• Black Couples Research Project running Summer/Fall/and Spring
  • Dr. Shalonda Kelly
  • Email: skelly@gsapp.rutgers.edu
  • Phone: 1.8484453922

The purpose of this study is to understand how African Americans view and cope with racial factors such as oppression and racial stereotypes within their couple relationships. African American couples have been recruited from the community to complete questionnaires and participate in videotaped discussions regarding the role of racial issues in their lives, both as individuals and as a couple.

Students are needed for at least several of the following: to recruit participants and collect human subject data, code videotaped interactions, compile, enter and clean data, compile refworks and manuscript data bases, library research, and other research activities. Students are taught how to manage confidential participant information, and must have HSCP certification before joining the project. Students will receive training in empirical research methods, including data transformation and analysis via SPSS, or qualitative analyses using Atlas.ti, data and office management, and professional behavior. Students will also learn information about Black couples, and information about racial issues/perceptions relevant to research and practice. Such skills are invaluable to those who would like to go on to graduate school develop careers in research, and/or specialize in research or clinical work with African Americans.

For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who will send you a list of materials needed to start the project (Human Subjects Certification, resume with GPA, basic information about yourself). You will be asked to provide this information to Dr. Kelly or her graduate students by the first day of registration for the term in which you would like to participate in the project.