Welcome to the Hope Lab!

Dr. Elan C. Hope

Assistant Professor of Psychology

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Hope Lab Research

Learn more about our research projects!

In the Hope Lab we take an assets-based approach to explore factors that promote academic, civic, and psychological well-being for racially marginalized adolescents and emerging adults. We have two primary lines of research. 1) We examine psychological and contextual factors related to education, schooling, and academic well-being. 2) We investigate how sociopolitical attitudes, beliefs, and experiences (e.g., justice, discrimination, efficacy) relate to civic engagement from early adolescence into emerging adulthood. We examine what assets racially marginalized youth bring to their lives and communities and what characteristics can be developed and leveraged to support positive youth development outcomes for these youth. In the Hope Lab, we use quantitative and qualitative methodology to garner a more nuanced understanding of academic, civic, and psychological well-being. Our research is deeply rooted in the belief that while there are common developmental experiences among racially marginalized youth, individual differences and contextual variation require a deep exploration of diverse pathways to success and well-being. The numbers tell us what happens most often, what pathways are most common, and what is most likely to occur. The stories give us insights into the lives of our youth, and the meaning they makes of their own lived experiences.

  • Early adolescence is a prime time period for identity development. This mixed methods project explores the question: What helps Black early adolescents develop positive civic attitudes, skills, and behaviors?

  • Black and Latino college students are at increased risk of dropping out. In this project we examine factors related to retention, academic achievement, and psychological well-being for these students. Such factors include social support, racial identity, civic engagement, and financial factors

  • More excited information to come!

  • Through several datasets we are exploring racial identity and racial discrimination among Black adolescents and emerging adults. How is racial identity related to academic and civic outcomes? How do youth understand structural and interpersonal experiences of discrimination?

Meet Our Team

Dr. Elan C. Hope

Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dr. Hope is a proud alumna of Smith College were she received a B.A. in Psychology and the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) where she earned a Ph.D. in Education & Psychology. One fundamental question drives her research: What makes racially marginalized youth successful and well-functioning members of society?

Graduate Students

Accepting Doctoral Student Applications for Fall 2019
If you are interested in graduate school and research happening at the Hope Lab, apply to the Applied Social & Community Psychology program at NC State. Click Join the Team to find out more!

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Not currently accepting undergraduate RA applications
Are you interested in race, justice, and psychology? Are you interested in research? Do you work hard with a good attitude? Click “Join our Team” to find out more!

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