UROP Project

Morphological Analysis Pathway to Reading

schoolage, language, vocabulary, intervention, literacy, Spanish, sign language, computer-delivered

Research Mentor: Dr. Carla Wood, She/Her
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Communication Science and Disorders, Communication and Information
Contact Email: carla.wood@cci.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Michelle Torres-Chavarro She/Her
Faculty Collaborators Email: mc13r@fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: Although most of the tasks can be completed in the lab or remotely, we will also be administering assessments in local 3rd-5th grade classrooms.
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5 hours, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

The MAP-R (Morphological Awareness Program for Reading) grant project is seeking a Research Assistant to support its efforts to improve language and literacy outcomes for children and youth with or at-risk for disabilities, including hearing loss. Funded through the Stepping Up Technology initiative, this position contributes to the development, deployment, and evaluation of a computer-delivered supplemental vocabulary intervention program with multilingual and multimodal support.
The Research Assistant will work closely with the project team to carry out data collection and management, analyze data, monitor fidelity of implementation, assist with school recruitment and communication, and gather satisfaction ratings from users. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a translational research initiative aiming to close persistent academic language gaps among Multilingual Learners (MLs) with or at risk for disabilities.


Research Tasks: collect data- administer classroom-based assessments in local schools
manage data- score completed assessments, enter participant data
track participants' completion rates
analyze children's writing samples
survey parents and teachers about implementation
recruit new school partnership sites
analyze written responses of students
Develop applied research skills by participating in the full research cycle—including data collection, data management, fidelity monitoring, and preliminary analysis—within a federally funded educational intervention study.
Gain experience in school-based research implementation by assisting with participant recruitment, school coordination, and ongoing communication with educators and administrators in diverse educational settings.
Enhance understanding of language and literacy development for children and youth with or at risk for disabilities, including Multilingual Learners, by supporting the delivery and evaluation of a technology-based vocabulary intervention.
Build competence in research communication and dissemination

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended: Strong communication skills
Recommended: Interest in language development and/or disorders
Recommended: Interest in school age English Language Arts/ supplemental instruction