Current Research Projects
Students in Scholar's Electives conduct independent research projects with the mentorship of faculty members in years 2 and 3 of the program. This is great opportunity for students to explore their interests deeply, test their interest in research and/or lab work, and broaden the scope of their undergraduate learning experiences.
Students take the lead in the development and execution of these projects - they are not simply research or lab assistants: they are in the driver’s seat. Additionally, students can conduct research outside their primary faculty of enrollment. For example, Medical Sciences students can explore areas of the Humanities, and vice versa! This is an exciting opportunity offered exclusively to students in the Scholar's Electives program.
Helen Shreyer
Faculty of Social Science, Psychology
My research focuses on the study of how individual differences can be used to predict leadership style. In particular, I'm investigating how Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) and Dark Tetrad traits predict transformational leadership beyond HEXACO personality traits (HEXACO adds honesty-humility to the renown Big Five personality traits). This research has implications for personnel selection, and may be used to refine the assessment of managerial potential in the future.
Marc St. Pierre
Faculty of Health Sciences, Kinesiology
The Scholar’s Electives program has given me the opportunity to work on 2 separate research projects throughout my second and third year at Western University. During my second year, I worked with a professor within the Sport Management area of the School of Kinesiology. The research I conducted surrounded the costs and benefits of sponsorship for elite athletes. I conducted multiple interviews, with the main focus being the perspective of an Olympic Bronze Medalist. I was able to present my findings at a local conference and the project was also recently presented at the North American Society for Sport Management Conference in New Orleans. In my third year, I was lucky enough to work with the same professor as I did in second-year project and a post-doctorate student that had worked under her. My third-year project surrounded Attendance at University-level hockey games with the primary comparison being the US collegiate market. I was able to present the findings of the project at a local conference and will be continuing with the research in my fourth-year in the hopes of publication.
