KAREN PARHAR
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
12666 72nd Ave
Surrey, B.C. Canada V3W 2M8
karen.parhar@kwantlen.net
EDUCATION
Ph.D., University of Saskatchewan
Applied Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, 2011.
M.A., University of Saskatchewan
Applied Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, 2004.
B.A. (Honours), University of British Columbia
Department of Psychology, 2001.
DISSERTATION
The Development of the Positive Self Change Framework of Crime Desistance
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Spring 2011
Psychology 1200: Introduction to Psychology: Areas and Applications (2 sections; 3 classes/week). Developed and delivered lectures and exams.
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Spring 2011
Pychology 2300: Social Psychology (1 class/week). Developed and delivered lectures and exams.
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Spring 2011
Psychology 3500: Interpersonal Relations I (1 class/week). Developed and delivered lectures and exams.
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 2010
Psychology 230: Theories and Treatment of Criminal Behaviour (1 class/week). Developed and delivered lectures and exams.
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 2008
Psychology 230: Theories and Treatment of Criminal Behaviour (2 classes/week). Developed and delivered lectures and exams.
Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 2002
Psychology 230: Theories and Treatment of Criminal Behaviour (1 class/bi-weekly). Co-developed and co-delivered lectures and was involved with web maintenance.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 2001 – 2005
Statistical Methods in the Behavioural Sciences: I and II, Research Methods and Design, Theories and Treatment of Criminal Behaviour, Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Processes, Statistics I: Univariate General Linear Models, Statistics III: Multivariate Statistics. Guest lectured, conducted undergraduate statistics laboratories, marked assignments and papers.
PUBLICATIONS
Parhar, K.K., Wormith, J.S., Derkzen, D.M., & Beauregard, A.M. (2008). Offender coercion in treatment: A meta-analysis of effectiveness. Criminal Justice & Behavior, 35(9), 1109-1135.
Parhar, K., & Wong, S.C.P. (2007). Seeing eye to eye: Parole officer and parolee views of crime desistance. Forum on Corrections Research, 19(1), 23-27.
Parhar, K. (2005). Offending Behaviour: Moral Reasoning, Criminal Conduct and the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Book Review). Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Wormith, J. S., Greenwood, A., & Parhar, K. (2005). Monitoring the progress of mentally disordered offenders in a prison mental health unit. Corrections Compendium, 30(5), 8-11.
Kennedy, M.A., Parhar, K.K., Samra, J. & Gorzalka, B. (2005). Suicide ideation in different generations of immigrants. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 50, 353-356.
Parhar, K. (2002). Violence and aggression in children and adolescents. In Children and Youth at Risk of Harm to Self or Others: A Review of Programs, Services and Related Issues. Report to the Department of Social Services, p. 197-246. Unpublished document.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Parhar, K., & Wong, S.C.P. (2011, June). The Development of the Positive Self Change Framework of Crime Desistance: Testing the Hypothesis. Paper presented at the 2nd North American Correctional and Criminal Justice Psychology Conference, Toronto, ON.
Parhar, K., & Wormith, J.S. (2011, June). Characteristics Related to Homelessness among Offenders Released from Federal Correctional Facilities in Saskatchewan. Paper presented at the 2nd North American Correctional and Criminal Justice Psychology Conference, Toronto, ON.
Parhar, K., Wylie, A.L., Hogg, S., & Kanyemba, R. (2011, June). You Don’t Want To, But You Have No Choice: Does Mandating Offenders to Attend Substance Abuse Treatment Work? Poster presented at the 2nd North American Correctional and Criminal Justice Psychology Conference, Toronto, ON.
Wong, S.C.P., & Parhar, K. (2011, June). The Predictive Validity of the Violence Risk Scale in a Community Sample. Poster presented at the 2nd North American Correctional and Criminal Justice Psychology Conference, Toronto, ON.
Parhar, K. (2007, June). Developing Culturally Sensitive Correctional Treatment for Aboriginal Offenders Using Social Cognitive Theory. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Psychological Association, Ottawa, ON.
Parhar, K.K., & Hrynchuk, A. (2007, April). Screening and discussion of the documentary 100 Days of Freedom. Documentary presented at the annual Research Day at the Regional Psychiatric Centre (Prairies), Saskatoon, SK.
Parhar, K. (2006, June). Aggressing against the aggressor: Does mandating violent offenders to treatment programs work? Paper presented at the biennial Symposium on Violence & Aggression, Saskatoon, SK.
Parhar, K., Wormith, J. S., Derkzen, D., & Beauregard, A. (2006, June). Coercing offenders into correctional treatment: Should we bother? Paper presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Psychological Association, Calgary, AB.
