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Activity Funded

William James Center for Research

Centro de Investigação William James

Reference
UIDB/04810/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes The period 2018 to 2022 will be a significant one for the William James Center for Research: Its research base will expand by the integration of the top psychology researchers at ISPA and UA. This expanded base has, as its mission, three general objectives: 1. To advance knowledge in distinctive fields of psychology by pushing the frontiers of the field and introducing new technologies into research, as well as increasing generalizability of our findings with an emphasis on doing not only cross-cultural but also cross-species research, and finally, focusing on harnessing the applications of psychology to improve psychological welfare. 2. To engage and inspire young aspiring scientists at different stages of their careers (Master's, PhD, Post Doc) and to form their scientific minds as partners in developing a passion for performing research. 3. To make science transparent to the broader public, not only by making the knowledge gained readily and freely accessible but also by showing the value of the investment the public makes to enable psychological science at the WJCR. One example of how we plan to advance research is the introduction of innovative technological developments, such as wearable sensor technologies. With such a technology, we can capture the psychophysiological underpinnings of emotional processing in normal adults but also patients with psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, autism spectrum disorders). On the other hand, we provide inputs to the technological side by making available new avenues to improve the technology. In all stages of our research, we have and will continue to engage young minds who show promise during their Master's phase by facilitating their participation as research assistants in ongoing research projects. These RAs constitute the breeding ground for our PhD programs. We recruit, preferably, Post Docs from other research centers to rejuvenate perspectives and ideas in our own research center. Finally, we publicize our research in directly interactive forums such as Ciência, European Researchers' Night, Futurália, Open Campus, Summer Academy, and Open Week, as well as the media (e.g., in the past we have featured in Público, Porto Canal, Science, BBC, NBC News, RTP Informação, Antena 1) to make our findings engaging and accessible to the widest audience. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation The period 2018 to 2022 will be a significant one for the William James Center for Research: Its research base will expand by the integration of the top psychology researchers at ISPA and UA. This expanded base has, as its mission, three general objectives: 1. To advance knowledge in distinctive fields of psychology by pushing the frontiers of the field and introducing new technologies into research, as well as increasing generalizability of our findings with an emphasis on doing not only cross-cultural but also cross-species research, and finally, focusing on harnessing the applications of psychology to improve psychological welfare. 2. To engage and inspire young aspiring scientists at different stages of their careers (Master's, PhD, Post Doc) and to form their scientific minds as partners in developing a passion for performing research. 3. To make science transparent to the broader public, not only by making the knowledge gained readily and freely accessible but also by showing the value of the investment the public makes to enable psychological science at the WJCR. One example of how we plan to advance research is the introduction of innovative technological developments, such as wearable sensor technologies. With such a technology, we can capture the psychophysiological underpinnings of emotional processing in normal adults but also patients with psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, autism spectrum disorders). On the other hand, we provide inputs to advance wearable sensor technologies by making available new avenues to improve the technology. The research at the WJCR is organized around 4 intersecting thematic clusters, namely Emotion and Olfaction, Translational Psychology, Social Development, and Cognition. These clusters are founded on basic research with socially relevant applications. For instance, we have ongoing and planned fundamental research on the manner in which emotional states induced by visual, olfactory, and auditory stimuli influence and shape neuropsychological, behavioral, and cognitive processes. The translational side of this coin involves its application toward understanding the processing of emotions in psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, autism spectrum disorders), with the objective of moving intervention from formal clinical settings into daily life. To be able to analyze psychophysiological indicators in daily life requires technically innovative tools. To this end, we collaborate with our colleagues outside of the research center in the development and use of wearable sensor technologies. These tools are also extremely useful in animal studies (e.g., Canis familiaris) to sample physiological activity when examining how human emotional states transfer via human odors to pet dogs or wolves. Such examples illustrate how our research moves from fundamental questions over to tool development and to applications in the 'real world'; it also has implications for comparative research. The work we do consists of interrelated packages (rather than single studies) that are programmatic cross-cutting endeavors that allow strong generalization. Another way of approaching the generalization issue is illustrated by our research on the roles played by fathers and children in social development. In this case, we go beyond traditional samples and examine this question in 6 different cultures. Complementing such a comparative-behavioral level of analysis, we also conduct research on the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying attachment relationships in socio-emotional functioning in childhood and preadolescence. The applied implications of the social developmental research are relevant in educational contexts. This limited sample of our research orientation gives a flavor of the general research strategy we pursue. Notably, the research is carried out by engaged personnel, and we build this up from the ground by encouraging promising students with Master's degrees to work as research assistants, and we foster the exceptional students toward a PhD trajectory. In addition, the good reputation of the WJCR attracts students with Master's degrees from outside institutions. They receive hands-on training and also advance their careers within our broad range of foci. The other structural component of our work is our reliance on Post Doc research staff who are interested in the range of research we do. Our policy is to retain exceptional Post Docs who have completed their PhD's with us, but also to recruit researchers with a Doctorate outside of the WJCR (nationally and internationally). The rationale is to introduce fresh blood, vision, and insights to invigorate our research with new ideas and perspectives. Finally, we engage diligently in disseminating our work to the public, with members of our Center who actively write for nationally reputable outlets (e.g., Parole, Viseo). Furthermore, we have a constant presence in national science events publicizing our work with engaging, hands-on demonstrations that resonate not only with children and their parents but also with the public in general. Our aim in such public events is not merely to illustrate, or to demonstrate, but also to invite attention to the irresistible mystery of science and the great satisfaction that the beauty of unravelling the unknown gives. Another of our aims in such events is to show the public that their funding is well spent in the service of the public, for improved education, health, understanding of ourselves, the psychological foundations of human coexistence, and, indeed, the relevance of knowledge for the betterment of society.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • William James Center for Research (WJCR)
  • Instituto Universitário de Ciências Psicológicas Sociais e da Vida (ISPA)

Other Institutions

  • Universidade de Aveiro (UA)

Funding 819.359,90 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

819.359,90 €