prepare a brief narrated video (for example, with Powerpoint) that summarizes one (or several related) research article(s) that explore one of these practices, and provide peer feedback to one another. Barrett Fellows will also participate in one or more of these practices several times, preferably in community settings, and keep a video journal of their experiences. Our work together will ideally culminate with research proposals being developed along both correlational/survey and experimental lines, with an eye toward execution in future semesters.

Special skills needed

A knowledge of statistics and research methods sufficient to analyze published research; previous coursework in Psychology, Neuroscience, or Human Systems Engineering (with an appreciation of evolutionary and cultural evolutionary theory); prior interest in one or more of the methodologies to be studied is helpful (but not required).

Majors

Psychology, Neuroscience, Anthropology, Human Systems Engineering, Biological Sciences, majors in the Health Sciences (more broadly)

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Indigenous Health Equity Research Initiative *

Project # 126

Center name: Center for Indian Education
Campus/Location: Tempe, Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Angela Gonzales

Project description

Our project seeks to address the systemic and structural inequalities that give rise to inequities in the health and wellness of Native people and communities. The project's overarching goal is to promote community-centered research approaches that privilege Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being through all aspects of the research lifecycle. We will do this through engaging with tribal leadership as well as Indigenous faculty (both internal and external to ASU), organizations, networks, and key thought leaders to co-design equitable, community-based approaches and recommendations for universities and health systems interested in engaging and partnering with tribal communities in health-related research.

Special skills needed

Qualitative or quantitative data analysis, ability to conduct a literature review, reporting writing, note taking, and participation as part of a research team.

Majors

Biological sciences, Pre-Med, Sociology, Microbiology, Health Services Administration, Health and Wellness, other related majors that focus on health

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project MERIT *

Project # 127

Center name: Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Kelly Davis

Project description

Dr. Kelly Davis leads this project regarding men's alcohol consumption and sexual behavior. Participants complete a lab study, followed by online daily surveys for one month and monthly surveys in months 2-6. Barrett Fellows will be involved in participant recruitment and tracking as well as other tasks as desired.

Special skills needed

Attention to detail, openness to interacting with participants on the phone, some knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.

Majors

Any Health-related major (including Psychology, Nursing, and other fields)

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

What does Humility Look Like? *

Project # 131

Center name: Center for Advancing Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research
Campus/Location: Tempe, Downtown, Polytechnic, West, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Barret Michalec

Project description

Dr. Barret Michalec leads this project where participants (college students) use photo voice to take pictures of what they feel are examples of or representations of humility. Participants will then be asked to briefly describe why they feel those pictures represent humility. Barrett Fellows will help enroll participants and assist with data analyses.

Special skills needed

High positive energy; willingness to take direction; and self-motivated.

Majors

Open to all majors

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Supporting Minority Entrepreneurs through Nonprofit Collaboration - Case Study

Project # 132

Center name: Dr. Danbi Seo's Research Team
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Danbi Seo

Project description

This project traces and analyzes nine years of nonprofit efforts for supporting minority entrepreneurship and addressing racial income and wealth inequities in the state of Minnesota (2014 to 2023). The research team consists of leading scholars in public and nonprofit management at ASU and the University of Minnesota. Data collection has been completed, and the Barrett Fellow will help mostly with data management and analysis. In particular, the student will work with Dr. Danbi Seo at ASU on writing narratives of a group of nonprofit organizations and their collaborative efforts on helping minority entrepreneurs. This will provide good opportunities to work in a research team and learn about nonprofit management, collaboration, and issues related to minority entrepreneurship.

Special skills needed

Strong writing skills; experience in literature search; attention to detail; and interests in ethnography and community-oriented research.

Majors

Nonprofit Management, Public Affairs, Community Development, Political Science, Sociology

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Business and Entrepreneurship, Social and Behavioral Sciences

CEAL - Arizona Community Engagement Alliance *

Project # 133

Center name: SIRC - Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Stephanie Ayers

Project description

The Arizona Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL - https://azceal.org/) is part of a 21-state alliance funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). AZ CEAL works closely with the communities hit hardest by COVID-19. The AZ CEAL conducts Community-Engaged research and OUTREACH to increase COVID-19 AWARENESS and EDUCATION among communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and to reduce misinformation and mistrust.

