Vision for the Lab:
Incorporate a lifespan approach to research, rather than focusing on just one area of the lifespan at a time
o Justification: Students and faculty tend to identify with one developmental phase, but we can all learn from developmental processes in other areas of the lifespan and from the interactions between areas.
Promote a biopsychosocial perspective
o Justification: Developmental researchers often conduct research within one dimension (e.g. psychological) despite having an understanding that development is multi-contextual. We aim to use a multicontextual perspective.
Collaborate
o Justification: We want to collaborate within the department faculty and within department graduate students, and across departments
Include an applied focus
o Justification: We will still consider basic research, as this informs applied studies, however we feel that a major strength of an FCHD department is its ability to inform applied research.
Sponsor Mentorship
o Justification: Graduate students rarely receive opportunities to mentor, but mentorship is often required in academic positions. In the lab, PhD students mentor Master’s level students, Master’s students mentor undergrads, and in general, those with more experience in the lab mentor those who are new to the experience
Student-focused
o Justification: We envision a very “student-focused” experience, where ideas for research are largely student-driven, although faculty mentorship and guidance will help refine research questions
Encourage lifespan education
o Justification: students will be encouraged to seek coursework across the lifespan to better guide an all-inclusive lifespan approach, rather than relying only on a developmental-phase approach
Student expectations for lab participation:
Incorporate a lifespan approach to research, rather than focusing on just one area of the lifespan at a time
o Justification: Students and faculty tend to identify with one developmental phase, but we can all learn from developmental processes in other areas of the lifespan and from the interactions between areas.
Promote a biopsychosocial perspective
o Justification: Developmental researchers often conduct research within one dimension (e.g. psychological) despite having an understanding that development is multi-contextual. We aim to use a multicontextual perspective.
Collaborate
o Justification: We want to collaborate within the department faculty and within department graduate students, and across departments
Include an applied focus
o Justification: We will still consider basic research, as this informs applied studies, however we feel that a major strength of an FCHD department is its ability to inform applied research.
Sponsor Mentorship
o Justification: Graduate students rarely receive opportunities to mentor, but mentorship is often required in academic positions. In the lab, PhD students mentor Master’s level students, Master’s students mentor undergrads, and in general, those with more experience in the lab mentor those who are new to the experience
Student-focused
o Justification: We envision a very “student-focused” experience, where ideas for research are largely student-driven, although faculty mentorship and guidance will help refine research questions
Encourage lifespan education
o Justification: students will be encouraged to seek coursework across the lifespan to better guide an all-inclusive lifespan approach, rather than relying only on a developmental-phase approach
Student expectations for lab participation:
- Self-motivation – a student-driven lab requires intrinsic motivation
- Prioritization -- Dissertation and Thesis requirements come first – this lab is designed to provide data for a thesis or dissertation, AND/OR to supplement a student’s graduate experience. If the student is completing a thesis or dissertation with another faculty mentor, their priorities will be with that advisor.
- Willingness to create a well-rounded research experience – students should determine what they wish to augment from their research skill set. If they need grant writing experience the lab should be used to promote that skill. If they need interviewing skills, they will seek out those opportunities in the lab. Students should be self-aware and seek out the experiences they need.
- Adherence to ethical research standards -- Students will follow ethical guidelines for research (be CITI certified), discuss ethical issues, and strive for empirical balance.
- Communication about desires for authorship - Authorship of papers will be shared with students providing major contributions – those providing minor contributions will be recognized in the Acknowledgements but not included for authorship.
- Continuation of the project, if desired - Students with a major contribution towards a research project will have access to the dataset after completion of their degree, will be included in subsequent publication opportunities, and will be considered for future collaborations.