Parhar, K., Wormith, J.S., & Wong, S. (2005, June). The assessment and monitoring of forensic psychiatric inpatients: The development of a treatment planning model. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Psychological Association, Montreal, QB.
Parhar, K.K., Wormith, J.S., & Hemphill, J. (2005, October). Methodological and validity Issues of an adolescent outpatient sex offender treatment program outcome evaluation.Poster presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Evaluation Society, Toronto, ON.
Parhar, K.K., Wormith, J.S., & Wong, S. (2005, October). Issues related to program improvement of an intellectually/behaviourally challend sex offender treatment program. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Evaluation Society, Toronto, ON.
Parhar, K.K., Wormith, J.S., & Hemphill, J. (2004, October). Methodological and validity issues of an adolescent outpatient sex offender treatment program outcome evaluation. Prize winning poster presented at the Advances in Program Effectiveness & Applied Research Conference, North Bay, ON.
Parhar, K.K., Wormith, J.S., & Wong, S. (2004, October). Issues related to program improvement of an intellectually/behaviourally challenged sex offender treatment program. Prize winning poster presented at the Advances in Program Effectiveness & Applied Research Conference, North Bay, ON.
Parhar, K.K. & Wong, S. (2004, July). What best helps high-risk offenders from offending in the community? Parole officers and parolees tell all. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association Conference, Honolulu, HI.
Parhar, K.K., Wormith, J.S., & Shutko, K.A. (2004, June). Legally mandated and non-mandated correctional treatment: A meta-analysis. Poster presented at the Violence & Aggression Symposium, Saskatoon, SK.
Parhar, K.K. & Wong, S. (2004, June). “Seeing the light”: Positive Self Change Theory of desistance from crime. Award Winning Poster presented at the Canadian Psychological Association Conference, St. John’s, NFL.
Parhar, K.K. & Lawson, K. (2004, May). Post treatment needs of cancer survivors: Focus group experiences. Paper presented at the Canadian Evaluation Society Conference, Saskatoon, SK.
Parhar, K.K., Robertson-Frey, T., & Walls, S. (2004, May). Learning to build evaluation capacity: A view from the front line. Paper presented at the Canadian Evaluation Society Conference, Saskatoon, SK.
Parhar, K. & Alexitch, L. (2003, October). Evaluation of an urban sexual assault public education program: Unavoidable challenges and the benefits of going the extra mile. Paper presented at Showcasing Evaluation in Saskatchewan” “Sharing Lessons Learned” workshop presented by the Health Evaluation Network/Canadian Evaluation Society.
Parhar, K. & Grant, P. (2003, May). Evaluation of an urban crisis center’s persons in housing crisis. Poster presented at the Canadian Evaluation Society Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Parhar, K., Camilleri, J., & Robertson-Frey, T. (2003, June). Applied Social Psychology: Describing and Discussing a Growing Field. Conversation Session presented at the Canadian Psychology Association Conference, Hamilton, ON.
Parhar, K. & Alexitch, L. (2003, June). Evaluation of an urban sexual assault and information centre’s public education program. Poster presented at the Canadian Psychological Association conference, Hamilton, ON.
Parhar, K., Kennedy, M.A., Samra, J. & Gorzalka, B. (2001, June). Suicide risk in different generations of immigrants. Poster presented to the Canadian Psychology Association Conference, Lavalle, QB.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Senior Research and Evaluation Analyst, Program Effectiveness, Statistics and Applied Research Unit, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Government of Ontario, May – December 2010
Developed surveys, conducted statistical analyses, completed final reports and summarized results in research briefs.
Research Associate, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, 2008 – 2010
Developed and executed a research study to understand factors associated with homelessness among federally released offenders in Saskatchewan. Developed an inventory of housing-related services, conducted offender interviews, key informant interviews, data analysis and completed the final report.
Research Assistant, University of Saskatchewan, 2008
Compiled a list of references pertaining to library storage.
Research Assistant, University of Saskatchewan, 2007
Developed an on-line survey, collected and analyzed data and completed a final report on the use of “Google” in research.
Research Assistant, Moore Chamberlin and Associates, 2005
Analyzed data and completed a final report on the Sturgeon Lake Health Survey 2005.
Research Assistant, Planning Committee on Immigration Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2005
Identifying potential graduate courses for inclusion in an interdisciplinary program on immigration studies, and identifying data bases and writing a final report.
Practicum Research Student, Regional Psychiatric Centre (Prairies), 2004 – 2005
Developed a correctional treatment planning model for the Bow Psychiatric unit. Consulted with treatment and management staff and developed a treatment plan with outcome indicators and a website template.
