Work With Us

The Health Communication Research Collaborative (HCRC) at the University of Kentucky specializes in working in interdisciplinary teams to develop and testing health communication programs. The HCRC includes a faculty of experts in health communication and the application of theory-driven principles of behavioral science to health interventions. Our graduate students enjoy the resources of our nationally ranked program (both in NRC and National Communication Association surveys) in health communication and receive hands-on training in applied, community-based research.

Expertise

We have several areas of expertise:

  • Conducting formative research.
  • Conducting large-scale media content analysis.
  • Developing health, communication, and behavioral surveys.
  • Designing individual-based approaches to prevent substance use and abuse.
  • Designing individual and community-based strategies to reduce cancer disparities.
  • Developing interactive, tailored communication.
  • Developing targeted communication campaigns.

Research Facilities

We have outstanding access to facilities and resources, including:

DCA Lab
(McVey 058)
The DCA Lab provides media monitoring services through on-demand access to television broadcasts. Features of this system include the following:

  • Permanent, searchable, streamable archive of television for all 20 channels being monitored
  • 300 TB of RAID storage allowing 2.5 miillion hours (11 years) of long-term video storage capacity
  • Television transcript search-engine, captured in real-time for efficient identification of subject-relevant footage.
  • Ability to search, view, and catalog television and transcripts via a web interface called COMMTV.

For more information about the DCA Lab, contact Scott Johnson at 257-4725 or scott.johnson@uky.edu.

Audio Recording Studio
(McVey 336)
The Audio Recording Studio is equipped with top-of-the-line professional audio equipment to record projects as simple as voiceovers or as complex as creating a CD for an entire band. It contains an Intel-based Mac Pro loaded with MOTU Digital Performer. Used primarily for audio production classes, the studio is also used by the student radio station, WRFL, for voiceovers, and researchers use the room for creating narrations. Scheduling of the room is through John Clark at 257-2810 or jclark@uky.edu.

Focus Group Room
(McVey 342)
The Focus Group Room has conference-style seating for up to 10 participants. Ceiling-mounted pan/tilt/zoom video cameras and microphones allow for digital audio/video recording of meetings. This room is used for conducting focus groups during the preliminary phases of research studies. Contact Nancy Harrington at 257-2295 or nancy.harrington@uky.edu.

Research Computing Lab
(McVey 343)
The Research Computing Lab has 10 iMacs installed, along with a projector installed inside of the room. It is used to provide computing support during research studies. This lab is conveniently adjacent to the Focus Group Room, allowing subjects to view media and/or complete a pre-test survey prior to a group discussion. Contact Nancy Harrington at 257-2295 or nancy.harrington@uky.edu.

Research Theater
(McVey 347)
The Research Theater has seating for 20 people and is used to show audio/visual stimuli in a relatively natural setting. Each chair can be equipped with wireless headphones, if needed. Programmable perception analyzers can collect and graph audience's moment-to-moment responses and Turning Point "clickers" are also available for polling and audience research. Other technology available in the theater include a presentation podium containing a Mac Pro computer, a blu-ray DVD player and CATV. For scheduling, contact Nancy Harrington at 257-2295 or nancy.harrington@uky.edu.

Other Facilities

PDA Survey Research System
Our 75-unit Portable PDA Survey Research System provides an efficient and compact method for conducting survey research in the field. PDA surveys not only allow for use of complex skip patterns and interactivity with audio/video, they afford greater subject privacy, provide multilingual support, and reduce literacy concerns by using audio narration.

Online Survey Creation Tools
A strong tool for the creation of web surveys is available to faculty and students.
Qualtrics allows users to easily create and host online surveys and then instantly analyze the gathered data. Access to Qualtrics is available by creating an account through UK's Software Download page.


From The Director

Our faculty and graduate students develop evidence-based and research-tested solutions to improve health communication. We do so by providing high quality undergraduate and graduate instruction in health communication (including an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in Health Communication), applied research opportunities that allow faculty and students to help make scientific discoveries that translate to real-world solutions to health communication problems, and collaborative professional development workshops to promote an entrepreneurial learning community at the University of Kentucky.

Please contact with us to discuss research or training opportunities!

Sincerely,


Nancy Grant Harrington
Professor of Communication, University of Kentucky
273 Blazer Dining
(859) 257-2295 (office)
nancy(dot)harrington(at)uky.edu