Monday, August 20, 2012

The Flourishing Families Project

As the majority of people know, I was a research assistant for a research study this summer through BYU. The study was called The Flourishing Families Project and was SERIOUSLY the best job I have ever had. There is a really good article that goes into pretty intensive detail about the project if anyone is interested click {here}. (I would recommend it!)
I'll just fill you in a little. It is a study that has been going on for 6 years. We have 500 families in Seattle, WA and 200 here in Provo, UT that we have been tracking. This summer I was personally responsible for 45 of the Seattle families. I had to contact them, get them to want to continue in the study this summer, pester them throughout the summer to get them to remember to take their 45 minute survey online and then do all the office work that went along with that. I had 36 of the Provo families that I was responsible for in a team of 3. We had to get these families to take the surveys plus we would go into their home, hook the kids up to electrodes that monitor their physiological changes in their body (kinda like an EKG), run through a few different tasks with them while videotaping them and then do that office work too. It was seriously an opportunity of a lifetime because it is so rare that undergraduates get this type of hands on research experience. 
A lot of people have asked me what they have found from the study. There are 8 professors on the study and all write research articles based on their specific focus. If anyone reading this is interested just let me know and I could refer you to some really interesting articles! They go anywhere from dad's helping their kid's learn persistence to violent video games leading to aggression.  
I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I have had this summer. It has meant so much to me and taught me A LOT. I have made amazing connections as well as some of the best, hard working friends I'll ever know. It has better prepared me for graduate school as well as has solidified my desire to further my education. I would recommend EVERYONE to get an experience like this. Find a professor and ask if you can do research with them. A lot are looking for students to help and the time you spend working with them will be well valued, I promise! 
I could really discuss this for days because I have loved this project so much this summer. They are looking for new research assistants for next summer (or will be later in the fall) so anyone interested let me know and I'll tell you how to get in contact with the field director. 
Anyway, here is some documentation of our team this summer :) 
Love them. 

This is us in our office on our last team meeting day. We work in the JFSB which is BY FAR the sweetest building on campus :) 

We wanted to have some team bonding time so we went up to City Creek in Salt Lake. It was so much fun!

Our absolutely delicious cheesecake at the cheesecake factory. Have to admit... it was my first time ever eating there and was amazing of course. I LOVED it!




This is Chantel, she was on my little Provo team. I loved working with her so much and am so sad (yet proud of her) she graduated this summer and is going on a mission. Definitely a friend I will always remember!

 Official :) 

Loved them. Loved this summer. Loved the project. Love families that flourish. 

1 comment:

  1. Such a cute post Kaylee! I love it! Go Flourishing Families!

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