UROP Project

Live, Laugh, Love: A Grounded Theory of Teacher Humor & Persistence using TikTok

TikTok, qualitative, education, teachers, humor, social science
Register_Leah_headshot.jpg
Research Mentor: Ms. Leah Register, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Educational Policy & Leadership Studies , Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: lkr21b@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: Max 10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
  • Day: Wednesday, September 3
    Start Time: 4:00
    End Time: 4:30
    Zoom Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZDVlYjkzNzAtYjhkMi00MmJjLThiNGItMTA2NDFjYWMzM2Zm%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22a36450eb-db06-42a7-8d1b-026719f701e3%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22327624c1-4071-4384-96f5-63fcd5ca5aa2%22%7d
  • Day: Friday, September 5
    Start Time: 12:30
    End Time: 1:00
    Zoom Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZjdiZTUwNWQtNGE1NC00NTQwLTgxMDItNGUwNTJjYjE5NTBl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22a36450eb-db06-42a7-8d1b-026719f701e3%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22327624c1-4071-4384-96f5-63fcd5ca5aa2%22%7d

Project Description

Around 8% of teachers leave the profession annually, which was further exacerbated by the pandemic. This qualitative study aims to understand why some teachers leave the profession while others stay by analyzing TikTok videos from current and former teachers. This study examines teachers’ experiences, focusing on their working conditions and how they use humor to cope with challenges, to develop a theory about how humor can help teachers remain in the profession.

Research Tasks: Literature review of teacher labor markets and teacher humor
Completing CITI training & reviewing IRB
Data collection via TikTok
Data transcription and cleaning (with the use of technology)
Data analysis using a codebook
Journaling to reflect on the research process/positionality

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Curiosity
Tech savviness- TikTok, Teams, NVivo
Data management

Mentoring Philosophy

As a mentor, I strive to build a relationship that is both effective and meaningful—grounded in mutual vulnerability, flexibility, and accountability. Vulnerability, while frequently framed as a weakness, is actually a researcher's greatest strength. I aim to (as a great teacher once said) take chances, make mistakes, and get messy myself, but also to create a relationship with students where they feel comfortable and supported enough to do the same. Central to this is my commitment to celebrating students’ diverse backgrounds and ways of thinking. For these reasons, I also value flexibility. Flexibility allows us to meet each other where we are, recognizing that growth is rarely linear and that each individual's path requires a responsive and adaptive approach. I also value accountability—not as a checklist or formality, but as a mutual commitment to show up, follow through, and be honest with each other. It’s how trust is built, and it reminds us that we’re both invested in the process and in each other’s growth.

Additional Information

Direct interaction with the TikTok platform must be done off campus or disconnected from WiFi

Link to Publications


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