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Category: MAP Academy

Study explores effects of intergenerational family dynamics on child well-being

Weiman Xu, MAP Academy graduate research assistant, is exploring the association between intergenerational coparenting and child social-emotional development. Lean more about this project in the CYFS Research Network.

Family dynamics among caregivers tend to be complicated. They can become even more complex when grandparents take on coparenting roles.

Weiman Xu, graduate research assistant at the Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics (MAP Academy) and a doctoral student in the Global Family Health and Well-being program within the Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, is exploring the association between intergenerational coparenting and children’s social-emotional development. Full Article

Video available for MAP Academy presentation featuring Lorey Wheeler

Lorey Wheeler, MAP Academy director, discusses research data infrastructure and effective data management during her Methodology Applications Series presentation Oct. 4 at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall.

Lorey Wheeler, MAP Academy director, led the first presentation of the 2024-25 Methodology Applications Series Oct. 4 at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall.

Video is now available of Wheeler’s presentation, “Developing a Strong Research Data Infrastructure.” Full Article

Research reveals ‘the good life’ better for some Nebraska families than others

Keeping up with the needs of Nebraska families is crucial for promoting health among current and future generations — and to ensure the state’s economic success.

Living in Nebraska is often referred to as “the good life” by many of the state’s nearly 2 million residents. But according to a recent review of family needs across the state, that “good life” is more accessible to some than others.

An examination of local, state and national databases by University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers underscores the need to strengthen support for families as a key step toward achieving the state’s economic goals. Their analysis found Nebraska families becoming more diverse and complex, due largely to changes in the demographic makeup of the state’s population in recent decades. Full Article

MAP Academy’s 2024-25 Methodology Applications Series begins Oct. 4

The MAP Academy’s 2024-25 Methodology Application Series: Supporting and Leveraging Robust Research Data Systems kicks off Oct. 4 with a presentation by Lorey Wheeler, MAP Academy director.

The presentation, titled “Developing a Strong Research Data Infrastructure,” will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall, Room 312. Full Article

MAP Academy opens call for 2024-25 ‘Catalyst’ proposals

Applied Analytics & Data Infrastructure Catalyst Call for Proposals

A new funding opportunity is available to support faculty engaged in field-based human subjects research.

The MAP Academy invites interdisciplinary faculty across all campuses to submit proposals for the Applied Analytics and Data Infrastructure (AADI) Catalyst Program — an initiative to support the rigor of high-quality, field-based human research at the University of Nebraska. The program launched last fiscal year and is made possible through a grant from the Nebraska Research Initiative. Full Article

Project examines public perceptions on poverty’s causes, solutions

Jamy Rentschler, MAP Academy postdoctoral fellow, is researching people’s changing perception of poverty and government assistance to the poor.

Public opinion toward poverty in the United States — and financial assistance from the government — is divided.

According to research, many Americans support federal spending on assistance to the poor, but not federal spending on welfare.

To better understand this disparity, a pilot project led by Jamy Rentschler, MAP Academy postdoctoral fellow, and Brandi Woodell, UNL graduate and current Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University, are exploring how people determine a person’s deservingness of receiving financial assistance, and the types of assistance they view as acceptable. Full Article

Cross-campus collaboration helps sharpen focus on teacher shortages, job satisfaction

Aprille Phillips, associate professor of educational administration at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, is exploring teacher job satisfaction and retention in rural Nebraska in a project funded by the Nebraska Department of Education. (Photo courtesy of Ana Salazar, UNK videographer and multimedia specialist).

Last fall, more than 900 teacher positions in Nebraska were either vacant or filled by underqualified personnel, according to the Nebraska Department of Education.

With so many vacancies, school districts are forced to compete for candidates from a relatively small pool — something that can have long-term negative effects on rural Nebraska communities. Full Article

MAP Academy helps researchers see big picture of rural adolescent nutrition insecurity

Extension educator Natalie Sehi is leading a team of researchers focused on adolescent nutrition insecurity.

Making sure rural youth have enough to eat is important for both their health and education. Attending school with an empty stomach affects a student’s ability to focus and learn, making proper nutrition essential for academic success.

Nebraska Extension educators Beth Nacke and Natalie Sehi are leading research focused on adolescent nutrition insecurity. They recently worked with the MAP Academy to create a database to analyze the nutritional and economic impact of Nebraska Extension’s statewide Monthly Meal Kit program. Full Article