Tracy M. Scull, Ph.D.<\/h1>\n
Senior Research Scientist <\/strong> Dr. Scull is a Senior Research Scientist at iRT and holds a doctorate in Developmental Psychology from Duke University. She is a nationally recognized expert in media literacy education, sexual health promotion, substance use prevention, and parent\u2013child communication and has secured over 14 million dollars in federal funding for her research.<\/p>\n Her research program centers on three core areas: (1) examining how media and digital environments shape youth health and development; (2) designing innovative, developmentally appropriate interventions that build young people\u2019s critical thinking skills about media; and (3) equipping parents with effective strategies to communicate with their children about complex topics such as puberty, sexual health, alcohol, and drugs.<\/p>\n Dr. Scull is the creator of the\u00a0Media Aware<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Media Aware Parent<\/em>\u00a0programs\u2014evidence-based, technology-enhanced interventions that strengthen media literacy skills, support healthy decision-making, and foster open communication about relationships and sexual health among tweens, adolescents, young adults, and their families. She has also played pivotal roles in the development and evaluation of the\u00a0Media Detective, Media Detective Family, Media Ready<\/em>, and\u00a0Media World<\/em>\u00a0programs that apply a media literacy framework to prevent youth substance use.<\/p>\n A prolific scholar, Dr. Scull has published extensively in leading journals across media effects, media literacy, health communication, child\/adolescent development, and prevention science. Her work is distinguished by a strong commitment to translation\u2014ensuring that rigorous research results in practical, scalable resources that improve the health and well-being of youth and families nationwide.<\/p>\n Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two sons, trying to keep up her French skills by listening to podcasts, and bingeing British TV shows.<\/p>\n<\/div> Ph.D., 2004, Developmental Psychology, Duke University Journal Articles<\/strong><\/p>\n Evans-Paulson, R., Dodson, C. V., Scull, T. M., Schmidt, A. M., Green, J., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (2025). Barriers and facilitators to providing sexual health programming at community colleges across the U.S.: A qualitative study with administrators, faculty, and staff. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 15<\/em>(1). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/tbm\/ibaf038<\/a><\/p>\n Scull, T.M., Stump, K.N., Evans-Paulson, R., Dodson, C.V., & Schoeman, A. (online 2025). Moving towards a more comprehensive standard for sex education: A latent class analysis and examination of young adult sexual health. Journal of Sex Research.<\/em> https:\/\/doi:10.1080\/00224499.2025.2475549<\/a><\/p>\n Parker, A. E., Scull, T. M., Green, J., & Stump, K. (2025). Evaluation of an interactive, educational website developed for adolescents to learn about pediatric clinical trials: DigiKnowIt News. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 39<\/em>(3), 335-345. https:\/\/doi:10.1016\/j.pedhc.2024.10.013<\/a><\/p>\n Scull, T.M., Dodson, C.V., Kupersmidt, J.B., Evans-Paulson, R., Stump, K.N., & Reeder, L.C. (2024). A media literacy education approach to sexual health promotion: Immediate effects of Media Aware on the sexual health cognitions of young adult community college students. Journal of Health Communication, 29<\/em>(11\u201312), 716\u2013725. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10810730.2024.2433527<\/a><\/p>\n Dodson, C.V., Evans-Paulson, R., & Scull, T.M. (2025). Examining resources to promote sexual health and address sexual violence at community colleges across the United States: A qualitative study. Journal of American College Health, 73<\/em>(3), 1138-1145. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/07448481.2024.2427054<\/a><\/p>\n Evans-Paulson, R., Ahuna, K., Scull, T. M., Dodson, C. V., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (online 2024). Acceptability and fidelity of a media literacy education-based comprehensive sexual health intervention for college students: A multi-method student-centered evaluation. American Journal of Sexuality Education,<\/em> 1-33. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/15546128.2024.2415308<\/a><\/p>\n Paulson-Evans, R., Scull, T.M., Stump, K.N., Dodson, C.V., and Armstrong, M. (online 2024). An examination of the sexual health behaviors and cognitions of young U.S. community college students with respect to the intersection of gender and sexual identity. Journal of American College Health<\/em>, 1-10. