UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1246

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Rachel Flemming
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: she/her
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Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): raflemming@fsu.edu
Position Title: Graduate Student
Faculty Advisor Name: Michael Leeser
Faculty Advisor's FSU Email: mleeser@fsu.edu
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Modern Languages and Linguistics
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Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: The Effect of Input, Output, and Proficiency on L2 Spanish Clitic Acquisition
Project Keywords: second language acquisition, language teaching, psycholinguistics
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Open to All

Spanish
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Linguistics
Psychology
Education
Statistics
Communication Science & Disorders
International Affairs

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?: 2-10
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: During business hours
Overall Research Project Description:
This project explores the effect of second language instruction methods on language acquisition outcomes. In particular, it compares the effects of input-based instruction (listening/reading) and output-based instruction (speaking/writing) on the acquisition of a particular grammar form in Spanish (direct object pronouns). Critically, the effectiveness of these methods will be assessed using four different tasks designed to get at changes in the mental representation of this grammatical form in the learner's cognitive system. A secondary research question is whether the learner's proficiency level at the time of treatment affects the outcomes of these instructional interventions. This project will help to inform second language instructional methods so that classroom-based learning can become more effective. This is a dissertation research project.

Research Tasks:
- Materials development (final stages, piloting programs, checking for errors, etc.)
- Participant recruitment and scheduling
- Data collection in lab, including collecting consent forms, running subject treatment programs (language learning modules), data collection (automated programs or simple assessments, depending on abilities)
- Data cleaning and statistical analysis 
- Updating literature review (post 2023)
- Proofreading publication drafts

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Communication (required)
Interpersonal skills (required)
General computer literacy (required)
Proofreading (required)
Spanish (recommended, but not necessary for most tasks)
Excel (recommended)
Data analysis (recommended)

Mentoring Philosophy:
The overarching objective of my mentorship philosophy is to foster curiosity and personal investment by inviting my mentees into my area of expertise and by sharing the knowledge and skills I have obtained. Where my experience and knowledge are limited, I encourage mentees to learn with me, helping them to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. I recognize that not all mentees will share my enthusiasm for linguistics, but I believe the skills mentees can gain from this type of work will be applicable to a broad range of research-intensive fields.

To help students develop these skills, I help to identify their own research goals and to tailor their tasks to build competence and confidence in these areas. My role involves engaging them in critical thinking, prompting them to question assumptions and analyze research relevant to their field and beyond. I also want to help them learn how to plan out and implement large projects. I emphasize the importance of mastering goal-setting, communication, effective writing, editing, and basic statistical analysis. These skills are crucial across disciplines and can significantly enhance a mentee’s versatility and career prospects.

I enjoy sharing insights from my research experience and encouraging questions about the research process. My hope is that mentees perceive us as collaborators and feel assured of my investment in their research journey. By integrating communication, openness, and curiosity into my mentorship, I aim to empower mentees to develop their potential and find fulfillment in their professional pursuits.

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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
Thursday, September 4th from 1:00pm-1:30pm (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/91678926802)
Thursday, September 4th from 3:00pm-3:30pm (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93716669553)

Roundtable Info:
- Day: Thursday, September 4
  Start Time: 1:00
  End Time: 1:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/91678926802
- Day: Friday, September 5
  Start Time: 3:00
  End Time: 3:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93716669553

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

Are you interested in attending in a UROP Research Mentor Workshop Series?: Yes
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Year: 2025
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=9FuBi470geItQoH8tIsrxBZDo_RPCwFhOoxygXGg-mU