ARTS Courses

The goal of this research project is to contribute to current research on and understanding of immigrant and Canadian employee experiences. While progress has been done in understanding the antecedents and outcomes of WFC and WFB in general population, the understanding of these experiences among immigrants remains limited, with most work on immigrant experiences conducted in the United States. Moreover, no studies have compared experiences of Canadians to those of Immigrants. Immigrants are faced with unique challenges of adjusting to a new culture, learning to function in an unfamiliar environment, finding employment, building social network, and many other. It is important to understand whether work-family conflict provides an additional source and concern to immigrant population. In addition, understanding the degree of facilitation of participation in both domains and its relationship to adjustment and life outcomes in immigrant and Canadian working population can also inform practical implications for individuals, organizations, and policy makers. The currently proposed study aims to test the link between WFF and WFC and adjustment to a host culture (i.e., Canada), as well as other important outcomes (e.g., life and work satisfaction, marriage outcomes, stress). Further, the experience of WFC and WFF and the relationships of those with outcomes will be compared for Canadian and immigrant population. The results of this study might provide important implications for programs aimed at helping newcomers to adjust to a new culture, as well as implications for organizational leaders to improve work-life intersection experience in employees in general. This will be a quantitative correlational study with data collected via online survey. Participants will be recruited via social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Reddit, Linkedin). Participants will voluntarily self-select into the study by voluntarily clicking on a survey link provided in the recruitment message. Survey link will be hosted on Qualtrics.Another goal of this project is to provide a learning opportunity for a KPU student. As part of this project, the student will gain experience in REB application preparation, proposal writing, survey preparation, and data collection.

Contact Email: Dr. Liudmila Jdanova

This study aims to analyze international solidarity initiatives by civil society organizations in the 1970s in Canada regarding the collaboration between a major Canadian corporation and Brazil's military dictatorship of 1964-1985. The company was then called Brazilian Traction Light and Power; it changed its name to Brascan in 1969 and again to Brookfield in 2005. This project is a continuation of an ongoing broader study of the relationship between the company and the dictatorship. This new stage of the study will focus on the work of the Latin American Working Group, based in Toronto, and the Comité Solidarité Brésil, from Montreal, in raising awareness about the complicity between then Brascan and Brazil's dictatorship. In addition to consulting the archival documents of these organizations, we will interview their activists to expand knowledge of the main practices of which the company was accused. The student registered in this research course will help the research team plan the interviews by analyzing archival documents and relevant literature. The student will also contribute to the analysis of the interviews by transcribing them and relating their content to other sources. By engaging in such activities, the student will gain hands-on experience in conducting a research project, particularly one that involves preparing and analyzing qualitative interviews.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

Being a third-year or higher level KPU student from Sociology, History, Political Science or another relevant program; Ability to follow directions with minimal supervision; Demonstrated strong attention to detail and quality deliverables; Ability to use MS Office tools, including databases for tracking or qualitative and/or quantitative studies; Good interpersonal, organization, research and written skills; A professional and positive attitude; Ability to read documents in Portuguese and/or French will be considered an asset. The selected student will also have to complete the Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 Course on Research Ethics (TCPS2: CORE-2022 - https://tcps2core.ca/welcome).

Contact Email: Fabricio.Telo@kpu.ca

This Project addresses fundamental issues at the forefront of contemporary education. It investigates current perspectives on decolonization and explores how the curricular design of post-secondary degree programs may be affected by them. In the Fall 2021 semester, the student research assistant will collaborate with the instructor to assess, organize, and collate findings from previously completed research, survey digital and print literature, and develop strategies for innovative curricular design. In future semesters, students may have the opportunity to contribute to published articlesthat documents the team's findings and participate in conference presentations. This project has student learning outcomes appropriate to meet a 3 Credit Course. 

