Rachel Kwon
URAP
Please provide a brief summary of your research.
This year, I spent my time working as a research assistant at the Shirley Ryan Affective and Emotion Rehabilitation Lab. Throughout the duration of my URAP program, I engaged in qualitative research with an ongoing project in the lab that focused on developing an EMA (ecological momentary analysis) to act as a better measure of depression for PWAs (People with Aphasia). Under the mentorship of my PI and lab manager, I used the qualitative data analysis software–Dedoose– to qualitatively code transcripts that were created from focus groups of PWAs and their care partners. In addition, I learned how to conduct thematic analysis by finding deeper connections between the established codes to develop intricate themes in relation to the research question. I plan on using these skills that I have developed in my next, independent project over the summer that will focus on the mental health challenges associated with aphasia for PWAs and their care partners.
What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
The fact that this project focused on highlighting the voices of PWAs–an underrepresented (yet one of the most important) groups– that were affected by post-stroke depression contributes to why it is personally important to me. Over the summer of 2022, I conducted a literature review on racial trauma in adolescents, and I discovered it was often overlooked by clinical psychologists because it was an uncomfortable matter and also because racial trauma is difficult to “measure” using traditional data collection methods. Thus, this study stood out to me because of its goal to develop an “aphasia-friendly” EMA. I strongly believe that it is highly important to innovate new ways of data collection that can call attention to once-unrepresented groups in the medical field.
What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
Research has always been something that I have always wanted to pursue. It gives the researcher the ability to directly learn more about a topic that they are interested in. I love how in research, the researcher is given a sense of creativity as they are in charge of designing their own project. Each decision that a researcher makes about their methodology is purposeful, and there are so many different ways to examine the same set of data by using an array of different research methods. I find the ability to hand-craft a project that revolves around issues that are really important to the researcher a characteristic that is unique to research.
Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
When I first started the URAP program; I was incredibly nervous. I was worried that I would not be able to meet the expectations of others that had already been working in the lab. In the beginning, I felt intimidated and unsure whether I could actually “do research”. However, I quickly learned that the people who you work with in the lab are very supportive and do not expect you to know everything. I have learned how to reach out when I have questions, and I learned that in the research environment questions are always encouraged.
Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
A tip that I would have is to find something that genuinely interests you. In order to engage in meaningful research, you have to connect to the data you are working with. This involves spending long periods of time engaging with the data, so you should choose projects that you actually want to learn more about. Also, always reach out and try for any opportunity to engage in research no matter how underqualified you feel you are. Passion and a strong work ethic always beats out “strong qualifications”.