Focus Area News Post Archives

iRT Researchers Present on the Importance of Media Literacy Education-Based Sex Education Programs for the ECHO@edu Program

Elizabeth Porter2023-09-25T13:52:12+00:00

September 25, 2023, Durham, NC – Research has shown that comprehensive, inclusive, medically-accurate sex education can positively impact youth and young adults’ decisions about their sexual health, beliefs about relationships, and attitudes towards sexual violence. However, some middle school and high school students receive inaccurate or incomplete sex education, and others may not receive sex education at all. The gaps in standardized middle and high school sex education highlight an important opportunity for colleges to offer comprehensive, medically-accurate sex education to students, so young adults can make more informed decisions about their sexual health and foster healthy relationships. This topic was [...]

iRT Researchers Present on the Importance of Media Literacy Education-Based Sex Education Programs for the ECHO@edu ProgramElizabeth Porter2023-09-25T13:52:12+00:00

iRT to Develop Virtual Reality Training for Law Enforcement to Detect Impaired Drivers

Elizabeth Porter2023-09-20T18:05:07+00:00

September 20, 2023, Durham, NC – Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of preventable death for both children and adults, and many of these crashes are caused by drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. Despite the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, recent data has shown that only a small portion of self-reported impaired drivers are identified by law enforcement as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Providing standardized training to law enforcement officers to help them build or refine their skills and confidence in detecting impaired drivers, particularly those impaired by drugs other than [...]

iRT to Develop Virtual Reality Training for Law Enforcement to Detect Impaired DriversElizabeth Porter2023-09-20T18:05:07+00:00

iRT Reflects on the 2023 National Prevention Network Conference

Elizabeth Porter2023-08-31T14:57:19+00:00

August 31, 2023, Durham, NC – iRT President Dr. Janis Kupersmidt and Research Scientist Dr. Rebecca Stelter represented Prevention Central, a division of iRT, at the 2023 National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference in Birmingham, Alabama this month. Prevention professionals, coalition leaders, researchers, and federal partners gather at the NPN Conference each year to discuss recent research and best practices in the field of substance misuse prevention. Prevention Central sponsored an exhibit booth at the 2023 NPN Conference to share its many programs with colleagues, including evidence-based media literacy and mindfulness education programs for the prevention of substance use, safe driving programs, [...]

iRT Reflects on the 2023 National Prevention Network ConferenceElizabeth Porter2023-08-31T14:57:19+00:00

New Research Published on the Protective Influence of Critical Media Attitudes on Adolescent Sexual and Relationship Health

Elizabeth Porter2023-08-30T14:35:45+00:00

August 30, 2023, Durham, NC – As online pornography platforms become more accessible, adolescents are more regularly exposed to sexually explicit material, and at increasingly younger ages. Pornography often depicts male-perpetrated physical aggression paired with sexual activity, and studies have shown that adolescent pornography use is associated with adherence to traditional gender role norms, beliefs in notions of women as sex objects, and acceptance of dating and sexual violence. Given that these harmful beliefs may impact adolescents’ current and future sexual and relationship behaviors, and contribute to dating violence and sexual assault perpetration, it is important to understand how adolescents can [...]

New Research Published on the Protective Influence of Critical Media Attitudes on Adolescent Sexual and Relationship HealthElizabeth Porter2023-08-30T14:35:45+00:00

The American Educational Research Journal Publishes the Results of an Evaluation of the Connected Scholars Program

Elizabeth Porter2023-08-24T21:03:28+00:00

August 24, 2023, Durham, NC – The college years are often a time of great change and new responsibilities, and it can be difficult for students to adjust to these new responsibilities without a diverse network of support. The connections, relationships, and resources available to students, called social capital, impact college students’ academic and career success, and it is vital that students have the skills or resources available to them to build their social capital during the college years in order to thrive. Mentoring relationships are a form of social capital and a great source of support for college students. Students [...]

The American Educational Research Journal Publishes the Results of an Evaluation of the Connected Scholars ProgramElizabeth Porter2023-08-24T21:03:28+00:00

Interactive, Web-Based Training Course for STEM Mentors: Now Available!

