A Preliminary Model of Physical Pain among community-dwelling multiethnic older women

This is the latest NIH-funded grant of Prof. Lagana'. This research (in progress until 2019) will clarify factors related to a neglected research area, pain in non-clinical samples of older women. Its findings could be used to train health providers to decrease their implicit racial biases and increase their cultural competence skills when dealing with multiethnic older women in pain. They could also lay the fo...

An experimental investigation to reduce homophobia and increase empathy and knowledge concerning older LGBT individuals

This randomized controlled experiment is funded by an internal CSUN grant. Prof. Lagana` has created a feature documentary that she has hosted, directed, and produced on the topic of being an older LGBT individual. She is testing the anti-bias value of viewing this film on CSUN students. Her prior LGBT film, "LGBT United," has been used in her research with success, as viewing i...

A randomized controlled study to test the anti-bias effect of viewing an original documentary on homelessness

This is a research project funded by two CSUN internal grants. It is an innovative, film-based randomized controlled experiment on whether viewing a feature documentary created and produced by Prof. Lagana' will improve attitudes and knowledge about homeless individuals among the general population and among CSUN students.