Advancing equity through developmental research.
This past summer, UBC Psychology honours student Victoria Li received the American Psychological Association’s Summer Undergraduate Psychology Experience in Research (SUPER) Fellowship.
The SUPER Fellowship program provides promising undergraduate researchers with a paid opportunity to create a summer research project from proposal to completion. The program offers research training and mentorship to students who may not have had the opportunity to lead psychology research.
Working with Dr. Andrew Baron in the UBC Social Cognitive Development Lab, Victoria is exploring how and when children develop attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals. Victoria’s work contributes to a deeper understanding of how early attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals develop—and how research can inform more inclusive and supportive environments for all children.
In this Q&A, Victoria shares her research journey and how this fellowship has shaped her future goals.
What does receiving this fellowship mean to you personally
Receiving the APA SUPER Fellowship has affirmed the value of the research and the hard work it has taken to reach this point. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the growth of our research over the last two years, from initial conceptualization to the launch of the study’s final phase in the coming weeks. Not only did the fellowship financially support my work over the summer, but it also connected me with like-minded undergraduates and scholars across Canada and the United States, reinforcing my passion for equity-based research and expanding my perspective on its application within psychology.
“Not only did the fellowship financially support my work over the summer, but it also connected me with like-minded undergraduates and scholars across Canada and the United States, reinforcing my passion for equity-based research and expanding my perspective on its application within psychology.”
Can you tell us about the research you’re working on through this fellowship?
For this fellowship, I have been working with Dr. Andrew S. Baron and Cameron Hall at the Social Cognitive Development Lab to trace the developmental origins of sexuality bias across childhood (from 5 to 12 years old). Our research seeks to examine when attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals develop in childhood and environmental factors that may intensify or reduce biased attitudes, such as parental bias, interpersonal contact with LGBTQ+ individuals, and school environments.
What compelled you to study this?
I was drawn to this topic after learning of the lack of research examining sexuality bias in childhood, despite the pervasiveness of this bias. Although sexuality bias has been studied extensively in adults (Herek & McLemore, 2013; Ipsos, 2021), we know little about when and how children develop biased attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals. Evidence of biased attitudes towards and hostile environments for LGBTQ+ individuals can be seen in early childhood, with children as young as eight years old reporting homophobic slurs and bullying in schools. Moreover, data demonstrates that 62% of Canadian high school LGBTQ+ students feel unsafe at school, compared to 11% of cisgender children (Peter et al., 2021). Given these statistics, my goal through this research is to help inform educators, researchers, and caregivers to create programs and interventions seeking to reduce discrimination and the associated mental health impacts for LGBTQ+ youth.
How did this experience shape your goals or interests in psychology moving forward?
Many aspects of the APA SUPER Fellowship helped me navigate my goals and interests in psychology. Throughout this program, I have connected with other undergraduate fellows across diverse fields of psychology in Canada and the United States, broadening my understanding of how equity-based research is conducted across psychology. I am eager to further explore how LGBTQ+ and gender equity can be integrated into other areas of research. Building on what I have learned through this experience, I want to continue expanding my skill set to drive more inclusive and impactful research through my future endeavours.
“I am eager to further explore how LGBTQ+ and gender equity can be integrated into other areas of research. Building on what I have learned through this experience, I want to continue expanding my skill set to drive more inclusive and impactful research through my future endeavours.”
