UCLA Child, OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program
- Faculty Sponsor: Peris, Tara
- Department: Psychiatry
- Contact Name: Tara Peris
- E-mail: tperis@mednet.ucla.edu
Description of Research Project
Are you interested in kids and families? Would you like to learn more about how anxiety and depression affect the body at a biological level? There are several 196 opportunities available in the UCLA Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program for students with these interests. These are great training experiences for anyone interested in biological aspects of youth mental health. Currently, we have multiple studies that measure stress responding in children and adolescents (and sometimes their parents). Research assistants will be involved in data collection from kids and families and in monitoring and processing data. An interest in working with families and learning about methods for collecting and analyzing psychophysiological data is a must.
Description of Student Responsibilities
Your primary responsibilities include assisting with the processing of electrocardiographic and electrodermal data, data collection procedures, calling participants, answering questions, data entry, administrative support, and attendance at weekly supervision meetings. This is a great opportunity to gain research experience for graduate school and learning about clinical research. Please note you will not be involved in patient care.
Early Identification of Childhood Anxiety
- Faculty Sponsor: Piacentini, John, Ph.D., ABPP
- Department: UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior
- Contact Name: Kate Sheehan, LCSW
- E-mail: ksheehan@mednet.ucla.edu
- Website: http://carescenter.ucla.edu
Description of Research Project
A public awareness campaign and community-based education targeting destigmatization, early identification, and evidence-based intervention for clinical and subclinical childhood anxiety.
Description of Student Responsibilities
Student will conduct research literature searches, consolidate and report best evidence-based practices, and disseminate pertinent information to educate the community (via social media). This position provides challenging opportunities to translate scientific and clinical findings to be applicable to different audiences, including clinical (e.g., clinicians, pediatricians) and non-clinical (e.g., teachers, parents, children, teens) groups.
Topics in Coping and Well-being
- Faculty Sponsor: Stanton, Annette
- Department: Psychology
- Contact Name: Jacqueline Kim, PhD
- E-mail: jhjkim@psych.ucla.edu
Description of Research Project
This assistantship involves examining various topics in coping, mental health, and physical health, particularly of those experiencing chronic adversity. Some of the focus is cross-cultural and aimed at better understanding the influence of collectivist cultural backgrounds (esp. Asian-heritage). Outcomes of interest include self-reported internalizing and somatic symptoms. Topics the research assistant may be assigned to work on include: • Culturally relevant supportive care needs in cancer • Symptom experience and mental health/health service use • Use of approach- and avoidance-oriented coping strategies and internalizing symptoms • Prospective associations between internalizing and somatic symptoms • Coping via writing and its relationship to well-being.
Description of Student Responsibilities
Students’ primary responsibilities will be to conduct literature reviews, and engage in discussions about study recruitment, and assist with all research-related tasks. Data management will be assigned as needed. Topic assignments will depend on research needs, tailoring to student interest when possible. Depending on prior statistical background and project need, students may assist with data analyses. Given data availability and student initiative, students will be encouraged to work on research conference proposals. *Qualifications of Student: Some familiarity with literature reviews and able to critically analyze academic journal articles. Student must be detail-oriented, conscientious, accountable, and communicate clearly in a timely fashion. It will be helpful to know if the student has experience using Zotero/Mendeley, Qualtrics, or statistical software but this is not a requirement. Currently limited to students who are bilingual and fluent (reading, writing, speaking) in Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese (Cantonese/Mandarin). *Time Commitment Requested: Minimum 2 quarters, but longer commitment preferred (can continue as a volunteer after 1 quarter). 6-10 hours/week, including supervision/meetings as needed. *Dates of Project: Present - Summer 2022.
Understanding Statistics Teaching and Learning
- Faculty Sponsor: Stigler, Jim
- Department: Psychology
- Contact Name: Jim Stigler
- E-mail: stigler@psych.ucla.edu
- Phone: 3102069494
Description of Research Project
Improve statistics teaching and learning by understanding course data, identifying student trajectories, and testing different approaches to integrating R and statistics
Description of Student Responsibilities
Sorting, cleaning and coding data. Also providing student feedback on educational research materials. There are weekly mandatory meetings in order to discuss challenges and insight with the process. There were will be a written report for proof of work completed.
Caribbean Children’s Views of their Socioeconomic Rights & Inequality
- Faculty Sponsor: Suárez-Orozco, Carola
- Department: Education - Human Development & Psychology
- Contact Name: Juliana Karras-Jean Gilles
- E-mail: jkarrasjeangilles@gseis.ucla.edu
- Room Number: Moore Hall 1033C
- Phone: 3102063579
- Website: http://ige.gseis.ucla.edu/
Description of Research Project
We are examining how 12-18 year olds living in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago understand their socioeconomic rights and inequality through semi-structured interview and narrative vignettes. Using a mixed-methods approach we will engage in qualitative and quantitative analytical coding. Findings will address gaps in research and be applied to improve social policy.
Description of Student Responsibilities
Participation in audio transcription, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, and mixed-methods analysis. -Direct, hands on experience in mixed-methods research -In-depth training on qualitative transcription techniques -Methodological training & support for learning coding software -Research experience for Academic Credit (1-2 units) -Individualized support and mentorship to promote students’ personal and professional development and network- -Guided exploration of the following topics: children’s human rights, socioeconomic rights & inequality, critical consciousness
Anxiety and Substance Use Disorder Treatment
- Faculty Sponsor: Taylor, Kate
- Department: Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
- Contact Name: Kate Taylor
- E-mail: kbtaylor@mednet.ucla.edu
- Room Number: Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
Description of Research Project
There are two research projects being conducted concurrently that are recruiting undergraduate psychology students to get 196A credit. The first is a randomized clinical trial comparing standard treatment for substance use disorders at a community addictions treatment clinic to a new treatment that integrates cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder. Individuals with social anxiety and alcohol use disorders are being recruited for participation. This study includes self-report and behavioral outcomes. The second study is a randomized clinical trial comparing standard substance use disorder cognitive behavioral therapy to a new behavioral intervention targeting maladaptive responding to negative affect among young adults with cannabis use disorder. Participants aged 18-25 with cannabis use disorder, elevated negative affect, and difficulty managing their negative affect will be recruited. This study includes self-report, behavioral, objective, and fMRI outcomes.
Description of Student Responsibilities
Psychology students will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with real-world clinical trials. Students will be responsible for assisting with behavioral/laboratory tasks, coordinating, tracking, and scheduling participants, managing audio and video recordings of therapy and assessment sessions, data entry, and administrative/clerical responsibilities. Students will have the opportunity to shadow research staff during assessments and group therapy.