RIPP (Religion, Ideology, Politics, & Prejudice) Lab
Who are we and What do we do?
The RIPP Lab examines how the content and structure of political and religious attitudes affects group identity and intergroup relations. We seek to answer questions such as:
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How and why do strong or rigid attitudes lead to prejudice toward ideological outgroups?
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Why do some motivations and cognitive styles "push" people toward one political ideology rather than another?
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What are the behavioral consequences of rigid ideologies in intergroup contexts?
For more information, visit the Research page on this website.
Information for Prospective Research Assistants
What do research assistants do in the RIPP Lab?
Undergraduate research assistants engage in a variety of activities that vary depending on the research project to which they are assigned. This has included building online surveys, coding qualitative data, conducting literature searches, cleaning and analyzing data, and more. Advanced research assistants eventually assist in the construction of research projects and may present our research at academic conferences or co-write an empirical journal article.​
What do I get from being a research assistant?
Research assistants gain practical skills in research design and data analysis that are beneficial for job applications and graduate school applications. They also build their knowledge of psychology and reinforce other general skills (critical thinking, public speaking, writing, etc.).
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How do I become a research assistant in the RIPP Lab?
UMA students interested in becoming research assistants should contact Dr. Zachary C. Roth via email (zachary.roth@maine.edu) with a resume and a short statement describing their interest in the lab. Research assistants typically begin work at the start of the fall or spring semester and must commit to a minimum of one semester of work. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have completed PSY 100 (Introduction to Psychology). Paid positions are advertised below. Otherwise, research assistant positions are on a volunteer basis or for course credit.