Microaggressions

Microaggressions are are subtle slights and indignities based on an identity like race, gender, or sexual orientation. My research has focused on understanding how students experience microaggressions and how those experiences are related to their achievement, motivation, and well-being.

In our most recent study, we developed an app called MicroReport and had college students report whenever they experienced a microaggression over the course of nine months. You can view the Android user guide here to see how the app works. The participants also completed surveys of their identity beliefs, academic outcomes, and psychological well-being every few months. Currently, we are writing up the results and exploring:

what “counts” as a microaggression
the relationship between perceptions of microaggressions and well-being
how students respond to microaggressions and what are the most effective responses