The LEGACY Project Research Assistant- Dr. HarrisonAt — CSUF - College of Humanities & Social Science

The LEGACY Project (Linking Education, Guidance, and Adaptation Across Cultures in Young Adulthood) is a four-year, mixed-method longitudinal research study examining how youths’ academic experiences, family beliefs, and broader social contexts shape postsecondary transition decisions. Grounded in Situated Expectancy-Value Theory (Eccles & Wigfield, 2020), the project investigates how academic expectations, perceived value of higher education, and family-level educational messaging develop during high school and influence whether students pursue two-year colleges, four-year universities, vocational training, or entry into the workforce.

Using quantitative survey methods and qualitative family focus groups, the study examines changes in youths’ academic expectations and values as they transition from high school into postsecondary life, as well as how parents communicate educational beliefs, expectations, and perceived barriers to higher education. The project also explores how these processes vary as a function of gender, ethnic identity, critical consciousness, and socioeconomic stress. Findings from the LEGACY Project aim to inform earlier, family-centered approaches to college preparation and outreach, with implications for improving enrollment, retention, and equity in higher education.

Interns on the LEGACY Project contribute to multiple stages of the research process, including literature review, human subjects preparation, survey development, data collection, data management, and dissemination of findings.

Learning Outcomes  

By the end of the internship, the student will be able to:

Apply foundational theories from developmental and educational psychology to the design and interpretation of social-behavioral research.

Demonstrate an understanding of ethical research practices by completing human subjects training and contributing to IRB materials.

Conduct literature searches and synthesize scholarly research relevant to study constructs and measurement.

Participate in data collection, entry, and management using established research protocols.

Communicate research processes and findings through collaborative documentation, presentations, and written products.

Training  

To help the student achieve the proposed learning outcomes, I will:

Provide weekly in-person meetings that combine mini-lectures, guided discussion, and structured working sessions focused on research skills and theory.

Mentor students through completion of CITI human subjects training and scaffold their contributions to IRB applications and study materials.

Model and support literature review practices, including database searching, use of Zotero, and collaborative annotation.

Offer hands-on training in survey design, recruitment strategies, and ethical fieldwork procedures.

Facilitate ongoing feedback through collaborative note-taking, team check-ins, and iterative revision of research products.

Tasks/Duties  

The intern will demonstrate the learning outcomes by:

Attending weekly in-person research meetings and contributing to shared agendas and collaborative note-taking.

Completing required CITI human subjects training modules with passing scores.

Assisting with the preparation of IRB materials, including consent and assent forms.

Conducting literature searches and contributing to a shared literature review document and Zotero library.

Supporting survey development, including identifying relevant measures and piloting instruments once approved.

Designing recruitment materials (e.g., flyers using Canva) and participating in in-person data collection efforts.

Entering and managing survey data following established protocols.

Contributing to grant applications, research posters, and presentations, including preparation for UROC Research Week.

Collaborating within smaller research sub-teams to meet project milestones.

Internship Term  

• Fall
• Spring