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 Trent University Professor James Parker to Provide IQ Testing Expertise for National TV EventFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Prof. Parker to Appear Live on CBC Television’s “Test the Nation” March 18 Monday, March 12, 2007, Peterborough Trent University’s psychology professor and associate vice president of research James Parker led the team who developed the IQ tests for use in next week’s two-hour special event on CBC Television called “Test the Nation”. Prof. Parker will appear live on the March 18 program as the guest expert to interpret Canadians’ IQ results as they are received in real time on the show. “Trent University has a strong background in test development, which is why the CBC picked us,” explained Prof. Parker. “It was a fun project to do, and provided an excellent learning opportunity to work on with my team of graduate psychology students.” Recognized as one of Canada’s top experts in emotional intelligence, Prof. Parker is holder of a Canada Research Chair in Emotional and Health. In addition to his active research program at Trent, he teaches students from first-year psychology majors to graduate-level at the University. “All the proceeds earned by Trent through this initiative have been directed back to the psychology graduate students involved to support costs associated with their research,” said Prof. Parker. CBC associate producer Jane Mingay approached Prof. Parker last fall to ask if he would be interested in creating and standardizing the IQ tests for use in this interactive TV program, touted as the biggest test of its kind ever conducted in Canada. "We spent the part of the past summer working with the CBC producers developing the questions and revising them to ensure they accurately measured performance in five areas: language, memory, logic, math and perception,” said Prof. Parker. A faculty member at Trent University for 12 years, Prof. Parker has published more than 100 articles and chapters, mostly in the areas of emotional intelligence and academic achievement. He co-developed the Coping Inventory for Successful Situations - a widely used measure of basic coping styles, which was published in 1990. In 2000, he co-developed the youth version of the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory - the first reliable and valid measure of emotional intelligence for children and adolescents. He is co-author of the 1997 book Disorders of affect regulation: Alexithymia in medical and psychiatric illness, and the co-editor of The Handbook of Emotional Intelligence, published in 2000. Prof. Parker was appointed associate vice president of the Office of Research at Trent University in 2004. One of Canada's top universities, Trent University is renowned for striking a unique balance between outstanding teaching and leading-edge research. The University is consistently recognized nationally for faculty who maintain a high level of innovative research activity and a deep commitment to the individual student. Distinguished by excellence in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences and increasingly popular professional and graduate programs, Trent is dedicated to providing its students with an exceptional world view, producing graduates who are ready to succeed and make a difference in the world. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River. Together with its satellite campus in Oshawa, Trent draws excellent students from throughout the country and around the world. More information about “Test the Nation” is available at www.cbc.ca/testthenation. -30- For further details, please contact: For additional support, or to set up an interview with Prof. Parker, please contact: |
