Research Methods with Diverse Racial and Ethnic Groups

Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan 
June 8-12, 2015 
Monday-Friday

Although the topic receives little coverage in most textbooks on research methods, important advances have been made in recent decades in methods for psychological research involving racial and ethnic minority groups. The purpose of this ATI is to introduce participants to a variety of research approaches that have been used with diverse racial and ethnic groups to produce significant and useful knowledge about these populations. Participation in this ATI will help investigators to conduct psychological research that is culturally appropriate and relevant for the groups being studied.

The ATI will be led by Frederick Leong, who is a professor of psychology and director of the Consortium for Multicultural Psychology Research at Michigan State University. Other instructors for the ATI will come from Michigan State and other leading institutions. For a complete list of topics and instructors, view the tentative course schedule.

Among the topics that may be covered in this ATI are: (a) methodologies for investigating treatment outcomes with culturally diverse populations; (b) archival research and secondary data analysis with culturally diverse populations; (c) community-based participatory research with culturally diverse populations; (d) culturally sensitive qualitative research methods with diverse populations; (e) evaluating measurement equivalence of research measures; (f) integrating social class measurement into racial and ethnic minority psychology research; (g) aging research with diverse racial and ethnic groups; (h) social network research with culturally diverse populations; and (i) genomic research in ethnic minority communities.

Also woven through the discussions at the ATI will be such topics as: applying for research grant funding, working on collaborative research teams and designing courses covering research with racial and ethnic groups.

The ATI is targeted to faculty, postdoctoral researchers and advanced graduate students who aim to conduct research with racial and ethnic groups and are interested in learning about the latest methodological approaches and challenges. Participants may have interests in basic or applied research in any area of psychology (including clinical, cognitive, community, counseling, developmental, educational, health, industrial-organizational, personality, social and other subfields of psychology). Although the focus is on racial and ethnic groups within the United States, the ATI is appropriate for participants working outside the U.S. as well. 

In order to meet the interests of participants with varying backgrounds and prior training, material will be presented and discussed at various levels of sophistication (including some coverage of especially complex or novel approaches).

There are no prerequisites, but a list of recommended readings will be distributed in advance and participants should come to the ATI with an idea for a specific research project. Participants can choose between two options and they will be divided into various teams based on the option that they have chosen:

• Option A 
  Participants can bring their own project that they would like to discuss and receive feedback on from instructors and teammates.
• Option B 
  Participants can develop a project that they would like to carry out based on secondary analysis of datasets. Information regarding these archival datasets will be provided prior to the workshop.

It is expected but not required that the teams will complete the research projects following the ATI and submit the work for publication.

Up to 35 participants will be chosen to attend this ATI.

Submit the online application form and upload your CV. If you have any questions about submitting the application or encounter any problems, please contact Nicolle Singer by email or by telephone at (202) 336-6000.

The application deadline is April 2, 2015. After that date has passed, applications will continue to be accepted until seats are filled. Any applications received after seats have been filled will be placed on a waiting list. To read about opportunities such as the Advanced Training Institutes as soon as they are announced please subscribe to the Science Directorate e-newsletter.

Faculty: APA member — $750; Nonmember — $1,200
Postdoc/Graduate student: APA member — $375; Nonmember — $550

Lodging

Participants will receive a group discount on rooms at the Kellogg Center Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of Michigan State University. The ATI will take place in a Kellogg Center conference room.

The APA Science Directorate will be able to provide a limited amount of financial assistance to support travel and lodging of some ATI participants. If you wish to apply for financial assistance, please contact ATI for a copy of the ATI Financial Assistance Request Form and instructions. The completed form must be received by the APA Science Directorate by April 14, 2015. Financial assistance decisions are made independently from decisions about selection for the ATI, so it is appropriate to apply for financial assistance before hearing about selection for the ATI or after being placed on a waiting list. Preference will be given to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, but participants at other career levels will also be considered if sufficient funds are available. The amount of financial assistance that is provided will defray only a portion of overall travel and lodging costs. Applicants will be notified about financial assistance decisions prior to the ATI registration deadline.

Applicants are also encouraged to consult with their research mentors or department heads about the availability of institutional funds to support this advanced training opportunity.

If you cancel up to 30 days prior to the start date and we are able to fill your place, a full refund will be provided. If you cancel less than 30 days prior and we are able to fill your place, we will give a refund of 75 percent. If you cancel at any time and we are unable to fill your place, then no refund can be provided.

If you have any questions, please call (202) 336-6000, or send an email to Advanced Training Institute.