PhD in Sociology

Victoria Hoverman, 2015

Victoria Hoverman

Vicki Hoverman (2016) has an MA in sociology and a BA in psychology, both from George Mason University.  She is currently a doctoral student of sociology at George Mason University, and a graduate research assistant at George Mason University Cochrane Collaboration.  Prior to joining the Cochrane Collaboration, Vicki served as a graduate research assistant and computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) survey lab manager at the George Mason University Center for Social Science Research (CSSR).  Her past research experience includes survey research on HIV stigma amongst college students, Cambodian Youth Dance as a way of bridging the cultural gap between first generation Cambodian Americans and their immigrant parents, modern racism in the workplace, and human factors psychology utilizing a driving simulator. 

Vicki possesses extensive methodological training and experience in survey instrument design and implementation, programming surveys for telephone and web administration, training interviewing staff, and analyzing statistical data.  She will be focusing her doctoral dissertation on testing if participants respond differently to sensitive self-report survey questions about HIV, HIV stigma, and HIV risk behavior if the survey is framed using three different interviewing modes and if the identity characteristics of an in-person or embodied agent interviewer (i.e. race and gender) are manipulated. 

Vicki’s goal is to determine the most accurate way to collect honest responses from survey participants, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM) and college student populations.  In addition to her research experience, Vicki has served in adjunct faculty positions at George Mason University, Montgomery College, Northern Virginia Community College, Hesser College, and the University of New Hampshire- Manchester, teaching Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Sociology of Health, Illness, and Disability, Introduction to Sociology, Deviance and Society, Social Problems, and Child Abuse and Neglect.

Research Interests:  HIV/AIDS Stigma, Survey Research Methodologies, Health and Illness, Teaching Sociology, and Racism.

Accomplishments:

  • Published “Understanding HIV Stigma among College Students: Judgment, Blame, and Interpersonal Avoidance” with Gregory Guagnano and Shannon Davis in Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice (2012). 
  • 2008 Outstanding Sociology Graduate Student Award at George Mason University.
  • 2006 Graduate Student Paper Contest Winner for The Society for the Study of Social Problems, Racial and Ethnic Minorities Division.