Special skills needed

Barrett Fellows will help with conducting focus groups and interviews (as well as analyzing qualitative data and manuscript development); ideally students would be bilingual (Spanish/English).

Majors

Social Work and any Health-related major

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Assisted Cycle Therapy in Children with Down Syndrome

Project # 135

Center name: Sensorimotor Development Research Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Shannon Ringenbach

Project description

Dr. Ringenbach directs the Sensorimotor Development Research Lab located in the Community Services Building on the Tempe Campus. This project involves children with Down Syndrome 4- to 15-years old participating twice a week for 8 weeks of 30 minutes of assisted cycling in which a motor on a stationary bicycle moves the pedals 35% faster than they can on their own. Motor, cognitive and physical and mental health pre- and post-tests are conducted.

Special skills needed

Good rapport with children with special needs, basic computer skills, time available to commit to the project.

Majors

Open to any Health-related major

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Qualitative Investigation into Workforce Development Impact of Helping Hands Internship *

Project # 136

Center name: Dr. Elizabeth Kizer's Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe, Downtown, Polytechnic, West, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Elizabeth Kizer

Project description

Helping Hands is a student-intern run social determinants of health referral program that has been in continuous (year-round) operation since August of 2021 at Native Health (Phoenix and Mesa). In this study, we will collect qualitative data from past interns to investigate the relationship between their internship and subsequent activities (career, continued education, etc).

Special skills needed

Willingness to learn and apply fundamental qualitative skills regarding recruitment/outreach, semi-structured interviewing, transcript preparation, and thematic analysis.

Majors

Health Sciences, Health Administration, Social Sciences

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Views of Aging, Health, and Well-Being *

Project # 140

Center name: Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging
Campus/Location: Downtown, Fully remote and hybrid
Faculty lead: Hannah Giasson

Project description

This study uses smartphone surveys and heart rate, physical activity, and sleep monitoring to capture the everyday experiences of adults caring for a parent with dementia. The goal is to understand the processes linking everyday experiences, views of aging (for example, attitudes and beliefs about aging), and stress to health and well-being. We are looking for Barrett Fellows to focus on data cleaning and analysis, asking questions, and writing up results from this pilot study.

Special skills needed

Strong verbal and written communication skills; well-organized; willingness to learn and adapt; and experience with data analysis (preferred).

Majors

Psychology, Nursing, Community Health, Integrative Health, Social Work, Computer Science, Biological Sciences, Communications and Journalism, Pre-Med majors, Sociology, Health and Wellness, Public Health, Health Sciences and Medical Studies, Human Development

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Global Ethnohydrolgoy Study *

Project # 141

Center name: Center for Global Health
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Amber Wutich

Project description

The Global Ethnohydrology Study is a transdisciplinary multi-year, multi-site program of research that examines the range of variation in local ecological knowledge of water issues, also known as “ethnohydrology.” Using cutting-edge systematic ethnographic methods drawn from anthropology that allow us to understand how and why culture (perceptions, norms and beliefs) is shaped ecologically and varies from person to person and place to place, we can better discern both the particularities and generalities about how we all see and respond to water issues, local and global. We focus on showing how factors, such as increasing urbanization, water scarcity and climate change, are related to changes in cultural ideas and knowledge. One outcome of the project has been innovation in how cultural data can be collected, analyzed and interpreted in ways that allow meaningful comparison across diverse settings.

Special skills needed

Transcription, data entry, and data coding.

Majors

Anthropology, Agriculture, Sociology

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Centering Indigenous Feminisms in Birth Work: Examining Traumatic Childbirth and the Role of Community-Rooted Birth Workers in Advancing Birth Equity in Arizona

Project # 142

Center name: Dr. Roseanne Schuster's Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Roseanne Schuster

Project description

This investigation centers on indigenous epistemologies as a means of decolonizing the study of childbirth within medical anthropology. It delves into the incidence of traumatic childbirth and emphasizes the role of community-rooted birthworkers of color. The research involves conducting a mixed-methods analysis of doula training curricula recognized by the Arizona Department of Health to meet doula state certification requirements. It involves birthworker talking circles and stakeholder listening sessions in Tucson and Phoenix. The research aims to uncover indigenous feminist principles in current advocacy and doula training to contribute to a culturally-restorative framework for birth equity policies and practices.

