Dr Shanu Shukla
Dr. Shanu Shukla is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellow with the Interdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society at Masaryk University's Faculty of Social Studies in Brno, Czech Republic. She specializes in media psychology and cyberstudies, exploring how digital media shapes human behavior, identity, and societal interactions. With a robust background in social and intercultural research, Dr. Shukla brings an international perspective, having visited numerous countries as a research scholar.
Dr. Shukla is highly skilled in a variety of research methodologies, including controlled and virtual experiments, survey-based research, and mixed-methods approaches. She is proficient in both qualitative and quantitative analysis, applying thematic analysis for qualitative insights and advanced statistical methods for quantitative data. Her research rigor and methodological expertise contribute to high-quality, impactful studies, many of which are published in leading journals and conference proceedings.
In addition to her research work, Dr. Shukla is deeply involved in professional service and academic mentorship. She serves on an international committee of the Society for Research on Adolescence and is a copy editor for the International Society for Behavioral Development Bulletin. Dr. Shukla’s commitment to advancing research is further reflected in her achievements as a Fulbright Scholar and as a recipient of the Society for Research in Adolescence COVID-19 Fellowship.
With over 12 years of experience in researching, mentoring, and teaching, Dr. Shukla is dedicated to fostering the next generation of scholars and advancing interdisciplinary insights into digital society.
Mapping Change: Conducting Scoping Reviews to Synthesize Knowledge
In a world where change is the only constant, navigating the dynamic landscape of knowledge becomes essential. Psychology, as a field, is tasked with both understanding and facilitating our adaptation to these shifts. With this in mind, this interactive workshop on conducting scoping reviews offers an essential skill for researchers, practitioners, and students seeking to synthesize knowledge systematically. A scoping review—a structured, iterative approach to synthesizing literature—allows researchers to map out, assess, and identify gaps in an emerging or established body of knowledge on a given topic. By conducting a scoping review, psychologists and other scholars can gather comprehensive insights that reflect the complexity of the evolving questions and trends in their fields.
This workshop aims to guide participants through the practical steps of conducting a scoping review, from defining a research question to identifying relevant literature and, finally, synthesizing and reporting findings. We will start with an introduction to scoping reviews, discussing how they differ from other types of knowledge synthesis (e.g., systematic reviews and meta-analyses) and why they are particularly suited to addressing broad, interdisciplinary questions in psychology. Participants will learn to formulate research questions that align with scoping review methodologies, structure inclusion, and exclusion criteria, and develop a clear search strategy.
An emphasis will be placed on hands-on activities, allowing participants to actively engage with the process. We will cover critical steps, including screening, data extraction, and mapping themes or findings. Participants will also explore the iterative nature of scoping reviews, learning how to adjust their approaches as they uncover new information and refine their research focus.
Attendees will leave this workshop equipped with a step-by-step framework for conducting scoping reviews, supported by practical examples in psychology that underscore the field’s response to societal and behavioral changes. Additionally, we will discuss strategies for presenting and disseminating review findings to maximize impact, aligning with the conference’s theme by addressing the role of psychology in comprehending change.
The session will be interactive, with opportunities for attendees to share their own research ideas, receive feedback, and network with peers interested in similar methodologies. Whether they are new to scoping reviews or looking to refine their existing knowledge, participants will gain valuable skills to enhance their research toolkit, positioning them to better understand and address the pressing questions shaped by our changing world.
By the end of the workshop, attendees will have the confidence and resources needed to initiate their own scoping reviews, thus contributing to a more cohesive and accessible body of knowledge in psychology.