Featured Scholar: Veronica Derricks, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Psychology
IU Indianapolis School of Science
Research Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NySmRlvcKZE
Examining the Effects of Targeting Health Information to Black Americans
Professor Veronica Derricks' translational research program focuses primarily on understanding the psychological mechanisms that perpetuate disparities in health and academic outcomes. She conducts ongoing research in which she works with Black community members and primary care physicians to develop messaging interventions that can improve clinicians' delivery of targeted health communication. Currently, she has 5 experimental studies:
Study 1: In this survey, medical practitioners’ evaluations of information targeting were examined. Practitioners believed that targeting was a useful method of disseminating health information and that it would improve patients’ attention to the information and build better doctor-patient relationships.
Studies 2 through 4: These online experimental studies showed that receiving targeted information about HIV backfires for Black Americans, producing decreased attention to information, less trust in the information provider, and decreased intentions to engage in message-relevant behavior, due to social identity threat (e.g., perceptions of being unfairly judged).
Study 5: This online experimental study showed that receiving targeted information about COVID-19 backfires when the information is distributed by a White (versus Black) physician.
Professor Derricks' translation of research into improved messaging interventions for better health outcomes for Black Americans is another excellent example of how IU Indianapolis's faculty are TRANSLATING their RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.
Selected Publications in IU Indianapolis ScholarWorks
With several research works contributed to IU Indianapolis's free, open access repository, Professor Veronica Derricks has made translational research knowledge available to professionals, researchers, students, and communities around the world.
Derricks, V., Mosher, J., Earl, A., Jayaratne, T. E., & Shubrook, J. H. (2021). Real and Perceived Discordance in Physicians and U.S. Adults’ Beliefs Regarding the Causes and Controllability of Type 2 Diabetes. Health Communication, 1–12. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/27715
Derricks, V., & Sekaquaptewa, D. (2021). They’re Comparing Me to Her: Social Comparison Perceptions Reduce Belonging and STEM Engagement Among Women With Token Status. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 45(3), 325–350. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/27716
Derricks, V., & Earl, A. (2019). Too Close for Comfort: Resisting Relevance as a Lever for Persuasion. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/27713