Minimum Qualifications Required: 

Current participation in a post-secondary, undergraduate degree program; an interest in decolonization, social justice, or the de-centralization of historical European and American perspectives on curricular design, the ability to review and summarize digital and print materials; the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English through speaking and writing; the ability to work collaboratively within a team and under supervision of a faculty mentor. 

Contact Email: daniel.tones@kpu.ca

I am working on two articles that both explore the issue of masculinity and normative gender roles in the post-World War Two era. One article focuses on questioning how radial Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road truly was, especially in its portrayal of gender roles. I argue that by eliminating Dean's bisexuality from initial draft of the novel, Kerouac made Dean more traditionally heterosexual, ans thus more acceptable to mainstream audiences. I will compare this novel to Ginsberg's poem Howl and Baldwin's novel Giovanni's Room, which were criticized for their more open portrayal of homosexuality and questioning of traditional gender norms. The second article focuses on exploring four Hollywood films that present the male artist as a kept man, thus violating traditional gender normas by giving the woman the financial power in the relationship: Humouresque (1946), Sunset Boulevard (1950), An American in Paris (1951), and  Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). The student will explore theses texts, and also do background research on gender roles in the time period, as well as find scholarly articles and books on these texts. This will be a 3 credit course. 

Minimum Qualifications Required: 

A strong interest in literature and folm and in the topic of gender roles, especially masculinities, and experience researching and writing about literature. 

Contact Email: joakim.nilsson@kpu.ca

This 3 credit course centers on the analysis of qualitative interview data that was gathered in 2018, 2019 and 2020 through open-ended, semi-structured interviews with social and natural scientists who are volunteering to write Assessment Reports for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It is expected that students will code data using NVivo qualitative data analysis software according to a coding scheme developed with the faculty mentor. Students will also be asked to write an annotated bibliography relevant to the ethnographic study of climate change and global environmental assessments.

The first part of the term will consist of gaining familiarity with NVivo and writing the annotated bibliography. The second part of the term will focus on data analysis. As course outcomes, students will learn how to conduct qualitative data analysis, and gain an understanding of climate change as a social and political problem.

Minimum Qualifications Required:
The ability to adhere to the highest ethical standards of Academic Integrity and preserve the confidentiality of data is of paramount importance. The ability to think critically, ask questions, and communicate clearly is essential. Preference will be given to students who can demonstrate familiarity with qualitative research methods, qualitative data analysis, the sociology of scientific knowledge or science and technology studies, and the role, purpose and history of the IPCC. Instruction will be provided on how to use NVivo qualitative data analysis software.

Contact Email:
mark.vardy@kpu.ca

One of the most highly valued goals of higher education is critical thinking. At the core of many learning activities is argumentation/persuasion which requires critical thinking. Students find it difficult to demonstrate effective argumentation/persuasion in assignments or learning activities. Dialectical map (DMap) is an open source educational software which visualizes the structure of argument and can help students in writing argumentative essays. This research project started at SFU and we also received a grant from BCIT to conduct this research. This is a 3 credit course.

Minimum Qualifications Required:
The student researcher must be comfortable working data analyzing software like SPSS. The student should be prepared for a heavy reading load and be able to work independently and with consistent pace. They should have the ability to grasp and articulate the central arguments of scholarly articles and books. It would be an asset for the student to have significant experience with using library citation tools. The student might need to attend the weekly meeting of the research team.

Contact Email:
Azar.Pakdamansavoji@kpu.ca

The student researcher is responsible for conducting an environmental scan and composing a literature review related to post-university transition and experience of recent post-secondary graduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will assist with the implementation of a national survey on the experience of the Class of 2020+. If time permits, they will also help with reviewing and representing participant data from the recent KPU Graduate Career Accelerator Program.

Minimum Qualifications Required:
The ideal student researcher is a ‘sponge’ who is open and likes to soak up learning. They should be prepared for a heavy reading load and be able to work independently and with consistent pace. They should have the ability to grasp and articulate the central arguments of scholarly articles and books. Finally, they should be able to interpret qualitative and quantitative data.

