(0.5 credit, full-year)
Course Description
As a science, psychology investigates why and how humans and nonhuman animals feel, think, and behave in the ways they do. Our discoveries can be harnessed for societal good when the insights gained from psychological research are communicated accurately to the public. In this course, students will participate in seminars to learn to communicate effectively about scientific discoveries and engage in the process of knowledge translation. Students will also work with a Psychology faculty supervisor to create and deliver knowledge translation products.
Prerequisites:
1.0 credits in 300-level psychology courses. Commitment from a faculty supervisor via application process.
In this course, students will work closely with the course coordinator and the faculty supervisor. The expectation and responsibility of each contributor are as follows:
The course coordinator is responsible for 1) teaching the principles of knowledge translation, but not necessarily the technical skills required to produce specific kinds of deliverables, and 2) organizing and coordinating guest lectures and outreach events.
Faculty supervisors are responsible for the content (or the knowledge) that needs to be translated into deliverables by the students.
Students are responsible for working with both the course coordinator and the faculty supervisor to 1) produce the quality KT deliverables based on the principles taught in the course and 2) present the deliverables to the public at the outreach events.
Note: All students enrolled will be given an assignment for which they will be tasked with producing a short newspaper/magazine story about a journal article from the supervisor’s lab, or a similar substitute article of the supervisor’s choosing. Students will also produce a final written assignment explaining how their deliverable embodies knowledge translation principles and will be asked to explain how they would evaluate the effectiveness of their deliverable as a knowledge translation tool/product.
Faculty members accepting student applications for 2024-2025
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/anna-kosovicheva
Lab website: https://applylab.org
Number of students accepted: 1
Types of KT deliverables interested:
- Infographics (e.g., for a pamphlet, poster, digital platform)
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/jennifer-stellar
Lab website: https://jenniferstellar.com
Number of students accepted: 1
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Videos (e.g., demo, interviews)
- Live/Interactive demo or lesson
- Outreach activity (e.g., to deliver at local schools, community center, museum)
More details about the KT deliverables:
Prof. Stellar is interested in creating some sort of demo video to teach children about art and empathy. Some examples would include interactive videos that could include activities related to art and a bit about empathy.
Course pre-requisites:
Comfortable making videos, working with that technology.
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
N/A
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/joanne-chung
Number of students accepted: 2
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Website (e.g., lab website, project/outreach website)
- Infographics (e.g., for a pamphlet, poster, digital platform)
- Outreach activity (e.g., to deliver at local schools, community center, museum)
More details about the KT deliverables:
Prof. Chung is looking for students who are interested in KT for a project called "Giving Voice". This is a longitudinal study that will follow a cohort of incoming undergraduate students at UTM who identify as racialized to examine the development of their personality and well-being over the course of university. In 2024-2025, Prof. Chung’s lab is gearing up for a lot of social media content, sending updates to the participants, and creating events and spaces for them (e.g., body movement sessions, a community garden, volunteer days, arts and crafts).
Course pre-requisites:
N/A
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
Having interests in connecting with other students and being engaged with the Mississauga community would be great. Prof. Chung also appreciates team members who are collaborative, communicative, and conscientious.
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/norman-farb
Lab website: https://www.radlab.zone
Number of students accepted: 2
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Website (e.g., lab website, project/outreach website)
- Infographics (e.g., for a pamphlet, poster, digital platform)
- Videos (e.g., demo, interviews)
More details about the KT deliverables:
For one position, Prof. Farb is interested in making the fall student wellbeing survey an annual survey and continuing to build the website and communication strategies. For the other position, Prof. Farb is interested in producing more illustration or social media related to the projects in the lab.
Course pre-requisites:
Please contact Prof. Farb if you have any questions.
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
Illustration, good at social interaction (for tabling during survey season), and any stats / web skills are a definite bonus.
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/keisuke-fukuda
Lab website: https://fukudalab.org
Number of students accepted: 1
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Website (e.g., lab website, project/outreach website)
More details about the KT deliverables:
Prof. Fukuda is looking for a student who is interested in updating the lab website so that the research reaches to the targeted audience in an efficient and engaging manner.
Course pre-requisites:
N/A
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
N/A
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/melissa-holmes
Lab website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/holmes-lab/
Number of students accepted: 1
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- Website (e.g., lab website, project/outreach website)
- Infographics (e.g., for a pamphlet, poster, digital platform)
- No preference (students can choose the type of deliverables to produce).
More details about the KT deliverables:
Please contact Prof. Holmes if you have any questions.
