What is uncertainty? How do people describe and respond to uncertainty? Is it possible for uncertainty to be channeled into opportunities for developing and growing one’s internal capacities? These are just some of the questions that drive Chaparrelle’s research.
Chaparrelle’s main research interest is on factors that promote mental health and wellbeing through understanding the relationship between uncertainty and human development. She is keenly interested in how visual and somatic methods can be merged with other qualitative methodologies to develop rich data. Themes of creativity, autonomy, identity, self-efficacy, play, leadership and belonging are central to this ongoing interest. Her work draws on theories of developmental psychology, visual arts, environmental psychology and economics to paint conclusions for sustainable changes that increase curious open inquiry and human development. Past research has also explored inequality, social justice and nature.
Recent Research Projects:
2022, “Unexpected Growth in The Path of Uncertainty: Psychotherapy as a Case Example.” Roundtable presentation at the International Transformative Learning Conference (April 6 – 9 , 2022).
2022, “Nature as Holding Environment: A Developmental Approach for Policy Change.” Poster presentation at the Children & Nature Network Conference, Atlanta, GA.
2021, “Portraits of Suffering and Healing Amidst Racial Discrimination and Disease.” Research Presentation at the American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
2021, “Learning from the Listeners: Harnessing Uncertainty As a Tool for Psychological Health” A poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science conference (May 26-27 2021).
2020, “Living with Covid19: The Good and the Bad Side – What Could the New Normal Look Like?” A team-based research project based at Columbia University Center for Technology Management and Columbia Global Centers Paris, assessing the pros and cons of the workforce moving digitally.
2019, “Nurture with Nature: Using Policy to Bolster Nature-Filled School Environments as a Catalyst for Health” A poster presented at the 2019 C&NN International Conference.
2019, “Re/Imagining the Border” A collaborative art installation presented at the CASCA-AAA Annual Meeting in Canada.
2019, “School Ecology and Design: A Pipeline to Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing” This project zooms in on the physical design of educational settings as an untapped breeding ground for generating social capital, health and wellbeing.
2018-2019, “International Transformative Learning Conference Action Research” and ” Exploring TC Action Research Findings and Contributing to the Inquiry” This collaborative action research project explores how the ITLC has expanded and evolved over the past 20 years and how to ensure future success of the ITLC and establish new generations of ITLC leaders. The data involves visual artworks from Chaparrelle titled “Art Leads to Transformation,” archival documentation and interviews with leaders in the field.