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Category: MAP Academy

Researchers address early childhood needs of Nebraska’s immigrant, refugee families

The research team includes, front row from left: Sanya Tuncan-Minden, UNMC graduate research assistant; Kerry Miller, associate director of Munroe-Meyer’s Department of Education and Child Development and UNMC’s principal investigator; Laura Fritz, UNMC graduate research assistant; and Alexis Chavez, MAP Academy graduate research assistant. Back row, from left: Janella Kang, MAP Academy graduate research assistant; Amanda Prokasky, MAP Academy senior research specialist; Lorey Wheeler, MAP Academy director; and Charlie Lewis, project director at the Center on Children, Families and the Law. Learn more about this project in the CYFS Research Network.

Early screening and support are vital for healthy child development, especially for immigrant and refugee families navigating unfamiliar systems in the U.S.

A recent multi-campus study found that many immigrant and refugee families in Nebraska struggle to access services to address developmental delays or disabilities in children, particularly those age 3 and younger. Barriers include language differences, limited awareness of available services and discomfort with the health care system due to past discrimination or negative experiences. Full Article

Researchers examine parents’ role in aiding children with autism

HyeonJin Yoon, CYFS research assistant professor, is leading the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s role in a cross-campus study exploring how parents’ mental health affects how they communicate with their autistic children. Learn more about this project in the CYFS Research Network.

For families raising a child with autism spectrum disorder, everyday moments of connection can be difficult. The disorder affects about 1 in 36 children in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and often hinders social communication skills essential for personal, professional and academic growth. Full Article

Study explores factors influencing youth sports participation

Researchers are studying factors that influence participation in youth sports, including where children and adolescents live.

For years, research has shown that active children — including those who participate in youth sports — tend to be healthier than those who are less active.

Ann Rogers, assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion in the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, is leading a project to understand what influences youth sports participation, including where children and adolescents live. Full Article

National data reveal breastfeeding barriers for new moms at work

From left, Kailey Snyder, assistant professor in the School of Health & Kinesiology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, answers a question at the Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition’s quarterly meeting last November, along with Nebraska Extension’s Audra Losey. (Courtesy photo)

For new mothers, returning to work often means deciding whether to continue breastfeeding. But systemic barriers often make it difficult to do so.

To explore the relationship between breastfeeding and returning to work, Kailey Snyder, assistant professor in the School of Health & Kinesiology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, partnered with the Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics (MAP Academy) to examine a decade’s worth of national lactation data. Full Article

Data integrity, security, best practices outlined in methodology presentation

As remote technology-based research becomes more widespread, real threats to data integrity increase.

In recent years, remote technology-based research has rapidly increased in popularity and offers several advantages.

However, this approach also carries the risk of disingenuous responses, posing a real threat to data integrity.

Alexandra Terrill, associate professor, Departments of Occupational & Recreational Therapies and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Utah, led an April 4 MAP Academy methodology presentation that outlined real-world examples of scammers across a range of study design types. Full Article

Video available for MAP Academy presentation featuring HyeonJin Yoon

HyeonJin Yoon, MAP Academy research assistant professor, discusses best practices for accessing and using publicly available datasets for research during her March 28 Methodology Applications Series presentation at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall.

HyeonJin Yoon, MAP Academy research assistant professor, led the third and final presentation of the 2024-25 Methodology Applications Series March 28 at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall.

Video is now available of Yoon’s presentation, titled, “Navigating Research Data Repositories to Support Secondary Analyses.” Full Article

MAP Academy selects two faculty to receive Catalyst awards

The Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics (MAP Academy) is awarding $10,000 through a competitive funding opportunity created to enhance the rigor of field-based human subjects research at the University of Nebraska.

These awards were made possible by a grant from the Nebraska Research Initiative. Full Article

Online data collection, creating effective survey questions highlighted at NAECR Knowledge event

Secure, effective online data collection is a crucial part of early childhood research.

Secure and effective online data collection is crucial to early childhood research. Its importance was emphasized during the Fall NAECR Knowledge event Dec. 10.

Amanda Prokasky, senior research specialist at the Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics, led the virtual presentation, which featured information and tips on creating and implementing effective survey questions for study participants. Full Article