Dr. Katherine Starzyk, director of the laboratory, is a tenure track Assistant Professor in Social-Personality in the Department of Psychology as well as a member of the Centre for Human Rights Research.

Falling under the umbrella of “social justice” research, Dr. Starzyk investigates the individual and social determinants of collective action. In her research, she aims to understand: (1) When people are likely to support reparations (e.g., an apology, some sort of financial compensation) for intergroup harms; (2) how framing intergroup harms affects intergroup relations; and (3) what intergroup harm frames are most likely to engage Canadians in ongoing Canadian human rights issues. Her research is intended to make both theoretical as well as applied contributions. Dr. Starzyk also has an interest in the accuracy of personality judgment, but this is, at present, a secondary interest.

Dr. Starzyk's research is conducted in collaboration with several students and faculty members. Dr. Starzyk will be accepting graduate students to begin in September, 2012. This site describes how students may get involved in the lab, a little about lab members, and lists lab publications.

Photo (2010-2011 lab group) from left to right: Katelin Neufeld, Alexa Yakubovich, Greg Boese, Maia Kredentser, Katherine Starzyk, Slade Rieger, Renée El-Gabalawy, Erin Braun-Janzen, and Richelle Ready. Missing: Agata Ostrycharz.