Palo Alto University's new Research Design and Data Analysis (RDDA) Center helps students develop the skills and confidence to conduct meaningful behavioral science research.
The research studies students conduct today can shape our understanding of mental health, improve clinical practices, and respond to challenges facing communities. Therefore it becomes critical, if not essential, to be able to transform an ambiguous topic into a testable question that we can use information to answer. This takes both curiosity as well as strong research skills that can be developed and refined through support and guidance.
At Palo Alto University (PAU), the new Research Design and Data Analysis (RDDA) Center is helping students by providing that guidance.
Housed within PAU's Office of Research, Assessment, and Institutional Effectiveness (RAIE), the Center offers research consultations, mentorship, and educational resources to help students navigate the research process, from designing studies to selecting appropriate methods to analyzing data to interpreting results.
For students pursuing research in psychology, counseling, social work, and behavioral science, this additional support can help strengthen their academic work while preparing them to contribute to their fields beyond graduation.
"Students often have vital research questions but need guidance on the best framework to investigate them,” said Research Design and Data Analysis Center Manager, Sadaf Saaber, MPH. “We provide the comprehensive consultative services and resources they need to design rigorous studies and provide support throughout the entire research process. Through this journey, we empower students to become confident researchers capable of driving meaningful change in the areas they are passionate about."
The RDDA Center also reflects how PAU is using student feedback to improve the educational experience and student learning outcomes.
Through institutional assessment and student input, the University identified a need for additional research methods and statistical support. The Center was developed to help address that need, making specialized guidance more accessible to students throughout their academic journey.
"We heard from students that additional research support would make a difference in their academic experience. This Center is a direct response to that feedback and an investment in helping students develop the skills to produce rigorous research that can have an impact beyond PAU,” said Assistant Provost of Research, Assessment & Institutional Effectiveness, Rowena G Gomez, PhD.
By strengthening the research experience, the RDDA Center supports something larger than any individual project or dissertation: preparing the next generation of researchers and professionals to ask better questions, evaluate evidence, and contribute new knowledge to behavioral science.
As PAU advances its vision of A future shaped by human understanding, resources like RDDA help students turn their curiosity into research that can inform practice, advance knowledge, and ultimately benefit the communities they serve.
Learn more: Explore research support and resources through PAU's Office of Research, Assessment, and Institutional Effectiveness.