UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1138

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Richard K. Wagner
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: Dr., Prof.
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): rkwagner@psy.fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Psychology
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/20286/DSC_7297RW.jpg

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): Dorota Kossowska-Kuhn
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: Dr.
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): kuhn@psy.fsu.edu
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Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: ***Meta-Analysis of Studies of Dyslexia and Specific Reading Comprehension Difficulty
Project Keywords: Dyslexia, Comprehension Difficulty
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 6
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Open to all majors

Project Location:: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: {Empty}
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: Partially Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 7 to 10
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description:
If you read about an important scientific breakthrough that makes the news, chances are it resulted either from a meta-analysis of the literature or from a very large-scale study.  The reason is that the results of individual small-scale studies may not replicate or generalize.  Meta-analysis is the quantitative combination of a set of studies on a topic.  It is used in almost every area of science and medicine.  Our research project involves carrying out several meta-analyses on topics related to dyslexia and to specific reading comprehension difficulty.  Dyslexia refers to difficulty reading words fluently.  Specific reading comprehension difficulty refers to difficulty understanding what is read despite being able to read the words.  Our research project is part of FSU’s NIH Multidisciplinary Learning Disabilities Research Center.  It is one of only two Centers funded by NIH to study learning disabilities in the country.  You will have the opportunity to learn the basics of how meta-analysis is done, including getting hands-on experience by participating as a research assistant on one or more meta-analyses.  Depending on your interest and involvement, there may be an opportunity to be a co-author on a manuscript submitted for publication.  Optionally, you may participate in meetings and other activities carried out as part of the NIH Center.      

Research Tasks:
Literature review by searching databases to identify possible studies for inclusion.  Using a provided codebook, applying inclusionary and exclusionary criteria to determine whether a study should be included in the meta-analysis.  Extracting data from included studies.  If you have interest and some relevant background, an opportunity to participate in data analysis will be provided.   

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Required skills include the ability to work carefully and follow written instructions.

Mentoring Philosophy:
My mentoring philosophy has four parts.  The first is that the best way to learn about something is to get involved in research on it.  The second is that I value your time and am invested in you getting the most out of the experience.  This means going beyond providing merely an opportunity to participate in the research project by making it possible for you to learn a method for doing science (meta-analysis) that could make you more a more valuable student for admission to a graduate or professional training program you might end up applying to.  The third is that I treat this as an apprenticeship that may help you determine whether this kind of research is something you might want to do more of in the future or not.  This requires giving you the opportunity to understand the larger context of the research we are doing.  The fourth and final part is that I appreciate the mentoring and opportunities faculty provided to my daughters, both of whom got their undergraduate degrees from FSU.  I can help pay this back by providing that for other students.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: www.thewagnerlab.com
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
The project work you will be doing is hybrid.  We will meet weekly on zoom or in person every couple of weeks.  Training will be  provided by me and my research assistant.  Any specific software, books, or other materials required to complete the project will be provided.  The best way to communicate is through email.  When I email you, please respond within 24 hours and I will do the same.


Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
Wednesday, September 3, 3:00 to 3:30, https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94184999775
Wednesday, September 3, 4:00 to 4:30, https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94184999775
Wednesday, September 3, 4:30 to 5:00, https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94184999775

Roundtable Info:
- Day: Wednesday, September 3
  Start Time: 3:00
  End Time: 3:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94184999775
- Day: Wednesday, September 3
  Start Time: 4:00
  End Time: 4:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94184999775
- Day: Wednesday, September 3
  Start Time: 4:30
  End Time: 5:00
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/94184999775

UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes

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Year: 2025
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