Degrees

Ph.D. Psychological Science, Ryerson University (2018)

M.Ed. Developmental Psychology & Education, OISE, University of Toronto (2013)

B.A. (Honours) Psychology, Ryerson University (2011)

Research Interests

Sofia began the PhD program at Ryerson University in September 2014. She completed her Master’s in Developmental Psychology and Education (OISE, University of Toronto). Her primary research interests include evaluation of community-based programs, patterns of mental health, and risk/resilience models, particularly amongst marginalized populations in at-risk environments, including immigrant and refugee children and families residing in Toronto. Her dissertation focused on examining the validity and reliability of child/youth wellbeing and development measurement, as well as evaluating best practices to increase participation of young voices in the deconstruction of their development. She also examined the positive impact of a community-based educational arts program on the socio-emotional wellbeing for youth in their grade 8 classrooms in the urban centres of Toronto. 

Sofia completed a doctoral practicum placement (2016) in Santiago, Chile at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile under the supervision of Dr. Sandy Taut (Measurement Center, Department of Psychology). Here, she examined the validity of measures used to assess teacher quality and student learning in the Chilean public education system, using a mixed-method design and multilevel modelling to examine student- and teacher-level outcomes nested within schools. This placement was an invaluable international experience to work and collaborate within a different country, institution, and with cultural sensitivity. Sofia also served as the president of the Psychology Graduate Students Association from 2014-2016. 

Her goals for the future are to continue working with marginalized groups who are particularly vulnerable for mental health issues, and investigate ways to support their healthy development and socio-emotional, educational, and intrafamilial success, nationally and internationally.

Publications

Taut, S.,Jiménez, D., Puente-Duran, S.,Palacios, D., Godoy, M. I., & Manzi, J. (2018). Evaluating the quality of teaching: Can there be valid differentiation in the middle of the performance distribution? School Effectiveness and School Improvement (SESI), 1-21.

Browne, D. T., Kumar, A., Puente-Duran, S., Georgiades, K., Leckie, G., & Jenkins, J. (2017). Emotional problems among recent immigrants and parenting status: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Immigrants in Canada. PLOS ONE, 12(4).

Beiser, M., Puente-Duran, S., & Hou, F. (2015). Cultural distance and emotional problems among immigrant and refugee youth in Canada: Findings from the New Canadian Child and Youth Study (NCCYS). International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 49, 33-45.

McShane, K., Puente-Duran, S., & Thomas, F. C. (2015). Realist Evaluation for A Nation of Unique Communities. Canadian Government Executive Magazine, 21(5).

Browne, D. T., Plamondon, A., Prime, H., Puente-Duran, S. & Wade, M. (2015). Cumulative social disadvantage and developmental health: An argument for the importance of family-wide methodology. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science, 6(4), 397-407.

Browne, D. T., Puente-Duran, S., Shlonsky, A., Thabane, L., & Verticchio, D. (2014). A randomized trial of Wraparound facilitation versus usual child protection services. Research on Social Work Practice, 26(2), 168-179.