Contact Email:

candy.ho@kpu.ca

This is a Chancellor’s Chair research project focused on collaboratively constructing three digital memorials with people affected by the overdose crisis. The project is running for three years, and is led by Aaron Goodman, faculty member in the Journalism and Communication Studies department at KPU. Two student research assistants are working hard on the project, and we would welcome additional participation and assistance from students.

Students may perform the following tasks and others:

• Taking part in remote, weekly meetings with Aaron and research assistants.
• Helping to record remote peer-to-peer audio interviews with people who have lost family members, partners, colleagues, and others to fatal overdoses.
• Editing audio interviews.
• Finding scholarly journal articles and other sources relevant to the project.
• Writing research summaries about scholarly journal articles and other sources.
• Helping to conceptualize three digital memorials.

Minimum Qualifications Required: 

30 Credits from courses at the 1100 level of higher, and approval of the Dean. 

Contact Email: aaron.goodman@kpu.ca

This study aims to explore faculty and administrators' perceptions and to unveil tensions surrounding equity, diversity, and includsion (EDI) processes in higher education through a case study of EDI process currently underway at KPU. I am interested in unpacking tensions between EDI discourses and practice as well as in exploring the diverse reasons for supporting or critiquing EDI processes. 3 Credits, 2 Students. Students will conduct lit review, data analysis, transcribing, and editing. 

Minimum Qualifications Required:

English proficiency, good reading, writing, and editing skills, good work ethics, critical thinking and self-discipline, interests in the research topic. 

Contact Email: lilach.marom@kpu.ca

This study aims to explore faculty and administrators' perceptions and to unveil tensions surrounding equity, diversity, and includsion (EDI) processes in higher education through a case study of EDI process currently underway at KPU. I am interested in unpacking tensions between EDI discourses and practice as well as in exploring the diverse reasons for supporting or critiquing EDI processes. 3 Credits, 2 Students. Students will conduct lit review, data analysis, transcribing, and editing. 

Minimum Qualifications Required:

English proficiency, good reading, writing, and editing skills, good work ethics, critical thinking and self-discipline, interests in the research topic. 

Contact Email: lilach.marom@kpu.ca

The Department of Anthropology has a unique opportunity for a student to engage in administrative and research duties for the development of a multi-use Forensic Research & Training Facility in British Columbia. The project will be collaborative in nature and will include KPU (Anthropology and interdepartmental), SFU, BCIT and several external stakeholders (Provincial Government, Policing agencies, JIBC, Coroner’s Service, Search and Rescue, and more). Student learning outcomes include professional development, project co-ordination, drafting proposals, applications for funding and other documentation, high-level collaborative work, and research experience in medico-legal death investigation.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

Upper-level courses in Biological Anthropology, Criminology, Biology, Nursing, other disciplines with relevant experience may be considered. Administrative, document management, and research experience are highly valued; field school, relevant teamwork or other outdoor experience is beneficial. This project may be extended for up to three semesters (ARTS 3991, 3992, 3993) and will require long-term commitment to project outcomes. Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, relational databases, research tools, and a high-level professionalism are required. May require attending meetings and field site visits. Resume, cover letter, transcripts, and references required. This research course is best suited for students interested in forensic science, death investigation, or law enforcement. Open to all applicants.

Contact Email: ken.andrews@kpu.ca

The student researcher is responsible for conducting an environmental scan of both scholarly (academic journal) and popular (blog, trade publications, etc.) articles and composing a literature review related to post-university transition and experiences of recent post-secondary graduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will assist with the implementation of a national survey on the experience of the Class of 2020+.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

The ideal student researcher possesses good search, summarizing, and critical thinking skills. Working independently and with support and guidance whenever they need, they should have the ability to grasp and articulate the central arguments of scholarly articles and books and to identify common themes.

Contact Email: candy.ho@kpu.ca