Recruiting 2SLGBTQIA+ graduate students for a study: “Understanding the Experiences of Inclusion and Exclusion of 2SLGBTQIA+ University Graduate Students in Ontario"
ISTN-3 Graduate Jason Fernandes is recruiting participants for their dissertation study! Please see below for more information
My name is Jason Fernandes, and I am a PhD student in Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. For my dissertation, I am conducting a study on the experiences of inclusion and exclusion of 2SLGBTQIA+ graduate students.
I am currently recruiting participants for virtual focus groups with 2SLGBTQIA+ graduate students from throughout Ontario. If you are interested in possibly joining a focus group, please keep reading.
What’s Inclusion and Exclusion?
Both inclusion and exclusion can involve perceptions and experiences. And they can occur within campus spaces and interactions, such as interactions with students, staff, faculty, campus services and programs, or even curriculum.
2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion can include feelings of belonging, acceptance, being valued and respected. It can also include actions that affirm 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and experiences. Whereas exclusion can involve feeling invisible or unsafe, or like you don’t belong. Exclusion can occur through blatant/subtle acts of discrimination such as threats, harassment, being mocked, excluded from groups or activities, or treated unfairly.
My study comprises two phases:
Phase 1: I analyzed interview data from 2SLGBTQIA+ graduate students who participated in the Thriving on Campus (TOC) study, which was conducted in 2019-2020.
Phase 2—Current Phase: I will be conducting virtual focus groups to provide feedback on the themes identified from the TOC study, exploring their relevance to today’s 2SLGBTQIA+ graduate students’ experiences.
I am currently recruiting 12-16 Participants for these virtual focus groups!
Please keep reading if you might be interested…
What will the Focus Groups Explore?
During these focus groups, broadly I will ask: How do the results reflect your experiences, perceptions of campus, and outcomes (wellbeing, academics) and factors that might promote resilience to exclusion? What themes align with your experiences? And, What’s not captured in the themes?
What are the Eligibility Criteria?
To participate in this study, individuals must:
1. Belong to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
2. Be a current full-time or part-time university graduate student at a public university in Ontario for at least six months or have been registered as such in the past 2 years.
3. Completing/completed all or most courses/program on campus via in-person learning.
Full-time and part-time students from all programs and levels of graduate study (Master’s /PhD) and are welcome
2SLGBTQIA+ individuals who attended graduate school in Ontario in the past two years for at least six months are also eligible to join the study.
4. Be able to share about their experiences of inclusion and/ or exclusion at their university
I am particularly interested in hearing from students who live with disability and/or are racialized.
What’s Involved if I Participate?
To join the study, individuals will be required to complete/participate in:
An online eligibility survey, linked below (10 minutes)
A brief screening interview (10 minutes) - this will provide a chance for us to connect, for me to answer any questions you might have, and for us to briefly explore your experiences connected to inclusion and exclusion on campus
A focus group over Zoom (60-90 minutes)
Is there an Honorarium?
Yes. Participants in the focus groups will each receive a $25 One4all Ultimate virtual, multi-brand gift card that allows recipients to redeem it online for single-brand eGift cards from any of its featured brands such as Air Canada, Boston Pizza, A & W, Subway, Cineplex, and others.
Should you have any questions about this study or would like further information, you may contact me at fern9820@mylaurier.ca
This study has received clearance from Wilfrid Laurier University Research Ethics Board (REB #9609)
Jason Fernandes, MSW
PhD Candidate
fern9820@mylaurier.ca
