UROP Project

Meta-Analysis of Studies of Dyslexia and Specific Reading Comprehension Difficulty

Dyslexia, Comprehension Difficulty

Research Mentor: Richard K. Wagner, Dr., Prof.
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: rkwagner@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dorota Kossowska-Kuhn Dr.
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: kuhn@psy.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7 to 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: 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

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.