Dr. Katharine Strunk, an assistant professor in the Rossier School of Education, is hiring 5 undergraduate researchers to assist with a study entitled "The Impact of Teachers' Unions on Student Achievement in California."
The study will explore the important and under-researched relationships between teachers' unions and student performance in California. Results from this study will be helpful to national, state and district policymakers as well as to teachers' unions as they work together to efficiently utilize scarce resources and improve student outcomes.
The undergraduate research assistants will learn a great deal about education policy as it relates to collective bargaining agreements and teachers' unions in California. In addition, the research assistants will become familiar with qualitative content analysis research strategies. The RAs will have the following research responsibilities:
- Receive training in content analysis techniques necessary for the project
- Analyze the content and code California teachers' union collective bargaining agreements
- Meet with the research team at regular intervals to report on progress and share learnings
- Work together with the research team to provide an overview report of the frequency of individual contract regulations in California school districts
The ideal candidate must be detail-oriented and have an analytic approach to research. The RAs must be at least somewhat familiar with Excel. In addition, the ideal candidate will have some basic statistics background (introductory level) and familiarity with at least one statistical software (Excel, SPSS, Stata). This familiarity with statistics is preferred, but not required. The position is open to work study applicants as well as to students who are not on work study.
One undergraduate researcher position will be filled through the Undergraduate Research Associates Program (URAP). This RA will work approximately 10 hours per week for the fall 2010 semester (September through December), and will be paid $1500 for the semester. Four undergraduate researcher positions will be filled for students who will work 15-20 hours/week during the fall 2010 semester. These students will be paid $10/hour. For interested students, there will also be the opportunity to continue on the project during the spring semester.
To apply for the position or request further information, please contact Professor Strunk at kstrunk@usc.edu
Prof. Michelle Riconscente, an assistant professor in the USC Rossier School of Education, is seeking an undergraduate research assistant (RA) to work 10 hours/week on a flexible schedule for the fall semester. The research assistant will contribute to ongoing studies of how to foster academic motivation urban minority high school students. The RA will assist with literature reviews, data analysis, and research study design. Specific RA tasks will be determined collaboratively, based on project needs and RA interests and strengths. Experience with basic statistics and/or knowledge of the academic motivation literature (educational psychology) preferred. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, a self-starter, and interested in learning more about research in student motivation. Compensation is $1500 for the semester.
To apply for this position or request further information, please contact Prof. Riconscente at riconsce@usc.edu.
