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Mission
Mission
The mission of the CHEER Lab is to provide OU undergraduate students with research skills training and opportunities to engage in real-world health research and service through faculty-led research projects. We aim to bring forth a framework of knowledge and curiosity that prepares students to impact community health and serve as leaders in a variety of health and wellness practices.
0-Credit Courses
0-Credit Courses
The CHEER lab involves two 0-credit courses. Students start with IPE 1020 - Research Skills Training. After completion of this course, students may enroll in IPE 3020 - Research Skills Applications.
IPE 1020 - Research Skills Training
IPE 1020 - Research Skills Training
Learning Modules and Activities
Learning Modules and Activities
Upon joining the CHEER Lab, students complete five online learning modules to educate them on a variety of research skills. Students also complete application activities throughout the semester to practice using their research skills.
Click the sections below to see what our students have been working on.
Module 1: Research Ethics and Conduct
Topics Covered:
Research Ethics
IRB’s
Human subjects research
Informed consent
Responsible research conduct
Authorship
Conflicts of interest
Data management
Collaboration and professionalism
Example Activity:
Students completed two certifications from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program (https://about.citiprogram.org/).
Module 2: Evidence and Literature
Topics Covered:
Scholarly articles
Research questions
Hypotheses and variables
Finding and using evidence
Literature reviews
Inclusive communication
Social Determinants of Health
Cultural Humility
Example Activity:
Students critically analyzed two literature reviews.
Module 3: Data Collection Methods
Topics Covered:
Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods
Research designs
Operationalizing variables
Sampling and recruitment
Quantitative surveys
Qualitative interviews and focus groups
Secondary data
Clinical data
Example Activity:
Students administered surveys and conducted interviews via Zoom.
Module 4: Data Analysis Methods
Topics Covered:
Quantitative data:
Coding surveys
Cleaning and entering survey data
Descriptive statistics
Inferential statistics
Qualitative data:
Downloading and cleaning transcripts
Methods of coding
Example Activity:
Students cleaned and entered survey data in Excel and cleaned interview transcripts in Word.
Module 5: Sharing and Applying Findings
Topics Covered:
Dissemination
Infographics, blogs, and social media
Publication
Posters
Turning Research into Action
Community change
Clinical practice
Example Activity:
One cohort of students created infographics to share research findings. Another cohort of students created research article briefs to be featured in the OU RecWell Employee Newsletter.
Research Skills Meetings
Research Skills Meetings
Students expand upon research skills through group activities and discussion in weekly meetings.
Journal Clubs
Journal Clubs
Students read peer-reviewed journal articles authored by faculty members in the School of Health Sciences and engage in thoughtful group discussion.
Here are some of the publications we have read:
Cheezum, R. R., Rosso, M. T., Niewolak, N., & Cobb, T. (2018). Using PhotoVoice to understand health determinants of formerly homeless individuals living in permanent housing in Detroit. Qualitative Health Research, 29(7), 1043–1055. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732318816670
Gunen, B., Reznar, M. M., Yan, S., Poirier, L., Katragadda, N., Ali, S. H., Sundermeir, S. M., & Gittelsohn, J. (2022). Fresh Shelves, Healthy Pantries: A Pilot Intervention Trial in Baltimore City Food Pantries. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(23), 15740. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315740
Lynch, A. I., McGowan, E., & Zalesin, K. C. (2018). “Take me through the history of your weight”: Using qualitative interviews to create personalized weight trajectories to understand the development of obesity in patients preparing for bariatric surgery. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 118(9), 1644–1654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2017.12.008
Rohn, E. J., Tate, D. G., Forchheimer, M., & DiPonio, L. (2018). Contextualizing the lived experience of quality of life for persons with Spinal Cord Injury: A mixed-methods application of the response shift model. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 42(4), 469–477. https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.2018.1517471
Stevenson, L. D., Reznar, M. M., Onye, E., & Bendali Amor, L. (2020). Perceptions of food access in the Cayo District of Belize. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 16(6), 796–808. https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2020.1789020
IPE 3020 - Research Skills Applications
IPE 3020 - Research Skills Applications
Students receive hands-on experience in health research. After completing the research skills training, students have the opportunity to work on faculty-led projects as a valued member of a research team.
Click here to learn about what faculty-led projects our students have been involved with.
Check-In Meetings
Check-In Meetings
Students will regularly meet with the CHEER Lab Director and Graduate Research Assistant to discuss the projects they are working on.
Journal Clubs
Journal Clubs
Students read peer-reviewed journal articles authored by faculty members in the School of Health Sciences and engage in thoughtful group discussion.
The CHEER Lab Team
The CHEER Lab Team
Dr. Emily Van Wasshenova, assistant professor of interdisciplinary health sciences, is the faculty director of the CHEER Lab. In this role, she facilitates the training of undergraduate students in basic research skills and coordinates with expert faculty across the School of Health Sciences to offer an array of multidisciplinary research opportunities.
Teaching Interests: Health Behavior, Human Nutrition and Health, Healthy Lifestyles
Personal Interests: Running, gardening, cooking, reading, traveling, camping, hiking
Nour Tellow is a Master of Public Health Candidate and the CHEER Lab Graduate Research Assistant. She coordinates the development of the CHEER Lab online learning modules, policies and procedures, Moodle, and marketing materials. She also assists in the training of undergraduate researchers and coordinates with expert faculty across the School of Health Sciences.
Career Interests: Research Coordination, Maternal and Child Health, Substance Use Disorder
Personal Interests: Reading, embroidery, cooking, thrifting, and spending time with her cat and two dogs
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