Research is a way for us to answer questions about the world around us.

When you ask yourself a question, such as "What is the best boba shop in Boston?" you likely do some research to try and figure out the answer. You might search your question on a search engine like Google or read reviews from different sources like Yelp. You may then evaluate which source is the most credible. For example, you would probably trust a review more from someone who's tried every boba shop in Boston than someone who has never tried boba before. By gathering this information and evaluating which one is the most credible, you are hoping to answer your question in a way that is well-informed. You want to make sure that the answer you find is not just a random guess.

As researchers, we follow a very similar process. Put simply, our job is to ask questions and try to figure out the answer. In particular, we try to answer questions that we may not necessarily have a scientific answer for yet. For example, the BOBA Project team is asking questions like "How do Chinese/Taiwanese teens and their parents/guardians feel about what it means to be Asian/Asian American? And how may their perspectives influence their physical and mental well-being?"

To answer our questions, researchers create research studies to collect information. In the BOBA Project, we are trying to learn different perspectives and experiences through surveys and Zoom sessions. By collecting information, we can answer questions in a way that is well-informed and backed up by evidence.

As researchers, we first collect information. Then, we organize, analyze, and interpret it so that we can answer questions, predict trends, or solve problems. In this way, we can create new knowledge, provide evidence for new policies and programs, and document things that are happening in the world around us.

We then share our findings in a variety of ways, such as writing reports or talking to community members. In particular, the BOBA Project team has shared research findings about the experiences of Asians/Asian Americans, such as how the pandemic has affected the well-being of Asian/Asian American youth. You can see some examples of our research findings on Asian American families here.

By conducting a research study, we will be able to collect information to raise awareness about the unique experiences of Asians/Asian Americans, we will be able to record and document the perspectives of Chinese/Taiwanese teens and their parents/guardians.

Importantly, we can begin to create evidence-based answers for questions many families may have, such as:

• How can I better support my teen as an Asian/Asian American living in the United States?

• How can I help my parent/guardian better understand how I feel about important Asian American issues happening in the world today?

• How can I talk about my experiences as an Asian/Asian American, such as experiencing anti-Asian discrimination or facing racial stereotypes?

By answering questions like these, we can provide evidence to support new programs and policies that address current issues facing the Asian/Asian American community. We can also help schools and organizations develop strategies to serve the unique needs of Asian/Asian American youth. Our team is working in close collaboration with local community organizations, school districts, student-run clubs, and our Youth Advisory Board to ensure that the BOBA Project can have a positive, long-term impact on the Asian/Asian American community.

This research study is being conducted by the Developmental Risk and Cultural Resilience Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The research team is led by principal investigators Dr. Cindy Liu and Dr. Tiffany Yip, researchers with over 20 years of experience conducting research with Asian/Asian American families.

This work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the largest medical research agency in the United States (NIMH 1R21HD107512-01A1, NIMH 1R01 MH129360-01).

As a team of Asian/Asian American researchers, we know first-hand about the challenges faced by our community, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past few years, our team had more conversations with our family members, friends and coworkers about the experience of being Asian/Asian American.

Inspired by these conversations, we established the BOBA Project to try to gain a better understanding of how Asian/Asian American teens and their parents/guardians feel about issues related to Asian/Asian American identity (e.g., stereotypes, anti-Asian discrimination). Through online surveys and Zoom sessions facilitated by our staff, we hope to learn from the unique experiences of Asian/Asian American families.

Our goals are to:

1. Provide a space for teens and their parents to share their perspectives about being Asian/Asian American.

2. Uplift Asian/Asian American voices in conversations about racial/ethnic identity.

3. Build bonds—not just between teens and their parents/guardians—but also between researchers and the community.

4. Make a positive, lasting impact on the well-being of Asian/Asian American teens and their families.

You can read more about our story here.