Course pre-requisites:
N/A
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
Creativity, familiarity with or willingness to learn required software/platforms
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/elizabeth-johnson
Lab website: https://www.classlab.psycholinguistics.ca
Number of students accepted: 2
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Infographics (e.g., for a pamphlet, poster, digital platform)
- Videos (e.g., demo, interviews)
- Live/Interactive demo or lesson
- Outreach activity (e.g., to deliver at local schools, community center, museum)
More details about the KT deliverables:
Please contact Prof. Johnson if you have questions.
Course pre-requisites:
N/A
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
N/A
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/erika-carlson
Lab website: http://skiplab.org/
Number of students accepted: 1
Types of KT deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Website (e.g., lab website, project/outreach website)
- Videos (e.g., demo, interviews)
More details about the KT deliverables:
Prof. Carlson is interested in revamping the lab website with more research summaries that are accessible, 2) creating short videos summarizing research findings in fun ways, and 3) using social media to communicate findings.
Course pre-requisites:
N/A
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
N/A
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/emily-impett
Lab website: http://emilyimpett.com/
Number of students accepted: 2
Types of KT deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Infographics (e.g., for a pamphlet, poster, digital platform)
- Videos (e.g., demo, interviews)
- Audio recording (e.g., podcast, interviews)
More details about the KT deliverables:
Prof. Impett is looking for students who can create infographics for her lab's publications (see www.emilyimpett.com) and possibly a blog for the lab.
Course pre-requisites:
N/A
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
Ideally students will have taken PSY327 (Psychology of Intimate Relationships) but it is NOT required.
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/samuel-ronfard
Lab website: https://www.utmchildlab.com
Number of Students: 2
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Videos (e.g., demo, interviews)
More details about the KT deliverables:
Please contact Prof. Ronfard if you have questions.
Course pre-requisites:
N/A
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
Video editing, Social media experience, Design (but not required)
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/ruth-speidel
Lab website: http://www.tinamalti.com
Number of students accepted: 1
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- No preference (students can choose the type of deliverables to produce).
More details about the KT deliverables:
Prof. Speidel is looking for students who are interested in supporting knowledge translation of our research on social-emotional development and community-based social-emotional training initiatives. This could include developing infographics, animated videos, or other resources for children, parents/caregivers, and educators.
Course pre-requisites:
No formal prerequisites, but PSY210 is a plus.
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
N/A
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/christina-vanden-bosch-der-nederlanden
Lab website: https://www.utmlamalab.com
Number of students accepted: 1
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Infographics (e.g., for a pamphlet, poster, digital platform)
- Videos (e.g., demo, interviews)
- Website (e.g., lab website, project/outreach website)
More details about the KT deliverables:
Prof. der Nederlanden is looking for a student who can help with our social media and outreach for recruiting families to participate in the lab.
Course pre-requisites:
Developmental Psychology (though not a requirement)
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
video editing, social media skills
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/doug-vanderlaan
Lab website: https://sites.utm.utoronto.ca/biglab/content/home
Number of students accepted: 1
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- No preference (students can choose the type of deliverables to produce).
More details about the KT deliverables:
Please contact Prof. VanderLaan if you have questions.
Course pre-requisites:
Background in developmental psychology, social/cultural psychology, and/or neuroscience
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
Open to students interested to use or develop skills suited to the project goals
Faculty website: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/benjamin-wolfe
Lab website: https://applylab.org
Number of students accepted: 1
Types of Knowledge Translation (KT) Deliverables interested:
- Written pieces (e.g., social media campaign, newsletters/blog posts summarizing the outcomes of research projects)
- Infographics (e.g., for a pamphlet, poster, digital platform)
- Videos (e.g., demo, interviews)
- Live/Interactive demo or lesson
More details about the KT deliverables:
Professor Wolfe is interested in KT deliverables for general science communication, infographics, media, and demos.
Course pre-requisites:
PSY270 or PSY280 at a minimum; PSY385 or PSY389 optional
Preferred (but not required) qualifications and skills:
N/A
Application Procedures
Students formally apply by submitting an application ONLINE.
Review of applications begins April 9, 2024. Applications will be considered until openings in the course are filled. Enrollment requires acceptance into the course by a faculty supervisor.
Carefully check to ensure that you have the pre-requisites described above. Under some circumstances, and only with special permission, a student who has an outstanding academic record but who has not completed all of the prerequisites may be permitted to complete the prerequisites concurrently with the Knowledge Translation course.
For more information, please contact Prof. Keisuke Fukuda at keisuke.fukuda@utoronto.ca.