Course Syllabus

Summer Research Assistantship 

Research Assistantship (RA) is an experiential learning opportunity promoting the development of research skills in an international, professional, research setting.  As a RA, you perform research under the supervision of a Research Mentor. The mentor is able to offer both academic and professional advice. In addition to acquiring research experience, the goal is to develop a student/mentor relationship that benefits both the DIS student, the mentor and Copenhagen-based research institutions.

Research Project Description

The link between the ability to hear speech in noisy environments and higher cognitive functions has become increasingly evident. Simple auditory abilities alone cannot explain why some individuals excel at discriminating speech from noise while others do not. This issue is further complicated when comparing hearing individuals with those who use hearing aids. Several studies have shown that these two groups access attention, memory, and fluid intelligence resources differently. However, it is unclear which and how they use these resources differently.

Project details:
This project aims to compare the cognitive skills of 200 hearing and hearing-aided individuals in order to better understand these differences. It will do so by investigating the role of sentence completion as a mediator between working memory (WM) and speech recognition in noise in individuals using hearing aids. Sentence completion tasks, which require participants to fill in missing words or phrases in incomplete sentences, are often used to assess language comprehension, semantic knowledge, and cognitive flexibility. These abilities are particularly relevant to speech-in-noise recognition, a critical challenge for individuals with hearing aids. By focusing on sentence completion, the project addresses a gap in the research, as most prior studies have neglected this cognitive process when evaluating speech comprehension and memory updating in hearing-aided individuals. Understanding how cognitive factors like sentence completion mediate WM and speech recognition could provide insights for improving hearing aid technology and interventions, enhancing the quality of life for individuals with hearing impairments.

Methodologically, the research will rely on data previously collected as part of the N200 project. This data set includes participants with and without hearing aids, providing a broad base for analysis. To analyze the relationship between our variables of interest, we will conduct a mediation analysis. This statistical approach allows us to test whether and how the cognitive tasks mediate the relationship between WM and speech recognition performance. We will use statistical software R, employing a quasi-Bayesian approach.

In your role as Research Assistant, there will be a variety of roles and opportunities to develop practical research skills, dependent on when during the research process you enter. Early in the project, RAs will assist with the preparation and organization of the dataset and literature. Once the data are ready, RAs may be involved in conducting statically analyses themselves, depending on their level of experience with software such as R. In addition to data management and analysis, students will contribute to literature reviews and potentially assist in the interpretation of data and writing and editing of a manuscript. At all points throughout the project, you will develop highly transferable skills which will benefit future pursuits in research, cognitive science, and data analysis.

Learning Objectives

• Obtain hands-on research experience in a lab-based setting
• Plan, conduct, and critically evaluate experimental data
• Perform self-directed and self-motivated experimental research
• Actively participate in scientific discussions with a critical approach to the research
• Write a research paper and present experimental data in a professional way
• Learn ethical standards and academic integrity in a research process
• Experience the authenticity of research, including the unpredictabilities, the unexpected challenges, and unknowns that are a common part of conducting research

Research Assistantship Hours 

RAs will spend 180 hours directly engaged in research, together with 20-25 hours in co-curricular activities during their summer study. You will arrange a schedule with your mentor which will allow you to complete, per week, an average of 30 research hours.

There may be peak times in the research process where you are expected to spend a few more hours, and then possibly a few less another week reflecting the individual research project and process. Also, the total hours may to some extend vary according to research opportunity and expectation of your mentor.

Besides research, it is also important you learn some cultural and historical aspect of Sweden while studying here. Together, with all summer RAs, you will therefor spend 3-5 hours pr week on co-curricular activities introducing you to Sweden. This will complement your research and provide context to your time abroad. 

Faculty

Carlos Tirado

PhD. (Psychology, Stockholm University, 2021). Postdoctoral researcher, Linköping University, Linköping, 2022-2025. With DIS since 2023.

 

Field Research (if applicable)

Some research projects may include field research outside of DIS. Expenses related to fieldwork will be
covered by a DIS travel grant. The fieldwork will be planned with the research
mentor at the beginning of the summer term.

Approach to Mentoring

All DIS research mentors have been trained in mentoring students but their approach to mentoring may differ. Mentoring is about engaging at a different - and often deeper - level than what is typical in the class room. However, mentoring also comes with some degree of ambiguity, which is important for you to expect. The research mentor will work closely with you throughout the semester but part of the training is also for you to use your own judgement, to make assessments and decisions. As part of planning your tasks and responsibilities for the semester together, the research mentor will talk to you about her/his approach to mentoring.

Responsibilities and Expectations of the Mentor

Your mentor will guide you on methodology and techniques, advise as to ethical considerations, provide feedback throughout the research process, and help you find resources to conduct your research on-site.  The RAship encourages a gradual transition toward independence as you gain more confidence on research topic and methodologies transforming your work into a more self-directed and self-motivated project under the mentor’s guidance and supervision. It is important, that the project reflect your work, not only your mentor’s contribution.  

It is not expected that you pursue a project where you are able to obtain definitive publishable results. The project chosen and agreed upon between you and your mentor should be focused and designed to produce results within the DIS summer calendar. While it is not necessary for the results to be significant (in that the results find a solution to the problem or hypothesis proposed), arguably any results to the proposed question are significant to the next phase of a research project.  

