Work-Study Research Assistant Program

Faculty Name: Kevin Ferreira van Leer

Faculty Department: Human Development and Family Sciences

General Research Focus:    The Using Our Voices to Transform Hispanic Serving Institutions is a mixed methods participatory action research project that examines Latine student perceptions of “servingness” at California State University, Sacramento, a Hispanic Serving Institution. The project has utilized photovoice and a survey of undergraduate Latine students. More information about the project can be found here: https://www.usingourvoiceshsi.com/

Brief Position Description: The research assistant has the opportunity to support analysis and writing in the study listed above. Common tasks will include literature searches, transcription of interviews, qualitative coding, writing summaries of research, developing presentations, and proofreading writing products. Additional tasks may include scheduling meetings among community partners, preparing summaries of meetings, and planning agendas for community-partner meetings. Additional tasks related to the project may be completed as needed.

The research assistant will have the opportunity to learn more about the role of higher education institutions in supporting Latino students. They will gain skills in qualitative - grounded theory - methodology and participatory action research approaches. This will include transcribing focus groups, qualitative coding, and utilizing abductive thinking to identify themes in data. They will also learn how to read, review and summarize existing research and prepare summaries of the research. 

A "Student Research Review Assistant - 205" will assist faculty in research effort by conducting review of literature and subject material specific to research topics. A student in this position may:

• Compile a list of possible references from index or abstract sources
• Look up and check references
• Extract information from sources
• Organize and classify data
• Tabulate and analyze data
• Proofread and edit reports & research copy
• Prepare bibliographies and indexes
• Code/plot and analyze data
• Review forms and/or notes for completeness
• Transcribe from digital recorders
• Assist in the preparation of copy for publication
• Attend training sessions and staff meetings
• Perform miscellaneous duties as directed