Our Mission
The SPARK Lab is a psychology lab that researches youth externalizing behaviours, including ADHD, disruptive behaviours, and callous-unemotional traits. Youths exhibiting these behaviours are often overlooked or dismissed, leaving them without the care they need. The impact of externalizing behaviours is profound, affecting not only youths themselves but also their families and society as a whole. Through collaborative research, we aim to deepen our understanding of how to effectively treat these behaviours and ensure the successful implementation of treatments in clinical and community settings. Our ultimate goal is to empower youths to reach their full potential, while alleviating the burden on families and society. We are also committed to sharing our findings with diverse audiences and ensuring that our work is accessible to all who may benefit from it. This mission drives three interconnected research themes.
Develop, evaluate, and personalize interventions
This research theme addresses questions such as:
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What treatments work for whom?
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How can we enhance treatment effectiveness for youths who do not respond as well to existing interventions?
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How do we best sequence treatments?
We aim to develop, evaluate, and optimize interventions to decrease externalizing behaviours in youths.
Factors that impact implementation of treatments in routine care settings
This research theme addresses questions such as:
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What factors influence the adoption and integration of treatments in routine care settings?
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How can we motivate families, providers, and organizations to use effective treatments?
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We aim to increase the use and integration of effective treatments to reduce youth externalizing behaviours in community and clinical settings. ​​
Access, use, and quality of care for youths in routine care settings
This research theme addresses questions such as:
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Who is or is not accessing care?
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What is the quality of care?
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What predicts these care patterns?
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We aim to identify and address inequities in access and utilization of care for youths with externalizing behaviours.
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Our Values
Open Communication
Integrity
Collaboration
