Our work in youth mentoring and applied developmental science is focused on integrating research ideas and constructs from several disciplines. Here are a few of the broad areas and ideas that guide our research.
Task-Shifting
Task-shifting refers to the reallocation of a specific job, often from a highly trained professional to a less skilled worker. In the context of youth mental health, task-shifting allows for an increase in the number of qualified providers that deliver a specific service (ex: a single-session intervention for disruptive behavior) to youths who otherwise might not receive treatment. In our mentoring work we study the characteristics of effective task-shifting, such as which tasks are best transferred to whom, and how these transfers can be best supported through training and supervision.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a goal oriented approach to having conversations about behavior change that is characterized by acceptance, compassion, and empathy, and is designed to help others resolve ambivalence towards change. Originally developed by Dr. William Miller, and subsequently studied by hundreds of other researchers, Dr. McQuillin and the YESS lab contribute to this research by understanding how MI helps adolescents successfully navigate school systems.
Autonomy
The YESS Lab takes interest in understanding how mentoring relationships can be used to promote healthy autonomous decision making for young people. In addition to working on understanding all the benefits associated with autonomy-- including increased life satisfaction-- the lab is currently working to develop a framework for navigating autonomy development in the context of mentoring relationships.
Just-in-Time Trainings (JITTs)
Our lab examines the role of brief, specific training modules, designed to be helpful and accessible to a range of providers. As such, these JITTs can be accessed “on demand” and often immediately precede the delivery of a specific service. For example, a mentor may watch a JITT on how to conduct a goal-setting activity just prior to meeting with their mentee. Ongoing projects in the YESS Lab include developing just-in-time trainings for mentors, as well as studying optimal avenues of dissemination.
Organizational Consultation
Dr. McQuillin and YESS lab members partner with large youth- and family-serving organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate quality improvement systems using the Empowerment Evaluation framework. This work includes the development of data monitoring systems, the adoption and deployment of learning management systems, training development and evaluation, and shepherding organizational change.
Cultural Developmental Psychology
We view child development as individual, interpersonal, social, and cultural process. Our lab is interested in understanding childhood experiences in learning across different cultures and contexts. In particular, we are interested in exploring programs, practices, and pedagogies that support adult helpers in developing skills in cultural humility, social justice, and critical self-reflection when working with children from racially/ethnically minoritized backgrounds..
Role of Technology and Online Interventions
Our research has focused on the implementation of online technology in delivering interventions to historically underserved populations and paraprofessional mentors. Our lab has developed, evaluated, and implemented several online interventions utilizing social media and technology-based applications focused on increasing children’s’ online social capital, self-efficacy, empowerment, as well as disseminating evidence-based practices and supporting paraprofessional mentors.
Community Psychology
Informed by principles of community psychology, our research aims to emphasize bi-directional reciprocal learning that recognizes, elevates, and authentically honors the voices of our collaborators (i.e., children, families, mentors, social workers, teachers, mental health care providers, etc.) throughout the research/evaluation process. Our lab has developed several methods for soliciting stakeholder feedback by creating participatory data analysis activities in order to ease comprehension with the analysis, and break down power dynamics surrounding knowledge construction.
Youth Participatory Action Research and Evaluation
Our research encompasses Youth Participatory Action Research/Evaluation (YPAR/E), a youth-centered variation of Community-Based Participatory Research, in which children identify problems or issues within their communities and conduct research to address root causes throughout various stages of the action research cycle. Children engage in the action research cycle within the context and shared values of reciprocal and collaborative relationships, in which children and adult helpers learn from one another and partner to enact social change. Projects have focused on racial and educational equity, public health, and after school programming.