Class: Seminar in Psychology - Applied Research & Workplace Stressors (Spring 2023)
Community Partner: Noblesville Fire Department (NFD) Community Partner Contact: Battalion Chief Adam Biddle Goals:
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Immersive learning courses at Ball State University are defined as "high-impact learning experiences that involve collaborative student-driven teams, guided by faculty members, where students earn credit for working with community partners to address community challenges through the creation of a product that has a lasting impact.”
During the Spring 2023 semester, 14 Psychological Science majors applied their research skills to better understand workplace stressors and resources common in the fire fighting industry and their potential implications for firefighter well-being. In the class, students first:
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Based on these experiences students:
Students also chose to further explore two additional topics: hiring & mental health. Students consulted with mental health experts to determine best practices for first-line responders, and also created an additional survey to better understand young adults' perceptions of hiring materials for firefighting positions. |
At the end of the semester, students presented their findings and recommendations to the Noblesville Fire Department.
*Photos courtesy of Ball State University.