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/07448481.2024.2378294<\/a><\/p>\n Evans-Paulson, R., Dodson, C.V., & Scull, T.M. (2024). Critical media attitudes as a buffer against the harmful effects of pornography on beliefs about sexual and dating violence. Sex Education, 24<\/em>(6), 799-815. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14681811.2023.2241133<\/a><\/p>\n Parker, A., Scull, T.M., & Kennedy, K.L. (2023). Efficacy of DigiKnowIt News: Teen, a multimedia educational website for adolescent about pediatric clinical trials: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 24<\/em>, 436. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13063-023-07464-0<\/a><\/p>\n Dodson, C.V., Scull, T.M., & Schoemann, A. (2023). A six-month outcome evaluation of Media Aware Parent, a parent-based media mediation and sexual health communication program to promote adolescent sexual health. Journal of Health Communication, 27<\/em>, 825-838. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10810730.2023.2165741<\/a><\/p>\n Scull, T.M., Dodson, C.V., Evans-Paulson, R., Reeder, L., Geller, J.G., Stump, K., & Kupersmidt, J.K. (2022). Evaluating the mechanisms and long-term effects of a web-based comprehensive sexual health and media literacy education program for young adults attending community college: Study protocol for a three-arm randomized controlled trial. Trials, 23<\/em>, 521. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13063-022-06414-6<\/a><\/p>\n Scull, T.M., Dodson, C.V., Geller, J.G., Reeder, L.C., & Stump, K.N. (2022). A media literacy education approach to high school sexual health education: Immediate effects of Media Aware on adolescents\u2019 media, sexual health, and communication outcomes. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51<\/em>(4), 708-723. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10964-021-01567-0<\/a><\/p>\n Scull, T.M., Carl, A.E., Keefe, E.M., and Malik, C.V. (2022). Exploring parent-gender differences in parent and adolescent reports of the frequency, quality, and content of their sexual health communication. Journal of Sex Research, 59<\/em>(1), 122-134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/00224499.2021.1936439<\/a><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Malik, C. V., Morrison, A., & Keefe, E. M. (2021). Promoting sexual health in high school: A feasibility study of a web-based media literacy education program. Journal of Health Communication, 26<\/em>(3), 147-160. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10810730.2021.1893868<\/a><\/p>\n Parker, A., Scull, T.M., & Morrison, A. (2021). DigiKnowIt News: Educating youth about pediatric clinical trials using an interactive, multimedia educational website. Journal of Child Health Care, 26<\/em>(1), 139-153. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/13674935211003774<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Malik, C. V., & Keefe, E. M. (2020). Determining the feasibility of an online, media mediation program for parents to improve parent-child sexual health communication. <\/span>Journal of Media Literacy Education<\/span><\/i>, 12(1), 13-25. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.23860\/JMLE-2020-12-1-2<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Elmore, K. C., Scull, T. M., Malik, C. V., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (2020). Rape myth acceptance reflects perceptions of media portrayals as similar to others, but not the self. <\/span>Violence Against Women<\/span><\/i>. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1077801220908335<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Malik, C. V., Morrison, A., & Keefe, E. (2020). Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to evaluate a web-based comprehensive sexual health and media literacy education program for high school students. <\/span>Trials, 21<\/span><\/i>(1), 50. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/07448481.2018.1549554<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Keefe, E. M., Kafka, J. M., Malik, C. V., Kupersmidt, J. B. (2020). The understudied half of undergraduates: Risky sexual behaviors among community college students. <\/span>Journal of American College Health, 68<\/span><\/i>(3), 302-312. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/07448481.2018.1549554<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M. & Malik, C. V., Keefe, E. M., & Schoemann, A. (2019). Evaluating the short-term impact of Media Aware Parent, a web-based program for parents with the goal of adolescent sexual health promotion. <\/span>Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48<\/span><\/i>, 1686-1706. <\/span>http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10964-019-01077-0<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Kupersmidt, J. B., & Malik, C. V. (2018). Using media literacy education for adolescent sexual health promotion in middle school: Randomized controlled trial of Media Aware. <\/span>Journal of Health Communication: International Perspectives, 23<\/span><\/i>(12), 1051-1063<\/span>.