CHURCH POINT, N.S. — An assistant professor at Université Sainte-Anne has been awarded $150,000 over three years from Research Nova Scotia to conduct research on the effects of screen time on preschool-aged children in Nova Scotia.
Caroline Fitzpatrick teaches in the social sciences department at Université Sainte-Anne and is an affiliate researcher at Concordia University’s PERFORM Centre.
She says young children are spending more and more time in front of screens, including televisions, mobile tablets and smartphones.
“It’s therefore important that we better understand their influence on children and their families,” she said.
The project will benefit from the collaboration of other researchers and partners: Elizabeth Harvey, professor in the department of education at Université Sainte-Anne; Rachel Barr, professor of psychology at Georgetown University; and Mark Asbridge, professor in the department of community health and epidemiology at Dalhousie University.
The Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) and La Pirouette, a family resource and service centre, are also partners.
Lisa Thimot, provincial co-ordinator of La Pirouette, affirms that the proposed research “is of great interest to us given our mission to contribute to the quality of life of our communities, provide resources to Acadian, francophone and bilingual families across Nova Scotia, and enrich the lives of young children and their families.”
Professor Fitzpatrick adds that the funding will also have “a positive impact on students since research assistant positions will be available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at the Halifax and Church Point campuses.”
Opportunities such as these can help students build hands-on research skills while engaging in experiential learning.
About Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne, the only French language post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia, offers university and college-level courses, as well as a French immersion program and customized training in French as a second language. Recognized for its programs as well as its unique living environment, Sainte-Anne offers experiential learning opportunities that promote student engagement and success, and an atmosphere that encourages a culture of excellence in research and development.
