Many students in the J.N. Andrews Honors Program are working on their thesis projects this year. For their thesis project, students are required to write a formal research proposal and defend it before the Honors Council, which is formed by professors from a range of disciplines at Andrews. This project must be completed by the end of an Honors scholar’s senior year, during which they will present their research at the Honors Scholars & Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium and later at the Honors Thesis Symposium.
In a series of articles, we will discuss the various projects Honors scholars are working on and how they are significant to those students.
Charisse Lapuebla (senior, speech pathology and audiology) has decided to conduct survey-based research on the factors speech therapists in schools consider when they think they should start to assess a child and begin using an assistive communication device.
Lapuebla decided to take on this subject because she is interested in working in schools after her graduate studies and wanted her Honors research to reflect this. Kara Cotter, a speech pathology professor, is also studying the topic, so Lapuebla is assisting in her research. Lapuebla said, “There is a lack of research in my field on this topic, so being able to contribute is very rewarding.”
According to Lapuebla, there is currently no research on what suggests when a patient should begin undergoing assessment. “Clinicians basically have to make an educated guess or rely on previous experience.” Lapuebla’s work will go a long way in helping her further develop her field and assist other speech therapy graduates.
She said, “I hope this research helps my ability to aid more kids, giving them access to assistive technology that I would not have previously known and would have helped them.” She wants to make a difference in the lives of everyone included in her field.
One of the biggest challenges Lapuebla faces when writing her thesis is the lack of research in her field and on her subject. She said that “because there is a lack of research, it is difficult to supply supporting evidence to findings.” Another challenge Lapuebla faces is the pressure from the research since what she finds would be a major resource in speech pathology and audiology. She said that she feels “a sort of imposter syndrome” as someone who is still an undergraduate.
On the positive side, though, Lapuebla hopes that her research “influences others to branch off and contribute even more” to researching her field and discovering ways to make the process of assessing a patient clearer. Lapuebla will be one of several students who will present their research at the Spring Honors Thesis Symposium on April 5 at 7 p.m. All may attend and find out more about her project and others.
Lapuebla shared, “I hope for my field to grow even more and for more research to be done that can help and support children to gain even more possibilities for communication!”
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