Special skills needed

Experience with some qualitative research analysis (including participatory methods, transcription, coding, thematic, content, or narrative analysis); interest in supporting birth justice and are self-aware familiar with intersectional feminism; give attention to detail; and have experience with a qualitative data software such as MAXQDA.

Majors

Anthropology, Agriculture, Sociology

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Encounters: Food in Renaissance Europe in Fifty Objects *

Project # 144

Center name: School of International Letters and Cultures
Campus/Location: Tempe, Polytechnic, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Juliann Vitullo

Project description

Professors Juliann Vitullo and Ian Moulton are in the process of choosing and researching fifty objects that epitomize the production, marketing, preparation, and consumption of food in early modern Western Europe (1300-1650) for a volume that will be completed in September 2025. This collection of material objects will provide an ideal introduction to the daily experience of early modern culture, at all social levels from a peasant’s small-holding to the kitchens of a palace and the refectory of a convent, emphasizing the nutritional, economic, social and religious values connected to food in different spaces. It will also provide an opportunity for readers and students to reflect on today’s globalized food system, which often distances consumers from producers and from the land or sea where the plants or animals lived. The fifty objects in this volume will tell stories of historically alternative ways in which food tied humans to each other and their environment together with narratives about the early modern roots of the contemporary industrialized system in which food is valued above all as a commodity.

Special skills needed

Knowledge of European history and culture; knowledge of a European language other than English.

Majors

European Languages and Cultures, History, English, Art History, Museum Studies, Anthropology, Sustainable Food Systems

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Social Connection and Well-being (SCandWB) Study *

Project # 145

Center name: The Dynamic of Relationship, Emotion, and Asset in Multiple Systems (DREAMS) Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Mengya Xia

Project description

Our work focuses on understanding ways to promote individual positive development and optimal well-being in the family context, interpersonal settings, and broader ecological systems from the person-centered and transactional dynamic approaches, with an emphasis on fostering adolescent relationship health, social-emotional development, competence and character strengths, and flourishing as a whole. The ultimate goal of our research is to inform prevention/intervention to promote child and adolescent health and well-being in real life.

Special skills needed

Detail-oriented and organized; strong interpersonal and communication skills; experience in computer skills, including data analysis softwares (for example, R or SPSS); experience working with adolescents and parents in school settings; and evidence of being bilingual (English/Spanish).

Majors

Psychology and related majors (specifically those that focus on Developmental, Social, or Positive Psychology), Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

AIDE Lab

Project # 146

Center name: AIDE Lab, the Center for Global Health
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Megan Jehn

Project description

The proposed project seeks to engage community members to enhance resiliency towards the air pollution stresses that accompany wildfires. Barrett Fellows will work with the research team to engage community members with knowledge of indoor air pollution control and associated health impacts; evaluate the resilient capacity of facilities to handle the air pollution and heat impacts of wildfires; and implement sustainable solutions in facilities to enhance resiliency towards the air quality and heat impacts of wildfires.

Special skills needed

A willingness to learn new skills.

Majors

Open to all majors though students in Health-related and Social Sciences majors may find this project particularly relevant

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Caring and Sharing Informal Economy in Maricopa County

Project # 147

Center name: School of Transborder Studies
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Irasema Coronado

Project description

Anecdotal evidence suggests a thriving informal economy in Maricopa County, with many individuals involved in various roles such as household cleaning, babysitting, landscaping, food vending, and caring for the elderly. Additionally, many families provide services for one another such as day care, providing transportation, with our remuneration. This project entitled "The Caring and Sharing Informal Economy in Maricopa County" aims to assess the significant role played by the informal economy in providing vital support and resources to families within the county. The project will commence with an extensive literature review on the subject, followed by the second phase, which involves conducting informal interviews with individuals who utilize services from the informal economy and participate in the caring and sharing economy. Alongside qualitative insights gathered from interviews, we will incorporate quantitative data to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the informal economy's impact. This could involve statistical analysis of income generated, hours worked, and economic contributions.

