Research Scientist

Martin Van Boekel is a Research Scientist at Search Institute. Before joining Search Institute, Martin recently completed a post-doc at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, where his research was centered on two projects. The first project experimentally tested an online cognitive and motivational intervention for undergraduate Biology students. The second project focused on a mixed methods approach to gathering validity evidence for a biology inference-making reasoning measure. Martin received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Educational Psychology, where he focused on educational, cognitive, and social psychology. Prior to that he obtained his Masters in Learning and Development from the University of Victoria.

Martin’s research goals are driven by his past experiences as an elementary school teacher. His research program has two distinct and overarching goals. The first goal is to investigate the factors that support positive youth development. Pursuing this goal draws upon his social psychology and statistical training. Addressing both of these research goals requires research spanning development, and the use of a variety of research methods and designs. This research goal is closely aligned with the research being conducted at Search Institute on developmental relationships. Martin continues to stay closely linked to the University of Minnesota as he pursues his second research goal, to understand how people learn when correct new information conflicts with incorrect prior knowledge. Pursuing this goal melds his training in cognitive psychology and research methods.

The Developmental Relationships in my Life: “No matter where my life takes me, be it graduate school or my new journey here at Search, I am lucky to have the love and support of my partner every step of the way.”

Education

  • 2017-Post-Doctoral Researcher
    Project Leader: Jennifer Cromley, Educational Psychology
    University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign, USA
  • 2016-PhD Educational Psychology – Psychological Foundations: Learning & Cognition
    Minor: Cognitive Science
    University of Minnesota, Minnesota
    Dissertation: Reducing Hindsight Bias: Tests of a Retrieval-Based Theory
  • 2011 –MA Educational Psychology – Learning & Development
    University of Victoria, British Columbia
    Thesis: Examining the relationship between achievement goal orientation and academic rumination
  • 2003 –B.Ed Junior/Intermediate Education – Math Specialist
    Lakehead University, Ontario
  • 2001 – B.Sc Statistics
    University of Toronto, Ontario

Selected Recent Publications

  • Van Boekel, M., Lassonde, K. A., O’Brien, E. J., & Kendeou, P. (2017). Source credibility and the processing of refutation texts. Memory and Cognition, 45, 168-181.
  • Van Boekel, M., Varma, K., & Varma, S. (2017). A retrieval-based approach to eliminating hindsight bias. Memory, 25(3), 377-390.
  • Van Boekel, M., Bulut, O., Stanke, L., Palma Zamora, J, Jang, Y., Kang, Y., & Nickodem, K. (2016). Using propensity score matching to assess academic and social outcomes of participation in school organized sports programs. Journal of Applied Development, 46, 31-40.
  • Maruyama, G., & Van Boekel, M. (2014). Action Research. In D. Dunn (Ed.). Oxford Bibliographies in Psychology.  New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Van Boekel, M., & Martin, J. M. (2014). Examining the relation between academic rumination and achievement goal orientation. Individual Differences Research, 12(4-A), 153-169.

 

Selected National and International Conferences

  • Kang, Y., Van Boekel, M., Bulut, O., Nickodem, K., Palma Zamora, J., Vue, K., Jang, Y., & Rodriguez, M. (2017). Interaction among gender, race/ethnicity, and school sports participation in youth development. Paper presented at the annual American Education Research Association Conference, San Antonio, TX.
  • Nickodem, K., Van Boekel, M., Vue, K., Rodriguez, M., Bulut, O., Palma Zamora, J., Kang, Y., & Jang, Y. (2017). Investigating the role of support in athletes’ and non-athletes’ academic achievement: An SEM approach. Paper presented at the annual American Education Research Association Conference, San Antonio, TX.
  • Nickodem, K., & Van Boekel, M. (2016). School sports and positive youth development. Paper presented at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Palma Zamora, J., Van Boekel, M., & Bulut, O. (2016). After-school participation and the association with developmental outcomes. Paper presented at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Nickodem, K., Van Boekel, M., Stanke, L., Palma Zamora, J., Vue, K., Bulut, O., Kang, Y., Chang, Y., & Rodriguez, M. C. (2016). LGB students and school sports: A positive youth development approach. Paper presented at the annual American Education Research Association Conference, Washington, DC.
  • Stanke, L., Van Boekel, M., & Moore, E. (2015).  Persistence in school: Exploring the relationship between academic persistence and academic growth. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Education Research Association Conference, Chicago, IL.