Ready Through Research

Student-led research for student-led change.

Ready Through Research (RTR) is a supplementary curriculum that positions high school psychology students as competent researchers in their school community through project-based learning and mentorship.

Programming

High school psychology students participate in a series of class-based workshops throughout their psychology course. Workshop activities encourage students to practice quantitative and qualitative research methods and explore research topics of interest. Research mentors are local graduate and undergrdaute students (NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, Illinois State) who are recruited to highlight the diversity of field both in demographic backgrounds (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability status) and areas of expertise (qualitative and quantitative methods). Mentors facilitate workshops and advise RTR projects in which RTR students design, conduct, analyze and present an original research project. These research projects focus on better understanding or improving student experiences or school conditions. Students present their work at their school's RTR Research Expo in which mentors, parents, and school stakeholders (i.e., students, faculty, administrators, district personnel) are invited to attend.

For programming details, see our Facilitator's Guide.

Research mentors Angelina Joy (NC State, centered) and Maria Maza (UNC-CH, back left) advising students as they explore potential research topics and designs.

RTR students presenting their projects at their school's Research Expo (a conference-style poster session). All students, teachers, administartors, mentors, parents, and other school stakeholders are invited to attend.

Our Team

Relevant Works

Presentations:

Cerda-Smith, J., Koch, A., Winter, K., & Mulvey, K.L. (2026, April). Programming Strategies that Support Adolescent Researchers. [Poster Session]. Society for Research on Adolescence 2026 Biennial Meeting, Toronto, Canada.

King, O., Washington, T., Beaune-Lala, S., Smith, M., & Cerda-Smith, J. (2026, April). Ready Through Research (RTR). [Poster]. University Research Symposium, Illinois State University, Normal, IL.

Cerda-Smith, J., Winter, K. & Koch, A. (2025, January). Research Design Challenge. [Invited Teaching Demonstration]. 2025 Intro Psychology Coast-to-Coast, online.

Cerda-Smith, J., Winter, K. & Koch, A. (2024, June). Research Design Challenge. [Teaching Expo Presentation]. 2024 Psychology One Conference, Durham, NC.

Cerda-Smith, J. & Winter, K. (2023, June). How to get students “Ready Through Research”. [Teaching Expo Presentation]. 2023 Psychology One Conference, Durham, NC.

Publications:

Cerda-Smith, J., Winter, K., Koch, A., & Mulvey, K.L. (2025). Getting Advanced Placement Psychology students “Ready Through Research”. Teaching of Psychology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00986283251335984

Winter, K., Koch, A., & Cerda-Smith, J. (2025). Research Design Challenge. In H. Scherschel & D. S. Rudmann (Eds.) Teaching tips: A compendium of conference presentations on teaching, 2023-24. (pp. 59-62). Society for the Teaching of Psychology. http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/teachingtips9

Winter, K. & Cerda-Smith, J. (2023). How to get students “Ready Through Research”. In H. Scherschel & D. S. Rudmann (Eds.) Teaching tips: A compendium of conference presentations on teaching, 2022-23. (pp. 60-64). Society for the Teaching of Psychology. https://teachpsych.org/ebooks/teachingtips8

Funding Sources

We extend our sincere appreciation to the following organizations for their funding support:

Esther Katz Rosen Pre College Psychology Grant Program (American Psychological Foundation, 2025-2026)

Psychology Emeritus Fund for Graduate Student Research (Dept of Psychology at NC State University, 2023)

Suniti-Anand Gupta Endowment Award (Dept of Psychology at NC State University, 2023)

Joan J. Michael Scholarship Endowment Award (Dept of Psychology at NC State University, 2023)

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