Faculty Research

The Henley lab can assist faculty by providing research assistance. Our student researchers have been trained in the use of SPSS, EXCEL and GIS. They have all completed methods training and can assist with projects involving experiments, focus groups, content analysis and survey research, as well as other techniques. Additionally, we can help you find student collaborators. Currently, students and faculty in History, Political Science, Sociology and Communication Studies are working on projects together. Some of these collaborations have led to students and faculty co-authoring papers.

Online Survey Research

The lab also has a zoomerang account and we can work with you to conduct online surveys and experiments. We can also assist you in obtaining local, national and even international samples for your study.

In addition, if you require students in your courses to complete projects using quantitative methods, they can get help in the lab five days a week. Please, contact the Director, Dr. Ann Gordon, to discuss your specific needs.

Secondary Data Analysis

The Henley lab collects and maintains an archive of social science data. In addition, we are Chapman University’s gateway to the Inter-University Consortium for Social and Political Research, or ICPSR at the University of Michigan. [link to Henley Data page]

Interdisciplinary Faculty Work Groups

The HSSRL encourages and supports interdisciplinary research through the creation of faculty work groups. Current groups include:

Health Care Policy and Communication in the 2008 Election

This group brings together researchers from three universities and two disciplines.

Crisis Communication

Researchers in this group represent two disciplines and have already published some preliminary results on the California Wildfires in the Wilkinson Review.

Debate Watch and Uvote 2008

Researchers in two disciplines at Chapman joined the prestigious Uvote 2008 study.

Uvote2008 is a non-partisan group of students and professors from more than 28 college and university campuses working to engage young citizens in political and civic life. It is a nonprofit organization and do not support or endorse any political party or candidate.

 

The main focus is to make young voters aware of how important it is to exercise their rights. We study political communication patterns of university-age voters in order to develop programs and messages that enhance the interest and participation of this group.

Uvote2008 has more than 50 members working together to:

1. •gather and analyze data on campaign messages (television spots, debates, Web sites, newscasts, newspapers, talk shows and alternative media formats)
   

2. •measure responses to these messages through experiments, surveys, and focus groups
   

3. •organize and sponsor activities on our own campuses to encourage greater participation among young voters
   

4. •publicize the outcomes of our project through conventional scholarly outlets (conference programs, journal articles, books) and through promotion of our work on the Internet and through media outlets.
   

Political Communication and Advertising Study

The Henley lab is currently collecting data for this project. We are working with two other university labs and the data will be available to Henley lab users when it is complete.

If you would like to join an existing faculty research group, create a group or obtain research assistance, please contact: Dr. Ann Gordon (agordon@chapman.edu)