The "Understanding and Measuring Social Power in Adolescence" Study is a five-year longitudinal research project exploring how we define, understand, and measure social power during adolescence. Adolescence is a key period where major changes in social goals and behavior emerge, yet research has struggled to capture how young people understand and use social power in their daily lives. 

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This study focuses on cooperative versus coercive uses of power and examines the individual, relational, and structural factors that shape these strategies. Using self-report, peer-report, social network data, open-ended surveys, and focus groups, we aim to guide the theoretical and empirical bases for interventions aimed at promoting prosocial uses of power. By tracking changes over time, the study will provide insights into how sources and expressions of social power evolve throughout adolescence, better informing research, interventions, and educational policies. ​

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This research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and is led by Dr. Anthony Volk at Brock University.