Researcher Profiles

Chris Campbell

Chris Campbell, B.A. Hons. English & Philosophy (2010), M.A. Cultural Studies (2011)

Briefly describe the professor and research project you are working with.

I am working as Project Coordinator on two research projects with Dr. Catherine Taylor: a research program focusing on Canadian teachers’ perceptions of and experiences with queer-inclusive education; and a national inventory of school-based interventions aimed at reducing homophobic and minority bullying and promoting well-being among youth.

I originally connected with Catherine through a research methods course during my M.A. program. We had the opportunity in class to discuss a variety of research methods, many of which Catherine uses in her own research. While I didn’t have any grand designs at the time, I was very impressed by her research program, the breadth of methods used, and by the relevancy of her research. The following semester I reconnected with Catherine somewhat inadvertently when I took a position as research assistant for a network of Cultural Studies scholars at the university. This network was preparing a workshop with guest speakers and needed a basic survey of Cultural Studies programs and publications in Canada; I jumped on the opportunity for the chance to work with a group of researchers in my chosen field, even though I was already quite busy. Upon completion and presentation of this report at the workshop, Catherine approached me again and said, “When did you have time to prepare that? Why aren’t you working for me?” So I started working with Catherine—and it’s been such an amazing experience!

Why do you want to do this kind of research?

I am always interested in research that directly interacts with the world outside the university’s walls and that has the potential to make a tangible difference in my community. LGBTQ youth often have a more difficult time in school as they experience increased levels of harassment. And while LGBTQ youth are more and more often encouraged to hold on, to believe that life will get better after high school, this well-intentioned exhortation often sounds empty to harassed youth; the giants of today may appear as ants tomorrow, but the fact remains that they are still gigantic today. Research into LGBTQ-inclusive education practices across Canada has the potential to affect policy and influence school curriculum, which will make a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ youth across Canada. Education has the potential to work extraordinary change in the world, which is why equitable and inclusive education practices are so important.

How do you think this research benefits you in developing your skills and abilities?

This research has given me the opportunity to advance my methodological skills while exposing me to large-scale research methods. I have had the opportunity to expand my experience working with quantitative research methods (survey questionnaire development and, eventually, statistical analysis of the results), as well as giving me the opportunity to expand my qualitative research experience during the upcoming interviews and focus groups (both participating in interviews and focus groups, and assisting in discourse analysis). Yet this research has also been invaluable in exposing me to large-scale research design that meaningfully engages with contemporary issues.

What is the best part, or what has surprised you in doing this research?

The best part of doing this research is the people that I get to meet and work with—from the capable researchers on the research teams to the members of our wonderful advisory committee from the Manitoba Teachers’ Society. Even though it’s often viewed as a contested or sensitive issue, there are so many courageous and committed teachers and administrators working to provide safe and equitable spaces for LGBTQ youth in schools, which I find quite inspiring!

What would you say to students thinking about attending UWinnipeg regarding research opportunities here?

There are a lot of opportunities to work on original research at the University of Winnipeg. However, it’s very important to talk with professors and to take an active interest in their work. Obviously you won’t be interested in all the research that profs engage in for every class you attend; but it’s good to recognize what your personal research interests are, to read about research that’s being done by your professors, and to talk to people that have similar interests. Finding the research personally engaging will make you a better, more invested research assistant.

What are your personal goals, how do you hope to use your education down the road?

I plan to pursue my Ph.D., though I am still in the process of figuring out precisely what I want to study. My first love is English, though I truly enjoy the freedom that Cultural Studies offers and the possibilities afforded by the social sciences. That’s actually something else that this research has taught me: there are so many possibilities in my education and so many ways in which I could work with other academics in the future, even across disciplinary boundaries. This is why I’m especially grateful for my experience with this research and for my exposure to different research methods.