Featured Research Labs: Forensic Psychology at Saint Mary’s University
Written by Krystal Lowe
Thumbnail Photo by Krystal Lowe
Saint Mary’s University is home to a number of scholars who have made significant contributions to science within the realm of their chosen research areas. Many of these scholars are our professors, our mentors, and our reference points for where we hope to be one day. Moreover, they are people who have dedicated a considerable portion of their lives to the study of a specific topic with the goal of being a benefit to society. So, who exactly are these individuals? What do they do and what are their expectations of students who wish to engage in similar research?
This article aims to provide students with an introduction to some of the exciting research happening on campus, and a clearer understanding of the goals that individual researchers have and what the social dynamics of university labs are like. To begin this series, I sat down with faculty in the Department of Psychology to feature active labs in the Forensic Stream: the Stephens’ Research Lab & the Ternes-Stinson Research Lab.
The Stephens’ Forensic Psychology Lab
How do we as a society reduce the occurrence of childhood sexual abuse, and what steps should we take to implement effective preventative approaches in the areas of sexualized violence? These are some of the questions that Dr. Skye Stephens is addressing through her research in the area of sexual violence prevention. Dr. Stephens is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology who has focused her research on understanding the factors that increase childhood sexual abuse and on barriers to the development of community treatment programs for people with sexual attraction to minors. Striving to achieve these goals, the Stephens’ Forensic Psychology Lab at Saint Mary’s University aims to explore the conceptualization, assessment, and management of atypical sexual interests.
Current Projects in the Stephens’ Forensic Psychology Lab
Dr. Stephens and her colleagues are recipients of multiple prestigious awards that currently fund research on establishing primary prevention programs designed to reduce sexual offending. Most recently, Dr. Stephens’ team has launched a program called “Talking for Change” which provides free therapy and anonymous support to individuals who are concerned about their risk of offending. The program is the first of its kind in Canada, and it begins to address the needs of an underserved population with the goals of helping them develop coping skills and ultimately reducing the occurrence of child sexual abuse. Talking for Change is actively recruiting participants who are seeking support, free of charge.
Currently, the Stephen’s Lab consists of graduate and undergraduate honours students who have a keen interest in Clinical Forensic Psychology and Sexology. Some of the topics previously explored by lab alumni have included the development of a workshop to increase clinician competency and willingness to treat individuals with sexual interests in children, and understanding treatment barriers for minor-attracted persons living in the community, to name a few. Many of the Stephens’ Lab alumni have also gone on to pursue their Ph.D.’s and active careers in research and clinical work.
Lab Atmosphere & Dynamics
The Stephens’ Lab is described as a collaborative and collegial setting where Dr. Stephens views her students as junior colleagues. In fact, Dr. Stephens has described her role as a mentor to students as one of the most rewarding parts of her job. The lab is also characterized as non-competitive, where the development of friendships fosters a supportive environment that encourages students to share their ideas and research methods with one another. Lab members enjoy learning together through regular meetings and lab lunches. Much of the research within the lab is driven by students, where lab members have explored a variety of topics surrounding mandatory reporting laws, policy, legislation, and sexual violence prevention.
Expectations of Student-Researchers
One of the most important traits of students who join the Stephens’ Lab is to have an intrinsic interest in research. A genuine interest in research is a foundational component of being able to learn to develop well-designed studies that lead to meaningful outcomes in the real-world. Additionally, being knowledgeable about the directions of the lab is an important aspect that provides evidence that a student is genuinely interested in the work being done. With that said, Dr. Stephens is always happy to chat about the research being conducted in her lab but urges students to avoid generic emails. In general, when inquiring about any lab, it is important to do your background research.
As briefly mentioned above, the Stephen’s Lab encourages collaborative efforts on behalf of lab members, as collaboration is key to good scholarship, efficiency, and an overall enriching research-based experience. Scientific integrity, dedication, and mutual support for colleagues are also strong underlying values of the lab.
From left to right: Dr. Veronica Stinson, Dr. Skye Stephens, Dr. Meg Ternes.
The Ternes-Stinson Forensic Psychology Lab
Many issues that confront our criminal justice system are psychological in nature, so in what ways does the science of psychology and our justice system coexist? Psychological research has the potential to inform our justice system on a wide range of topics, many of which are studied by Dr. Meg Ternes and Dr. Veronica Stinson. The Ternes-Stinson Lab aims to address a broad spectrum of goals within the criminal justice system while shedding light on under-examined areas that can have implications for both psychological theory and the well-being of Canadians.