<\/span><\/i> http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10810730.2018.1548669<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Malik, C. V., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (2018). Understanding the unique role of media message processing in predicting adolescent sexual behavior intentions in the United States. <\/span>Journal of Children and Media, 12<\/span><\/i>(3), 258-274. <\/span>http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/17482798.2017.1403937<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Kupersmidt, J. B., Malik, C. V., & Keefe, E. (2018). Examining the effectiveness of mHealth media literacy education for sexual health promotion in older adolescents attending community college. <\/span>Journal of American College Health, 66<\/span><\/i>(3), 165-177. <\/span>http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/07448481.2017.1393822<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Kupersmidt, J. B., & Weatherholt, T. N. (2017). The effectiveness of online, family-based media literacy education for substance abuse prevention in elementary school children: Study of the Media Detective Family Program. <\/span>Journal of Community Psychology, 45<\/span><\/i>(6), 796-809. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/jcop.21893<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Elmore, K.,<\/span> Scull, T. M., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (2017). Media as a \u201csuper peer\u201d: How adolescents interpret media messages predicts their perceptions of alcohol and tobacco use norms.<\/span> Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46<\/span><\/i>, 376-387<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10964-016-0609-9<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Malik, C. V., Kupersmidt, J. B., & Moallem, M. (2016). Rethinking sexuality education: A web-based solution. In <\/span>Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2016<\/span> (pp. 2344-2348).<\/span> Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).<\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Ortiz, R., Shafer, A., Brown, J., Kupersmidt, J .B., & Suellentrop, K. (2015). Investigating how MTV\u2019s 16 & Pregnant may be used as media literacy education with high-risk adolescents. <\/span>Journal of Media Literacy Education, 7<\/span><\/i>(2), 1-11. <\/span>https:\/\/digitalcommons.uri.edu\/jmle\/vol7\/iss2\/1\/<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Parker, A. E., Kupersmidt, J. B., Mathis, E. T., Scull, T. M., Sims, C. (2014). The impact of mindfulness education on elementary school students: Evaluation of the Master Mind program. <\/span>Advances in School Mental Health, 7<\/span><\/i>(3), 184-204. <\/span>http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/1754730X.2014.916497<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Malik, C. V., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (2014). A media literacy education approach to teaching adolescents sexual health education. <\/span>Journal of Media Literacy Education, 6<\/span><\/i>(1), 1-14.<\/span><\/p>\n Scull, T. M., Kupersmidt, J. B., & Erausquin, J. T. (2013). The impact of media-related cognitions on children\u2019s substance use outcomes in the context of parental and peer substance use<\/span>. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43<\/span><\/i>(5), 717-728. <\/span>http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10964-013-0012-8<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n Kupersmidt, J. B., Scull, T. M., & Benson, J. W. (2012). Improving media message interpretation processing skills to promote healthy decision making about substance use: The effects of the middle school Media Ready curriculum.<\/span>
\nShe\/Her\/Hers<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Tracy](\"https:\/\/irtinc.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Scull_388x388-300x300.jpg\" "\\"Scull_388x388\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i>OVERVIEW<\/h2><\/a><\/li>
<\/i>BACKGROUND<\/h2><\/a><\/li>
<\/i>PUBLICATIONS<\/h2><\/a><\/li>
<\/i>PRESENTATIONS<\/h2><\/a><\/li>
<\/i>CONTRIBUTED TO THESE PRODUCTS<\/h2><\/a><\/li>
<\/i>SPONSORED PROJECTS<\/h2><\/a><\/li>
<\/i>HONORS & AWARDS<\/h2><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>
<\/i>OVERVIEW<\/h2><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>
OVERVIEW<\/h2>\n
<\/i>BACKGROUND<\/h2><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>
BACKGROUND<\/h2>\n
\n<\/span>M.A., 2001, Developmental Psychology, Duke University
\n<\/span>B.A., 1998, (with College Honors), Psychology (minor French), Carnegie Mellon University<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/i>PUBLICATIONS<\/h2><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>
PUBLICATIONS<\/h2>\n