Special skills needed

Literature review, experience working with census data or other economic data, and Spanish language skills.

Majors

Liberal Arts, Business

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Business and Entrepreneurship, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Tamayame Language Resources Pilot Project *

Project # 149

Center name: Department of English
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tyler Peterson

Project description

Professor Tyler Peterson (Linguistics and Applied Linguistics in the Department of English) was awarded a seed grant from the ISSR to create language resources for the Keres (Tamayame) language, a Native American language spoken in the Pueblo of Santa Ana in New Mexico. One of the goals of this project is to create a digital dictionary of Keres. There are three main tasks in this position that work towards this goal: 1) to analyze a historical document that contains both a detailed grammatical analysis of Keres and a translated text (the goal is to produce a morphological analysis of this text); 2) to take this analysis and input it into specialized dictionary software; 3) to generate a usable output from the software, which will be the first draft of the Keres-English dictionary. There are opportunities for either a summer, semester, or year-long research internship position for one Barrett Fellow totaling of 145 hours (this work is also paid with an hourly wage of $15 per hour).

Special skills needed

This project is suitable for advanced undergraduates who has taken at least three linguistics courses; Barrett Fellows will be provided linguistics and software training and guidance throughout the project (but students must have a strong sense of initiative and a willingness to solve technical, software, and linguistic problems).

Majors

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

Years

4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Preserving and Revitalizing The Abaa' Ja (Yavapai) Language In The Fort Mcdowell Yavapai Nation *

Project # 151

Center name: Department of English
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tyler Peterson

Project description

Professor Tyler Peterson (Linguistics and Applied Linguistics in the Department of English) was awarded a grant from the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation (FMYN) to create language resources for the Yavapai language, a Native American language spoken on the Fort McDowell reservation to the northeast of Phoenix. The main goal of this project is to create a set of transcribed, translated, and analyzed texts in Yavapai. The source media will be video and audio interviews with Yavapai elders on a range of topics from local and tribal history, personal narratives, and explanations and demonstrations of cultural practices. As such, this project provides a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with Yavapai speakers on any these topics (ethnography, history, anthropology), and to pursue linguistic research on Yavapai grammar. At the core of this project is the documentation of Yavapai language, which means that a desire to learn how to transcribe, translate, and analyze primary language is essential. There are opportunities for either a summer, semester, or year-long research internship position for one Barrett Fellow totaling of 500 hours (this work is also paid with an hourly wage of $15 per hour).

Special skills needed

This project is suitable for advanced undergraduates who has taken at least three linguistics courses; Barrett Fellows will be provided linguistics and software training and guidance throughout the project (but students must have a strong sense of initiative and a willingness to solve technical, software, and linguistic problems).

Majors

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

Years

4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences

AZ Child Abuse Projects

Project # 152

Center name: Children in the Law Laboratory
Campus/Location: Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Stacia Stolzenberg

Project description

We are recruiting Barrett Fellows for two projects. Project 1 is a collaboration with Phoenix Children’s Hospital and ChildHelp, the largest Child Advocacy Center in Maricopa County. In this work, we are collecting and transcribing forensic interviews (approximately 300 a year) where children are alleging sexual abuse. For this project, Barrett Fellows will transcribe and code forensic interviews (in-person on the downtown campus). Project 2 is a collaboration with the Family Courts in Maricopa County. In this study, we are collecting data on over 15,000 recent cases of custody disputes to see when there is high parental conflict and when this co-occurs with abuse allegations. Barrett Fellows can work both downtown at the courts on this project or remotely (entering case information via remote access).

Special skills needed

Highly-motivated students who are comfortable learning new skills, working independently and as a part of a team, and dealing with sensitive topics that may be triggering to some (for example, child abuse, child sexual abuse, and children's reporting of abuse).