Elizabeth Porter2023-08-24T18:24:10+00:00

August 24, 2023, Durham, NC – iRT is proud to announce the release of a new, multimedia, interactive, web-based training course designed specifically for onboarding STEM mentors! As the numbers of youth pursuing careers or higher education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) dwindles, there is a growing need for support for youth who may be interested in STEM subject areas and careers. STEM mentoring programs play an important role in inspiring youth to explore their interests in STEM, and mentors must learn the skills and knowledge needed to provide high quality support to mentees who are underrepresented in these [...]

Interactive, Web-Based Training Course for STEM Mentors: Now Available!Elizabeth Porter2023-08-24T18:24:10+00:00

Trials Journal Publishes Study Protocol for an Evaluation of DigiKnowIt News: Teen

Elizabeth Porter2023-08-31T14:54:02+00:00

August 22, 2023, Durham, NC –Recruiting youth to participate in pediatric clinical trials can pose challenges for researchers. Many teens have limited knowledge about research and are hesitant to agree to participate. Researchers must locate or develop recruitment materials that explain the clinical trial requirements in a developmentally appropriate and compelling way to inform and educate teens who might be considering participating in a clinical trial. Otherwise, researchers risk being unable to recruit the targeted sample size. When a sufficient number of participants are not recruited and retained in a study, this limits the ability to answer important health questions and [...]

Trials Journal Publishes Study Protocol for an Evaluation of DigiKnowIt News: TeenElizabeth Porter2023-08-31T14:54:02+00:00

iRT Researchers to Present for the ECHO@edu: Campus Violence Prevention Program

Elizabeth Porter2023-07-19T12:56:13+00:00

July 19, 2023, Durham, NC – iRT Research Scientists Drs. Reina Evans-Paulson and Christina Dodson will lead an interactive Zoom session for the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance’s ECHO@edu: Campus Violence Prevention program on August 10, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The ECHO program is an international evidence-based model for training and peer-to-peer learning. The Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance invites staff at colleges, universities, and community colleges to join to discuss best practices in sexual and intimate partner violence primary prevention and new developments in peer education programs. Evans-Paulson and Dodson will present a session entitled [...]

iRT Researchers to Present for the ECHO@edu: Campus Violence Prevention ProgramElizabeth Porter2023-07-19T12:56:13+00:00

iRT to Lead Media Literacy Education Workshop at the National Prevention Network Conference

Elizabeth Porter2023-07-17T18:53:17+00:00

July 17, 2023, Durham, NC – iRT Senior Research Scientist Dr. Janis Kupersmidt will lead an interactive workshop at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference in Birmingham, Alabama, on August 17, 2023, to discuss iRT’s research on the use of evidence-based media literacy education programs and strategies to prevent or reduce substance abuse. The NPN Conference hosts prevention professionals, coalition leaders, researchers, and federal partners annually to highlight recent research and best practices in the substance abuse prevention field. The theme of the 2023 session is “Advancing Prevention Science Through the Lens of Change: How Sweet It Is!” Dr. Kupersmidt will [...]

iRT to Lead Media Literacy Education Workshop at the National Prevention Network ConferenceElizabeth Porter2023-07-17T18:53:17+00:00

iRT Seeks STEM Mentoring Programs for Participation in Study of Online STEM Mentor Training Program

Elizabeth Porter2023-06-23T18:12:54+00:00

June 23, 2023, Durham, NC – Researchers from Mentoring Central, a division of iRT, are seeking STEM mentoring programs to participate in usability and feasibility studies to evaluate a new online mentor training course for STEM mentors. The new course includes an adapted version of Building the Foundation, Mentoring Central’s foundational mentor training course, that contains revised content that is relevant to STEM mentoring and new content related to how mentors can support the recruitment and retention of mentees into STEM, build cultural competency, and identify, prevent, and support mentee’s exposed to microaggressions in STEM settings. Development of this course was [...]

iRT Seeks STEM Mentoring Programs for Participation in Study of Online STEM Mentor Training ProgramElizabeth Porter2023-06-23T18:12:54+00:00