Noel J
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of North Texas
Expertise
psychology, education, counseling, mental health, radical acceleration, intelligence, giftedness, mental illness, therapy, mental health treatment, counseling
Bio
I'm lucky to say I have a pretty diverse background in research-- both methodology and topics of focus! From content analysis to hierarchical linear modeling to heuristic inquiry, I really enjoy any research that seeks to understand people just a bit better. That's incredibly broad, and as a result I've done research in fields like film, advertising, technology, and literature all while technically staying within my field of psychology. That's part of why I love psychology so much: it's the study of everything! Education research is the closest to my own studies, and I think it's so important to assess best practices for learning and investigate how effective our current learning methods are. High school students are in the perfect position to research the effectiveness of programs they themselves are a part of, and I think researching one's own school and its methods is a fabulous form of self-advocacy.Project ideas
Examining the effects of digital studying tools on high school exam grades
Flashcards and quizzes offered by test prep websites are increasingly popular with students, but do they offer an advantage over teacher-sanctioned study guides, or are they just another way to reap ad revenue from users? With a control and test sample of high school students, we can determine the value of online study tools and websites compared to traditional textbook review.
Use of AI for counseling and emotional support in teens
While most media and research attention seems to be on the use of AI in the workplace or education, many daily users of AI chatbots are seeking emotional support and even mental health counseling from these platforms. How are teens, arguably an even more vulnerable group who may have less access to traditional therapy, using AI for social and emotional fulfillment? What are the benefits and risks of this in the short and long term? Using interviews with AI users, AI experts, and mental health professionals, we can learn more about the lived experiences and relevant perspectives on this complex issue.