Majors

Open to all majors though students majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, Pre-Law, Political Science, Sociology, Public Health, Developmental Sciences, Linguistics may find this project particularly relevant

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Culturally Responsive Research and Evaluation *

Project # 153

Center name: STEM Program Evaluation Lab
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Ayesha Boyce

Project description

Each year the United States government commits millions of dollars to fund innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) research and education programs. Often, when these initiatives are funded, someone is standing alongside the scientists evaluating their work. That’s where SPEL comes in. We train graduate and undergraduate students and evaluate/research STEM education projects. Students receive training in the Values-Engaged Educative (VEE) evaluation approach, which defines high-quality STEM educational programming as that which successfully integrates pioneering scientific content, robust instructional pedagogy, and sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). They also receive training in qualitative and quantitative research and other technical skills, evaluator competencies, co-authoring evaluation reports, and presenting to funders and at professional conferences. We currently have six projects funded by the National Science Foundation that we are the external evaluators with our role to determine the effectiveness and outcomes associated with these projects.

Special skills needed

Understanding Excel and PowerPoint is helpful; Barrett Fellows will learn how to use voiceform, qualtrics, and other applications; this project is particularly relevant for detail-oriented students who want to learn more about program evaluation and research with a culturally responsive focus.

Majors

Open to all majors though students majoring in Psychology, Sociology, or STEM-related fields might find this project particularly relevant

Years

2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Reimagine Prison Culture and Climate *

Project # 154

Center name: Dr. Beth Huebner's Research Team
Campus/Location: Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Beth Huebner

Project description

Research suggests that many people who encounter the criminal-legal system face worse health, mental health, and quality of life outcomes following incarceration. Life expectancy declines for every year served in prison, and stress from risk of violence and poor prison conditions can lead to adverse health and mental health outcomes during and after prison. Transforming prison conditions is one way to potentially mitigate some of the harms of incarceration. The purpose of this project is to test the effectiveness of an intervention that aims to improve prison conditions and the well-being of people living, working, and recently released from prison.

Special skills needed

Barrett Fellows will conduct library research and develop an annotated bibliography on the topic; students will also be responsible for coding qualitative data from interviews with staff and incarcerated people; stundet may also assist with making graphics for reports or other policy documents.

Majors

Criminal Justice, Public Affairs, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology

Years

1st-year students (new to ASU Fall 2024), 2nd-year students, 3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Understanding the Role of Public Safety Communications Personnel in Call Processing, Diversion, and Criminal Legal System Gatekeeping

Project # 155

Center name: Dr. Joseph Schafer's Research Team
Campus/Location: Tempe, Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Joseph Schafer

Project description

Using data from three sites, this project will use a mixed-methods approach to answer three questions about public safety communications personnel (PSCP or "dispatchers") and public safety communications processes: 1) what are the policies and workflows that structure PSCP discretion (particularly in the context of systems that might divert from jail and/or influence racial differences in outcomes) and are those workflows performing as intended; 2) how do PSCP perceive their work, challenges, stressors, and training/policy needs; and 3) what factors influence the discretionary choices of PSCP and how do PSCP decisions influence patrol officers? We seek Barrett Fellows to be part of an interdisciplinary team of graduate students and faculty from ASU, the University of Missouri - St Louis, and Oslo New University. Studenta will work under the direction of Dr. Joseph Schafer the lead investigator on the project and will assist with library research, research design, and data analysis (qualitative and quantitative). Barrett Fellows may also have the opportunity to assist with interviews and field observations as well as collaborate on research products including reports, conference presentations, and publications.

Special skills needed

Barrett Fellow should have completed (or be enrolled) in CRJ302 (Research Methods) and CRJ303 (Statistical Analysis) or similar social science methods and analysis courses; experience working with data is a plus (though Barrett Fellows will be provided training and support to those strong candidates who do not already have that experience).