Internship Research Student, Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services, 2004
Conducted an outcome evaluation of the Burnaby Outpatient Clinic Adolescent Sex Offender Treatment Program which involved a literature review, data collection (file review/criminal records), data analysis and final report.
Research Assistant, Faculty Association, University of Saskatchewan, 2004
Conducted a document analysis and synthesis and developed a broadsheet of employment equity information for the “Commemoration of Reinventing our Legacy”.
Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 2003 – 2004
Conducted an initial conversation, interviews, transcribed and coded the interviews, and developed a structured interview schedule based on these initial interviews for the study “Devaluation of Foreign Credentials: The Psychological Impact of this Barrier to Integration into Canadian Society”.
Practicum Research Student, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, 2003 – 2004
Conducted a literature review and focus groups, developed and distributed a mail-out survey, and completed the data analysis and final report in a study assessing the psychosocial needs of cancer patients after the cessation of treatment.
Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 2003 – 2004
Conducted revisions of the manual and data analysis and presented the statistical results of the Level of Service Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI).
Research Assistant, Department of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, 2003
Developed and revised a survey, conducted statistical analyses and reported the results of an employment equity survey.
Practicum Research Student, Regional Psychiatric Centre (Prairies), 2002 - 2003
Conducted a process evaluation of the Wellspring Program for low-functioning sex offenders. Developed and administered an interview protocol, conducted statistical analysis, completed and presented the final report.
Internship Research Student, Saskatoon Crisis and Intervention Service, 2002
Conducted an evaluation of the Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service. Reviewed records, developed interview protocol, conducted statistical analysis, and completed a final report.
Practicum Research Student, Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre, 2001- 2002
Conducted an outcome evaluation of the educational information sessions. Administered and developed a survey, conducted statistical analyses, and completed and presented a final report.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Research Award. Housing and Homelessness of Federal Offenders Released in Saskatchewan. Forensic
Behavioural Sciences & Justice Studies Initiative, 2010.
First prize. Student poster competition. Advances in Program Effectiveness & Applied Research Conference, 2004.
Second prize. Student poster competition. Advances in Program Effectiveness & Applied Research Conference, 2004.
Canadian Psychological Association Criminal Justice Section Student Poster Award Winner, 2004.
First Round Winner in Canadian Evaluation Society Conference Case Competition, 2004.
Finalist in Canadian Evaluation Society Conference Case Competition, 2002.
Graduate Teaching Fellowship, University of Saskatchewan, 2001-2005.
Outstanding Student Initiative Scholarship, University of British Columbia, 1997-1999.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA; student affiliate)
American Psychological Association (APA; student affiliate)
Canadian Evaluation Society (CES; student affiliate)
UBC Golden Key Member
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Improving Government Programs with Comprehensive Data Collection. SPSS Inc., May 2006. Online event.
Violence Risk Scale (VRS) Training. Regional Psychiatric Centre, January 2005 & 2009. Saskatoon, SK.
Level of Service Inventory (Saskatchewan) Two-day Workshop. October, 2004. Saskatoon, SK.
Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) Workshop (2004). Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services, Burnaby, BC.
Custody & Caring Pre-conference Workshop: Youth at Risk: A Multidisciplinary Workshop (2003), Saskatoon, SK.
Canadian Psychological Association Pre-conference workshop: Understanding teams: Implications for practice and research in team effectiveness and leadership (2003), Hamilton, Ontario.
Canadian Evaluation Society Pre-conference workshop: From concept to reality: Implementing an accountability framework – Views from the front line (2003), Vancouver, British Columbia.
Gwenna Moss Teaching and Learning Center Certificate: University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. (August 2002).
Canadian Evaluation Society Pre-conference workshop: Logic Models/Results Chain (2002), Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Axis II Personality Disorders Training (SCID): University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. (2000).
Stepwise Interview Training: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. (2000).
Toastmaster’s Public Speaking Certificate: Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC. (July 2000).
FILM DOCUMENTARIES
“STOLEN SISTERS” (2007). Global Television. (60 minutes). Karen Parhar, M.A., Associate Producer / Production Manager. Documentary on missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
“100 DAYS OF FREEDOM” (2006). Global Television. (60 minutes). Karen Parhar, M.A., Correctional Liason / Researcher / Production Manager. Documentary on the release and re-integration of Canadian federal offenders into the community.
ACADEMIC SERVICE / COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Big Brothers Big Sisters Saskatoon. “Go Girls” Group Facilitator (2010).
Big Brothers Big Sisters Saskatoon. Group Only Volunteer (2009).
Big Brothers Big Sisters Saskatoon. Rock Paper Scissors Fundraising Committee Member (2009).
Program Evaluation Committee: Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre (2002).
Applied Social Psychology Graduate Student Representative: University of Saskatchewan (2002-2003).