Individually, Dr. Stinson has focused on areas related to social cognitive psychology in the legal system, such as eyewitness memory and jury-decision making. Whereas Dr. Ternes has focused on areas such as lie-detection, credibility assessments, and correctional psychology. Together, they have created a thriving atmosphere of students with a keen interest in research.
Current Projects in the Ternes-Stinson Lab
Most recently, the Ternes-Stinson Lab has been investigating the role of crime victims within the criminal justice system, as well as issues related to the access of justice during COVID-19. For instance, the development of a project that involves an empirical investigation of Nova Scotia’s lawyers, judges, and members of the public regarding their views of the pandemic’s effect on the court system and access to justice is currently underway. Additionally, over the past few years, some members of the Ternes-Stinson Lab have been a part of a quantitative archival analysis of Canadian victim impact statements. Several research questions have been derived from the archival project and developed into individual studies examining a range of variables related to victims and their role within the criminal justice system. In addition to research on victims and access to justice, the lab has recently launched a study investigating public perceptions of domestic violence and Clare’s Law, a controversial law intended to reduce domestic violence that several Canadian provinces have recently adopted. The Clare’s Law study is currently in its data collection phase, and the lab welcomes anyone who is interested in participating to share their views and opinions.
Recently, alumni from the Ternes-Stinson lab have investigated topics such as whether victim impact statements affect sentencing outcomes, factors relating to criminal behaviour and desistance among justice-involved women, and how factors associated with the foster care system impact offending behaviour.
Lab Atmosphere & Dynamics
The Ternes-Stinson lab is a unique, open atmosphere where students are encouraged to feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns. The lab has been described as a welcoming, no-strings-attached environment where the ultimate goal is to engage students in research while making meaningful contributions in the area of psychology and law. Drs. Ternes and Stinson aspire to share their love for research with students and to foster a collaborative community that helps to develop students’ critical thinking skills. A strong underlying value of the lab is that good research comes from careful thought, and careful thought comes from sitting around a table (or in Covid times, on Zoom) with others, bouncing ideas off of one another, and considering the relative implications. Overall, there is a strong student focus in the lab with an emphasis on collaboration. The lab is currently comprised of graduate students, undergraduate honours students, and research assistants.
Expectations of Student-Researchers
The Ternes-Stinson Lab’s open-door policy allows for students to visit and sit in on discussions. The purpose behind this policy is to encourage students to become familiar with research and to spark their own research interests. Expectations for students vary depending on the students’ level of involvement in the lab. For instance, there is a difference between joining the lab as a spectator and volunteering. Expectations for volunteers and those hoping to conduct their own research are higher than those of individuals who choose to sit and listen in. For instance, students with greater involvement in the lab are expected to be productive and consistent in their work by meeting deadlines and participating in lab discussions. Ultimately, students benefit the most when they are tuned in and engaged; the lab offers students a chance to become familiar with the kinds of research conducted and the basis of what goes into empirically evaluating concepts at the intersection of psychology and law.
Additional Researchers in the Forensic Stream
While the Stephens’ Lab & Ternes-Stinson Lab are the most active within the forensic stream at SMU, there are also other exceptional researchers and faculty within the program, such as Drs. Robert Konopasky, Marc Patry, and Steven Smith, each of whom have contributed to the research-active atmosphere in the Department of Psychology. Dr. Konopasky has been with Saint Mary’s University since 1972, where his primary areas of research have included the psychology of civil litigations and decision-making, as well as expert witnesses in legal proceedings. Dr. Marc Patry was previously the Chair of the Department of Psychology and has made many contributions to the literature surrounding correctional psychology, police interrogations and confessions, and eyewitness testimony. Lastly, Dr. Steven Smith, the current Dean of Science at SMU, has focused his research on confession evidence, interpretation of Supreme Court decisions, and eyewitness identifications.
As students, it can often be intimidating to reach out and inquire about the research that is being done by various faculty members. After all, they have devoted much of their history in academia towards being an expert in their field of study. However, there was also a time where they were just like the rest of us, and many, if not all, of them strive to help students grow in ways that are similar to how their mentors encouraged them. Moreover, in meeting with Drs. Ternes and Stinson, we were reminded of how much faculty also benefit from learning exciting new ways of approaching research from their students.
Nonetheless, it is always important for students who wish to engage in and learn more about research to be committed, conscientious and precise in the tasks that are required of them. It is also essential that students personalize their initial communication with professors in a way that is not generic and which shows that they have made an authentic effort to understand the professor's area of study. It is our hope that this article has provided you with helpful bits of knowledge to facilitate a greater understanding of lab dynamics and the expectations of students at SMU. Stay tuned for future featured labs!