Research Specialist (1/23 to Present), Research Consultant (11/22 to 1/23), & Postdoctoral Associate/Survey Researcher (6/2018 to 7/2020)
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication – Yale University
- Conducting empirical research to advance theory and practice of climate change communication, and the factors influencing public opinion, policy preferences, and behavior.
- Assisting with survey research, experimental design, study implementation, and data analysis (e.g., analyzing nationally representative data on Americans’ climate change opinions).
- Managed a survey project in collaboration with the Earth Day Network that assesses Americans’ awareness of how food behaviors impact the climate, and motives and barriers to eating climate-friendly foods.
- Managed the public release of nationally representative data on Americans’ opinions (2008-2017); wrote a magazine article describing key data trends; and helped develop an interactive data visualization tool.
- Managed the development of a relational database and new reporting system of studies.
- Skills utilizing: Research methods (survey, experimental design); nationally representative data analysis; statistics (e.g., multiple regression); literature review; data presentation; report writing; project management.
Instructional Assistant Professor (8/2020 to 6/2022)
Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences – Chapman University
- Appointed full-time (4:4) to teach courses (~25 students) on Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences, Environmental Psychology, and Mental Health Program Evaluation as part of a 2-year contract.
- Designed 2 new university courses (Environmental Psychology & Mental Health Program Evaluation) and tailored the curriculum to the university’s goals of providing personalized education in an inclusive classroom.
- Gained experience teaching both fully online and hybrid courses using Zoom, Drive, and other technologies.
- Mentored students in their academic and professional development, including serving as an internship advisor, supervisor for teaching assistants/class mentors, and supervisor for class research projects.
- Assisted with departmental needs, including serving as a member of the student advising committee, serving on thesis committees, and supporting the department with student matriculation and course enrollment.
- Assisted with university services, such as speaking on panel events, serving on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee, and developing materials for the Safe Space LGBTQIA+ allyship training for employees.
- Attended professional development workshops on remote/hybrid teaching, active learning in the diverse classroom, and supporting the mental health and well-being of students.
Adjunct Professor (1/2020 to 6/2020)
Research Methods in Psychology – Saddleback College
- Taught Research Methods in Psychology consisting of a 60-minute lecture and 60-minute lab to ~40 students from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds at a community college.
- Mentored students on their class research projects including writing a literature review, formulating hypotheses, choosing methods, analyzing data, and writing up results and implications.
- Topics covered: Scientific process; ethics; validity and reliability; survey research; experimental research; qualitative research; quasi-experimental research; descriptive and inferential statistics; generalization
Research Consultant (12/2019 to 5/2020)
- Assisted with a Department of Defense-funded research project examining the experiences of LGB military personnel including health/well-being, performance and combat readiness, social support, and social challenges.
Adjunct Professor (8/2019 to 12/2019)
Quantitative Research Methods in Psychology – University of La Verne
- Appointed to teach one semester of Quantitative Research Methods to Clinical Psy.D. students, which consisted of a 75-minute lecture and 60-minute section dedicated to article discussion and in-class activities/assignments.
- Supervised and mentored students with their research projects, literature reviews, and dissertations.
- Topics: Clinical vs. actuarial methods; correlational and experimental research; validity and reliability; diagnostic assessment; quasi-experimental research; descriptive and inferential statistics; ethics
Project Investigator, Interviewer, Research Associate (9/2012 to 5/2018)
Institute for Research on Social Issues – Claremont Graduate University
- Assisted with a Department of Defense-funded research project examining the experiences of LGB military personnel including health/well-being, performance and combat readiness, social support, and social challenges. Tasks included writing literature reviews, developing survey and interview materials, interviewing service members, and maintaining the website.
- Conducted a quasi-experimental study assessing the impact of natural history museum visits on children’s connectedness to nature.
- Conducted interviews for a project exploring the link between trauma experiences and volunteerism, as well as interviews for a study on the lives and experiences of sexual minority immigrants.
- Experimentally studied the positive effects of nature experiences on people’s emotions, connectedness to nature and other people, and prosocial tendencies.
- Skills developed: Experimental design; quasi-experimental design; mixed methods; interviewing; survey design; statistics
Research Associate (6/2016 to 5/2018)
Social Cognition and Interaction (SCI) Lab – Pomona College
- Designed survey instruments and assisted students with research methods.
- Analyzed nationally representative data on American’s climate change beliefs.
- Conducted survey validation studies on a measure of beliefs toward diversity (as opposed to similarity and homogeneity) and its importance for effective group problem-solving.
- Mentored students’ on their research projects and methodology.
- Skills developed: Experimental design; survey design; statistics; literature reviews; data presentation; nationally representative data analysis
Intern (10/2015 to 4/2016; 10/2017 to 4/2018)
EMI Consulting – Riverside, CA
- EMI Consulting is a consulting firm that evaluates and conducts research on utilities and energy efficiency programs.
- Assisted with the development of an enhanced metric system and reporting process for a large utility company.
- Conducted statistical analyses in R for a process evaluation of Consumers Energy’s small business energy efficiency program; also assisted with the development of presentation materials and report writing.
