Siuta WHSPR Lab

Project Description:

Students interested in understanding workplace experiences related to harassment and stigmatized identities, as well as how individuals resist mistreatment, will find a range of opportunities in the WHSPR Lab. For Spring 2026, the lab is offering hands-on involvement in three major qualitative research projects. The first project focuses on how graduate students enacted resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are in the data analysis phase of this project and PREP students would assist in qualitative coding of the data. The second project examines what it is like to be excluded from information channels where peers discuss sexual harassment. This project is in the data collection phase and PREP students would assist with transcription of interviews, and early qualitative coding procedures in collaboration with the research team. The third project uses qualitative methods to understand how South Asian women navigate ethnic racial identity expression in the workplace. This project is currently in the design and planning phase.

What Would You Learn?

Students joining the lab through PREP will gain hands-on experience with qualitative research methods, including transcription, data organization, coding, and conducting literature reviews. They will work closely with graduate student lab managers, gaining insight into the research process and engaging in thoughtful discussions about workplace social dynamics (such as harassment disclosure, stigma, and informal communication networks) and how these issues affect employee well-being. Alongside developing core research and collaboration skills, students will also receive guidance on navigating graduate school applications and preparing for academic or applied career paths.

Commitment:

This lab requires a 4 hour per week time commitment. One hour is reserved for a mandatory weekly lab meeting and the remaining three hours are to be used working on lab assignments.