lecture recording on 15 January 2026 at 16.56.01 PM

Introduction

• Instructor dialogue about note-taking and introducing the graduate TA.

• TA Introduction:

  • Drew is a Ph.D. student in clinical psychology.

  • Educational background: bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of South Carolina, enrolled for second year in the program in May.

  • Research interests focused on:

  • Psychotherapy process: Understanding why therapy works and its effectiveness for different individuals.

  • Mental health processes: Investigating factors leading to conditions like depression.

Student Engagement

• Interactive student questions about Drew’s preferences (e.g., food).

• Drew shares experiences living in Mobile, Alabama and compares to Birmingham.

• Discussion of local crime rates and perceptions about safety.

Class Structure and Communication

• Emphasis on different class format:

  • Not a traditional lecture class; minimal formal lectures, primarily focusing on interactive components.

  • Course materials mainly accessed via Canvas.

  • Encourage students to reach out to Drew or other teaching assistants via Canvas for questions or clarifications.

Research Literacy

• Importance of research literacy emphasized:

  • Example discussed:

  • A COVID-19 news article inaccurately reported UAB as having high cases.

    • Actual data revealed only 239 cases (148