ATIs Offered in Past Years
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
From 2000-2006, APA's Advanced Training Institute in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) provided active researchers who are new to fMRI with an intensive introduction to the field. Through a subsidy from APA's Science Directorate and a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), over 280 psychological scientists—advanced graduate students, post-docs, new and established faculty—received training through this annual one-week course.
Each year, the course had a different area of emphasis, ranging from data analysis, to fMRI and animal research, to clinical applications of fMRI. Although the emphasis would change, instructors always provided plenty of lecture and discussion about the background in physics, biology, and biophysics that is necessary to conduct fMRI research. Hands-on experience in experimental design and data analysis was also a constant of the program. Most years included an applied component, during which participants crafted research a proposal and presented it to the class for critique.
The course director was Robert L. Savoy, PhD, Director of fMRI Education at Massachusetts General Hospital, who continues to host other trainings and events in the interest of expanding knowledge about psychological applications of fMRI technology.
As the capstone of this series of ATIs on fMRI, the APA Science Directorate has conducted two outreach activities. First, in conjunction with the Foundation for the Advancement of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (FABBS), a public education event featured experts on fMRI-based psychological research lecturing to members of the general public about the importance of brain research. You can access more information about this event and webcasts of the lectures on the internet.
The APA Science Directorate has also published two printed and web resources (one for adults and one for teenagers) to learn about the applications of fMRI in psychological science. To learn more about these exciting resources and to view information on how to order copies, visit the website.
Performing Web-Based Research
This ATI, led by John Eustis Williams, PhD, and other instructors, prepared participants to conduct web-based research.
Topics included the ethics of online research, web-based data collection, making the most of shared databases, the use of html for surveys, and experimental designs through Authorware. Participants learned the basics of setting up a website, posting surveys and multimedia experiments, using randomized assignment and design, collecting data, securing data in an online environment, and the use of scripts to check for data integrity, multiple submissions, and data analysis.
Participants in this ATI did not need to have any prior knowledge of web-based research, but were told to come prepared with a small web project that they would like to complete during the week. At the end of the ATI, all participants completed or were well into the development of their online research project. After this ATI, participants were also able to participate actively in the many online data sharing resources that exist and are being developed.
ATIs on internet-based research remain a priority for the Science Directorate, and we hope to offer another course on this topic in future years.
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