Ph.D., M.S.
Randi Spiker is an award-winning psychological educator and researcher, with expertise in the socio-cultural development of attitudes regarding gender and sexual norms and roles across the lifespan. She offers technical expertise and education in technology-facilitated violence and prevention for K-12, Higher Ed and independent organizations seeking to better understand and prepare to deal with concerns of digital violence and safety.
Dr. Spiker received her PhD in Developmental Science Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Social and Cultural Psychology at Florida International University. Her research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the impact of technology use on the trajectory of human development and health. She has a special interest in how rapidly advancing technologies, including generative AI, may be impacting American youth and emerging adults.
In studying technology-based violence, the effectiveness of violence prevention programs, victim help-seeking, and the incongruencies of victim blaming behavior, there are often wide gaps between what a person says they believe, how they act, and how they justify how they and others act. Dr. Spiker’s examination of human development within the White cis-heteronormative patriarchy of American culture suggests that many of these contradictions have roots in the various internalized gender, sexual and racial norms of American culture.
As a researcher and educator, social justice lies at the heart of the work Dr. Spiker chooses to do, informing study designs, methodologies, and interpretation of the data. The importance of pursuing social justice also influences what is emphasized when teaching and speaking publicly.