Responsibilities and Expectations of the Research Assistant

The Research Assistantships is designed for highly motivated students with a strong interest in developing their research skills. You are expected to immerse yourself in the topic and take responsibility so you achieve the highest learning outcomes by actively participating in discussions and presentations. Specific expectations of you as a student is agreed upon with your mentor at the beginning of the semester. However, in general it requires that you:

1. Spend an average of 35 hours per week carrying out the research project including on average 3 hours of "Introduction to Sweden" course each Mondays between 13:00 - 16:00 and sometimes for longer or later hours if you are for example are going to a specific event. You will need to arrange a schedule with your mentor which will allow you to complete the required hours 
2. Arrange project check-in meetings with your research mentor at mutually agreed upon times during the summer. Clear and continuous communication with your research mentor throughout the summer is a necessary part of the research project and it is expected that you initiate these meetings. 
3. Submit assignments on time including a literature review, a outline of the research project, a journal club presentation, a final research paper and a oral  presentation (power point or another type of format) as agreed on with your mentor.

As part of your theoretical focus, you are expected to read and write relevant scientific literature in relation to your research project and use your newly-gained knowledge to critically evaluate the research component, ask relevant questions, and actively participate in research discussions within the field. During the practical work, you are expected to actively engage by planning and performing your own experiments or data collection and analyzing the collected data. You are expected/encouraged to critically evaluate possible issues if results do not go as expected and come up with ideas to modify or reflect on potential mistakes.

Overall, it is important to be enthusiastic about the project. Carrying out a research project is neither a straightforward nor predictable process as you are creating new (and at times unexpected) knowledge. This is part of what makes research exciting but also challenging! 

Evaluation and Grading

During the summer research course, you are expected to fulfill various assignments. 

To be eligible for a passing grade in 6RA, all of the assignments must be completed. It will be your mentor that assess your work and assign your final grade.

Assignments and their weights are shown in the following table:

Participation - Research Assistantship		20%
Participation - "Introduction to Sweden" co-curriculum		10%
Literature Summary  Review		5%
Outline of Research project		5%
Presentation of a Scholarly Work		5%
Research Paper:	Written Project	45%
	Presentation or Research Project	10%
Total		100%

The literature summary review is an opportunity to seek out existing peer-reviewed articles and, in that way, enhance your scientific knowledge within the research area and kickstart your research project. In addition, it is essential that you have knowledge of previously produced research by the research institution with which you are working.

An outline of the research project will provide you with an overall research plan and help structure your research during the term. By creating an outline, you will be able to better comprehend the objective of your efforts. Your mentor will also be able to use the outline to assess areas in which your current knowledge and understanding may be lacking.

The research paper is the final product of your research assistantship. In the paper, you will explain your work throughout the term, including the methodologies you have used, the overall process, the project’s significance, and the contribution to the field of research in which you have engaged. Please note: this research paper is not produced with the intent of publishing, but if you put in the hours and effort it may end up being a publication. 

For the oral presentation, you will present the research you have carried out throughout the summer in a  format agreed upon with your mentor and approved by DIS. The presentation should have a logical and clear structure and provide relevant information on the background, methods, conclusions, and future perspectives of the presented work. The original data reported in the paper should be presented and discussed in a clear way.

Participation. To receive full credit, you are required to be present at all the scheduled research sessions and actively participate and engage in the experimental work (both practical and theoretical). 

Besides research, it is also important you learn some cultural and historical aspect of Sweden while studying here. Therefore, you are required to attend the "Introduction to Sweden" course as part of your participation grade.

Of the final participation grade, 20% is based on:

• Attendance and the level of preparation, planning, and conduction of the experimental research work as well as your level of self-directed and self-motivated research work
• Your overall contribution to research discussions with the research group in general, at journal clubs, and at project presentations

An additional 10% of the participation grade is based on your attendance and active engagement in the Wednesday afternoon Introduction to Sweden  series, led by DIS Swedish Language and Culture faculty, Maria Carlsson. Please see the corresponding Canvas page for these required weekly activities, designed to introduce you to the cultural context of your temporary home, enhance your time in Stockholm, and deepen your understanding of Sweden.

Presentation of a Scholarly Work

Scholarly presentations are research presentations of relevant scholarly work followed by discussions with your mentor, fellow students, and other participants. These sessions offer an opportunity to engage in thoughtful research discussions, improve presentation skills, and develop critical thinking through reading, analyzing, and discussing scholarly material.

The work you choose to present should be connected to your research area and may include peer-reviewed articles, reports, or other forms of scholarly literature. The article or work should be discussed with your research mentor in advance to ensure its relevance. If other DIS students are placed at the same site, they should also read the work beforehand and prepare one or two questions for the discussion.

Data

Note that many US colleges/universities require their students who are participating in research at home or abroad to acquire Institutional Review Board approval. Examples include:

• Research involving human subjects
• If the results of any research conducted during your semester with DIS involving human subjects are to be made public or published in the US

You are responsible for confirming whether home IRB-approval is required and, if so, for seeking the approval of your home schools IRB. In addition, all research conducted in Europe must adhere to GDPR regulations.

Readings

The readings will be agreed upon with the Research Mentor. The exact content will differ depending on your background and at which phase the project is. You will receive guidance concerning the basics of relevant concepts, study designs, methods of analysis, etc. 

Before Arrival in Sweden, some mentors may give you 10 – 15 hours of literature to read before you arrive in Stockholm.

DIS Accommodations Statement

If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure your mentor receive your DIS accommodations letter on the first days of class. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support academicsupport@dis.dk