Research Assistant - posAbilities

312 Main Research Shop is a program within SFU CERi that facilitates collaboration between SFU graduate students and non-profit/community groups. It is focused on supporting research projects that provide plain-language answers to community-driven research questions at low or no cost to the community partner.

posAbilities provides a broad range of services to persons with developmental disabilities and their families. With a team of approximately 600 employees, including community and residential support workers, community connectors, employment specialists, behaviour consultants, and a network of shared living contractors, we serve more than 1,200 children and adults in Metro Vancouver and other parts of BC.

The Research Assistant will support posAbilities in exploring the prevalence and motivations for social media use (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok) among persons with developmental disabilities aged 16-30 compared to their neurotypical peers. This research will inform stakeholders, including funders, peer organizations, researchers, educators, and advocacy groups, about the social media habits and needs of this demographic.

• Conduct a literature review on the social media use of persons with developmental disabilities (e.g. online safety, access to technology, belonging and human connection, stigma, identity, etc.)

• Design and implement field surveys and interviews to gather data on social media use and motivations from individuals with developmental disabilities and their neurotypical peers.

• Prepare and submit research ethics protocols. 

• Conduct ethnographic research of online interactions, expressions, and community engagements. Analyze the prevalence of social media use across different platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc.).

• Analyze collected data to provide insights into the primary motivating factors for social media use among persons with developmental disabilities.

• Prepare a comprehensive report and/or (open access) academic article summarizing findings and highlighting service gaps and opportunities.

• Create an accessible summary of the report, translating academic lexicon into plain language to ensure comprehension by individuals with disabilities.

• Engage with community stakeholders to gather and share relevant information and ensure the research is community-informed.

• Collaborate with the Research and Development Coordinator and other team members to ensure alignment with posAbilities’ goals.

•  Graduate degree (MA or PhD) in a related field such as Social Work, Psychology, Disability Studies, Communication, Anthropology or a related field. MA students who are near completion and current PhD students are encouraged to apply.

• Strong research skills, including experience with qualitative and quantitative methods.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to analyze and synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights.

• Proficiency in using digital tools for research and data collection.

• Experience with developmental disabilities, social media research, or non-profit work is an asset.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote team environment.

• Please send a current CV, writing sample, and application form to Joanna Habdank, Program Manager at SFU CERi: joanna_habdank@sfu.ca
• Candidates from equity seeking groups, including Black, Indigenous and racialized people, people facing accessibility barriers, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people and people from low-income backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. 
• Application Deadline: The closing date for applications is July 31st, 2024
• Application form link: https://forms.gle/uhq9vw6kuthjpryAA