- Assisted with a research project examining the energy storage market in NY State as well as an impact evaluation of NY-BEST: a consortium designed to facilitate R&D in energy storage technologies and collaborations between energy storage partners in the industry.
- Developed training materials on interviewing and conducting qualitative research.
- Provided insight on key concepts in research methods and statistics for internal training materials.
- Skills developed: Process evaluation; impact evaluation; database management; R programming; statistics; content analysis; qualitative research; evaluation report writing; research methods
Teaching Assistant
Scripps College – Claremont, CA (9/2016 to 5/2017)
Pomona College – Claremont, CA (9/2016 to 12/2017)
- Assisting with Social Psychology Lab by mentoring Pomona College students and helping with the development of course materials and grading assignments.
- Assisted Scripps College honors students with their senior thesis projects.
- Skills developed: Curriculum design; experimental design; quasi-experimental design; survey design; statistics
Adjunct Instructor (1/2017 to 6/2017)
California State University, Los Angeles – Los Angeles, CA
- Appointed to teach Research Methods in Psychology (approximately 30 students) and direct lab to give them experience with developing and conducting a research study. Course content also included statistics and using SPSS.
- Skills developed: Pedagogy; curriculum design; methodological theory; statistics; survey design
Statistician (5/2015 to 1/2016)
Loyola Marymount University – Los Angeles, CA
- Appointed as the statistics consultant for the evaluation of a program designed to promote services/resources use among relative caregivers.
- Conducted analyses (e.g., multiple regression, MANCOVA, factor analysis) for their pretest-posttest waitlist control group study.
- Skills developed: Statistics; quasi-experimental design
Evaluation Associate, Statistician (9/2014 to 8/2015)
The DBT Center – Sierra Madre, CA
- Collaborated with a team of students to evaluate programming at The DBT Center: a private practice mental health center specializing in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
- Skills developed: Impact evaluation; logic modeling; capacity building; statistics; survey design
Conference Organizer Assistant (6/2015)
Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization – Pomona College
- Assisted conference organizers in logistics and content of the conference track aimed at bridging positive psychology with conservation psychology and identifying key research directions integrating the fields.
- Skills developed: Conference organizing
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Claremont Graduate University – Claremont, CA
- Quantitative Content Analysis (1/2015 to 3/2015)
- Attitudes & Social Influence (9/2014 to 12/2014)
- Research Methods (9/2013 to 12/2013)
- Skills developed: Methodological theory; content analysis; social psychology theory; curriculum design
Electronic Health Record Trainer (4/2012 to 8/2012)
Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center – Dearborn, MI
- Instructed eight-hour training sessions for medical professionals on how to use electronic health records being implemented at their hospitals.
- Skills developed: Curriculum design; pedagogy
Evaluation Assistant, AmeriCorps Member (9/2010 to 8/2011)
AmeriCorps Service at The Guidance Center – Southgate, MI
- Assisted with the evaluation of programs to provide results for the agency, county, and state.
- Wrote evaluation summaries and extensive reports using program impact data and comparative needs assessment data across communities.
- Volunteered approximately 200 hours of service and helped organize service projects at over 30 non-profits/organizations in Detroit, Michigan.
- Skills developed: Impact evaluation; needs assessment; database management
Research Assistant (9/2007 to 4/2009)
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
- Involved in a project on stereotype threat testing the extent to which a cognitive nature-based intervention buffers the negative effects of stereotype threat on women’s math performance.
- Assisted with a project on sexual violence in the campus party culture by identifying relevant cultural patterns and differences in students’ sexual assault experiences across different racial/ethnic backgrounds.
- Assisted in qualitative research on the coming-out experiences of LGBT-identified individuals in rural versus urban America.
- Skills developed: Experimental design; content analysis; transcription
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
Executive Board Member – Queer Graduate Union (9/2013 to 5/2016)
Claremont Graduate University – Claremont, CA
- Coordinated social events and presentations directed at raising awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.
- Promoted a sense of community among sexual minority graduate students.
- Skills developed: Event organization; community building
Community Building Coordinator, Workshop Peer Facilitator (9/2008 to 4/2009)
InterGroup Relations (IGR): Common Ground – University of Michigan
- Promoted sensitivity and awareness of multicultural/social justice issues on campus by facilitating workshops on intergroup relations.
- Offered safe spaces for multiply stigmatized individuals to discuss social issues, such as privilege and oppression.
- Skills developed: Event organization; community building; small-group facilitation
Peer Advisor – U of M Psychology Department (1/2009 to 4/2009)
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
- Advised students on research opportunities, graduate school programs, personal and academic conflicts, and concentration requirements.
- Constructed and maintained a database of undergraduate research opportunities for students.
- Skills developed: Database management; advising
Class Facilitator – Project Outreach: Health, Illness, & Society (1/2008 to 4/2009)
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
- Facilitated a one-hour discussion per week on psychological and social issues related to health disparities and stigmatized populations.
- Skills developed: Curriculum design; small-group facilitation
Matthew Ballew 