Creating a flexible and immersive virtual reality system for psychology research

Creating immersive virtual reality (VR) systems and environments, as well as flexible software development toolkits, for research. This flexible system will be used to further the research objectives of various faculty members in Psychology looking to study cognition using virtual reality systems.

Wellbeing & Cognitive Processes and the Animal - Human Bond (Phase 3)

This project is designed to facilitate the design and communication of research on how pet animals influence psychological wellbeing and cognitive processes (e.g., social perceptions/relationship dynamics, memory, judgements). Project team members will be responsible for designing/deploying research tools to achieve project deliverables, statistical analysis, and engage in knowledge mobilization activities.

Wellbeing & Cognitive Processes and the Animal - Human Bond (Phase 2)

This project is designed to facilitate the design and communication of research on how pet animals influence psychological wellbeing and cognitive processes (e.g., social perceptions/relationship dynamics, memory, judgements). Project team members will be responsible for designing/deploying research tools to achieve project deliverables, statistical analysis, and engage in knowledge mobilization activities.

Wellbeing & Cognitive Processes and the Animal - Human Bond (Phase 1)

This project is designed to facilitate the design and communication of research on how pet animals influence psychological wellbeing and cognitive processes (e.g., social perceptions/relationship dynamics, memory, judgements). Project team members will be responsible for designing/deploying research tools to achieve project deliverables, statistical analysis, and engage in knowledge mobilization activities.

Assessing Methods to Reduce Student Stress

This project is designed to assess the efficacy of various activities that are promoted to reduce stress in a University-level population (e.g., mindful colouring, puzzling, animal visitation programs, etc.). Activity participants will complete up to 2-hours of assessment using psychological (e.g., self-report) and physiological (e.g., blood pressure monitoring, respiration rate, etc.) measures for stress, both pre- and post-task. Due to the time consuming and complex nature of the assessments, a team student research technicians are required. By the end of the project, student research technicians will have completed a large number of assessments on participants under a variety of conditions, and completed data organization and storage tasks.

Narcissism and links to Animal Care, Behaviour, and Ownership - PHASE 2

Sub-clinical levels of narcissism varies widely between individuals. To date, there has been very little research investigating how sub-clinical narcissistic personal traits relate to the care and ownership of animals. Furthermore, little is also known about how narcissistic personality traits in animal owners or caregivers influence the animal's behaviour. This project is designed to extend work conducted in PHASE 1 of this project by developing and deploying at least one follow-up study on the subject matter.

Narcissism and links to Animal Care, Behaviour, and Ownership - PHASE 3

Sub-clinical levels of narcissism vary widely between individuals. To date, there has been very little research investigating how sub-clinical narcissistic personal traits relate to the care and ownership of animals. Furthermore, little is also known about how narcissistic personality traits in animal owners or caregivers influence the animal's behaviour. This project is designed to extend work conducted in PHASE 2 of this project by assisting with data organization, cleaning, and analysis. It will also involve knowledge mobilization activities related to the project deployed in PHASE 2. Lastly, this project will have the additional goal of developing a project coordination, deployment, and knowledge mobilization plan for in-progress and planned research in the employer’s lab for 2023-2024.

Narcissism and links to Animal Care, Behaviour, and Ownership - PHASE 1

Sub-clinical levels of narcissism varies widely between individuals. To date, there has been very little research investigating how sub-clinical narcissistic personal traits relate to the care and ownership of animals. Furthermore, little is also known about how narcissistic personality traits in animal owners or caregivers influence the animal's behaviour. This project is designed to begin investigating these important questions.

Impact of Animals in Dating Profiles on Successful Matches (stimuli creation)

Create professional-grade photographs of models to be used as stimuli in various experimental tasks related to dating decision making behaviour in my lab. This task will involve planning, taking, and editing a photo portfolio of around 120 images. Stimuli creation will be require animal (specifically, dog) and human model photography.

Project Coordinator - Animal ownership and Empathy - Phase 1

The project coordinator will train, direct, and assist a small team of research assistants on data analysis, interpretation, and knowledge mobilization activities (e.g., preparing reports) related to the research topic. This position will be supervised by Dr. Eric Legge, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University.

Research Assistant - How Animal Interactions Impact Mental Health - Phase 2

Phase 2 of this project will involve a) writing a final report of the project's findings that will be intended for publication, b) planning a follow-up project based on the results of the current project and c) identifying appropriate sources of funding for continuing this line of inquiry. This project will be conducted under the guidance of Dr. Eric Legge, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University.

Research Assistant - Can Animal-based Stimuli Reduce Stress? - Phase 3

The research assistant will support the development of projects related to the use of animal-related stimuli (e.g., pictures of animals) for stress reduction. This project will involve three phases in total. This application is for Phase 3. Phase 3 will involve a) finalization of at least one knowledge mobilization activity (i.e., submitting a report of the findings for publication), b) the initial development of a follow-up project based on the results of data analysis conducted in Phase 2 and c) identifying appropriate sources of funding for continuing this line of inquiry. This project will be conducted under the guidance of Dr. Eric Legge, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University.

Research Assistant - Can Animal-based Stimuli Reduce Stress? - Phase 2

The research assistant will support the development of projects related to the use of animal-related stimuli (e.g., pictures of animals) for stress reduction. This project will involve three phases in total. This application is for Phase 2. Phase 2 will involve the completing the analysis of collected project data and liaising with statistical consultants on the best methods to employ. Furthermore, the successful applicant will be expected to begin work on knowledge mobilization activities such as writing a rough draft of the findings for publication in a scientific journal. This project will be conducted under the guidance of Dr. Eric Legge, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University.

Research Assistant - Can Animal-based Stimuli Reduce Stress? - Phase 1

The research assistant will support the development of projects related to the use of animal-related stimuli (e.g., pictures of animals) for stress reduction. This project will involve three phases in total. This application is for Phase 1. Phase 1 will involve the development of an online study using the survey platform Qualtrics. Additionally, it will involve the recruitment of participants and collection, management, organization, cleaning, and initial analysis of data. This project will be conducted under the guidance of Dr. Eric Legge, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University.

Research Assistant - How Animal Interactions and Behaviour Impact Mental Health

The research assistant will support data analysis and interpretation, as well as knowledge mobilization activities (e.g., preparing publications) under the guidance of Dr. Eric Legge, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University.