1 of 14

Developing Identities in Science: The Role of Values & Interests

Karlyn R. Adams-Wiggins, Ph.D. (Facilitator)

Associate Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology (Black Studies Affiliate)

June 20, 2024

2 of 14

Session Overview

  • Icebreaker (Introductions)
  • Values, Interests, & Science Identity
  • Activity #1 – Individual Reflection
  • Activity #2 – Small Discussion (Tables)
  • Wrap Up

3 of 14

Introductions

  1. Your Name
  2. Your Major (or Expected Major)
  3. What Brought You to SRA
  4. Something You Wish People Knew about You

4 of 14

Why Do Values & Interests Matter?

  1. Provides motivation to raise research question
  2. Sustains motivation to answer research questions appropriately
  3. Reflected in assumptions made during research if unacknowledged

​

​

​

5 of 14

A Very Brief Overview of Positionality & Connections to Science Identity

Positionality describes a researcher’s relationship to the topics they study

  1. Involves experiential knowledge that informs questions we bother asking
  2. Involves experiential knowledge and related skills that inform engagement with phenomena studied
  3. Informs theoretical assumptions brought to research activities
  4. Relevant even in studies not involving human participants or explicitly social topics

6 of 14

Becoming a Scientist:

Participation in Communities of Practice

7 of 14

Example of Science Identity Development

Took Psychology Research Methods

    • Unclear link to own interests

Invited to Do Paid WGS Research

    • Fieldwork with single mothers
    • Wrote reflection journals for adviser

Submitted report to women’s shelter

    • Realized Research Could Solve Everyday Problems
    • Curious about other options

Took Advanced Research Methods in Psychology

    • Read about resilience in youth of color
    • Designed a practice project

Encouraged to Consider Becoming a Professor

    • Explored grad school options
    • Found educational psychology as good fit with current interests

Pursued honors thesis

    • Extended resilience work to motivation research on achievement goals
    • Conducted experimental study and defended thesis

An Undergraduate Example

8 of 14

Example of Science Identity Development

Enjoy Psychology Major Topics

Enjoy Practically-Relevant Research Experience in Women’s & Gender Studies

Want to Help Other People from Own Background

Passionate about Working with Youth

Easily Absorbed into Reading and Problem Solving

Want to Work with People Face-to-Face

Personal Experiences with Achievement Motivation Challenges

Value: Prioritize Helping Others in Need

An Undergraduate Example

Easily Bored by Things Unrelated to Living Things & People

Easily Bored by Repetitive Work

Difficulty Following through on Unchallenging Work

Hate Being Micromanaged

Hate Administrative Work Emphasizing Minor Details

Dislike Working Completely Alone

Value: Relationships Are More Important than Work

9 of 14

Example of Multiple Identities, Multiple Practices:�Multi-membership in Communities of Practice

Community 1: Family of origin

    • Participation & Reification

Community 2: Council of Black Graduates

    • Participation & Reification

Community 3: AAUP-AFT TA Union

    • Participation & Reification

Community 4: Research team

    • Participation & Reification

Nexus of Multi-membership

10 of 14

Activity #1: Individual Reflection

  • Use the handout to reflect on your own values and interests
  • You will NOT be required to share contents of the document with others
    • You will only need to discuss your thoughts after the activity (do not have to give specific details)
  • Work for about 25 minutes
  • Ask for help if needed

11 of 14

Scan for Activity #1 Handout

Link: https://tinyurl.com/p2wrwwfn

12 of 14

Activity #2: Small Group Discussion

  • At your table, get into pairs or groups (no more than 6 people per group)
  • Reflect on how Activity #1 could relate to your development of research interests
    • Help each other think through what would be good versus bad fits based on each person’s Activity #1 responses
  • Share as much or as little as you like from your work on the handout
  • Work with your facilitator to summarize your team’s ideas on this Padlet: �https://padlet.com/karlyn/summer-research-academy-2024-activity-2-role-of-values-and-i-j8xn5ftyu69ej7o
  • When finished, read other groups’ posts in the Padlet

13 of 14

Scan for Activity #2 Jamboards

Link: https://tinyurl.com/yszyxrps

14 of 14

Wrap Up

  1. What did you learn from your own group’s discussion that will help you identify your own research interests?
  2. What did you learn from other groups’ posts that will help you identify your own research interests?