Majors

Criminology and Criminal Justice, Social and Behavioral Sciences majors

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Arizona Water for All

Project # 158

Center name: School of Human Evolution and Social Change
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Amber Wutich

Project description

Arizona Water for All’s (AW4A’s) goal is to advance water security in Arizona’s most water-insecure households. Under the leadership of Dr. Amber Wutich, AW4A: 1) promotes empowerment and participation in community water decision-making, 2) deploys proven water security solutions, such as fit-to-purpose technologies, and 3) advances measurement and monitoring of household water insecurity. AW4A’s research is primarily informed by participatory methods, civic engagement, and long-term relationship building because we are committed to holistically addressing the social, economic, environmental and political justice needs of a community. For this reason, we are seeking Barrett Fellows who are invested in learning how to create and maintain relationships with municipal, nongovernmental, industrial and community stakeholders dealing with water-insecurity in low-income communities across Arizona.

The intern will work closely with community partners to find places to leverage one another’s resources to have the largest impact possible on sustained water-security. In addition to community engagement, we are also expanding our data collection to measurably increase monitoring of water-insecurity. We have deployed a cutting-edge survey that captures participant’s experiences around water. The intern will speak directly with community members to ask about their water experiences, so basic understanding of Spanish is valued in this role.

Special skills needed

Spanish language skills, data collection, event planning, social media management, newsletter and graphic publication, and public engagement experience.

Majors

Sustainability, Anthropology, Communication, Global Health, Public Health, Earth And Environmental Studies, Innovation In Society, Organizational Leadership, Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, Sociology

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

A Youth-centred Participatory Action Towards Co-created Implementation of Socially and Physically Activating Environmental Interventions (YoPA) *

Project # 164

Center name: Dr. Adewale Oyeyemi's Research Group
Campus/Location: Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Adewale Oyeyemi

Project description

Youth-centred Participatory Action (YoPA) project focuses on the co-creation and implementation of healthy, resilient and inclusive living environments together with adolescents (ages 12 to 19), thereby promoting a structural improvement in their physical activity levels, social interaction, and ultimately health and wellbeing. The YoPA project studies four disadvantaged communities from two high-income or minority countries (Denmark and the Netherlands) and two low and middle-income or majority countries (Nigeria and South Africa). These communities provide the context in which we will conduct youth-centered co-creation: real-life research together with adolescents and all relevant stakeholders (for example, policymakers, religious institutions, civil society, urban planners, designers, and academic researchers) in a process of mutual learning and shared decision-making. This approach will lead to sustainable solutions that improve the lifestyle of teenagers from all backgrounds. Dr. Oyeyemi from the College of Health Solutions at ASU is the Principal Investigator for the Nigerian site of the project and the leader of the work package on Mapping the Local System in the four countries.

Special skills needed

Interest in international physical activity and public health research; good team player; cross-cultural communication skills with students and investigators from Africa; data entry skills; and interest in systematic review.

Majors

All majors at the College of Health Solutions

Years

3rd-year students, 4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Development and Validation of the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ): A Multi-country Study across Six Continents

Project # 166

Center name: Dr. Adewale Oyeyemi's Research Group
Campus/Location: Downtown, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Adewale Oyeyemi

Project description

Physical activity is essential for healthy child development, yet 80 percent of youth are not active enough and we lack information about activity levels of young children. Current physical activity questionnaires were developed in high-income countries without considering the context of low-income countries. They tend to neglect some types of physical activity such as active play. Addressing these issues would make it easier to compare activity levels within and between countries. Such comparisons could help identify countries that are doing well in promoting some types of activity and help other countries develop interventions to increase physical activity. This project aims to develop an app-based Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) and determine its accuracy in measuring physical activity among 5- to 17-year-olds in 14 low-, middle-, and high-income countries from 6 continents. The study will involve 8 stages, including a literature review of current questionnaires, drafting a new questionnaire, expert feedback, cognitive evaluation and pilot study, and a main study with 500 children and parents per country. Dr. Oyeyemi from the College of Health Solutions at ASU is the Principal Investigator for the Nigerian site of the GAC-PAQ project.

Special skills needed

Interest in international physical activity and public health research; good team player; cross-cultural communication skills with students and investigators from Africa; data entry skills; and interest in systematic review.

Majors

All majors in the College of Health Solutions

Years

4th-year students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

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