An Indiana University of Pennsylvania psychology major and sociology minor who has completed two years of research through IUP’s Undergraduate Summer Opportunities for Applying Research (U-SOAR) program was invited to present his U-SOAR research to an upper-level sociology class.
Eric Crawford presenting to the sociology class
Eric Crawford, from State Street, Wilmerding, presented his original research, “Application of Critical Race Theory in Video Game Settings,” to Hilario Molina’s Sociology Research Methods class. Molina is Crawford’s U-SOAR faculty mentor.
U-SOAR is a 10-week summer program that allows selected undergraduate students, working with a faculty mentor, to do original, inquiry-based research or creative endeavors, with several enrichment programs designed to complement their research and promote research success.
Crawford’s project studied how ethnicity is treated in video game settings.
“It is highly accounted that Critical Race Theory is very prevalent in many regular social situations,” Crawford said. “My project asked similar questions of 10 to 20 different ethnic gamers and compared results on the difficulty of character customization, like their real-life person, and other challenges they face while gaming. I wanted to determine if there was a connection between the information I gathered and how Critical Race Theory has a hand in why it is more difficult for people of color to enjoy video games and the gaming communities compared to individuals who are not of color,” he said.
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to present to the class, as I believe my project makes the information I gathered more digestible to a broader audience, including uncovering what I found to be systematic racism in gaming,” Crawford said.
During his presentation about his research, Crawford also discussed how his passion for video games evolved into a meaningful research project, his development as a researcher from his first to second year in U-SOAR, and the opportunities that have come from his undergraduate research experience.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see Eric come full circle—sharing his research journey with students in Dr. Molina’s undergraduate qualitative research class after benefiting from his mentorship as a two-time U-SOAR participant,” Associate Vice Provost for Libraries and Research Support Services and Coordinator of the U-SOAR Program Kelly Heider said.
“Eric’s presentation is a powerful example of how the guidance and support offered through the U-SOAR Program can inspire students to grow from mentees into mentors themselves.”
“Having Mr. Crawford share his research journey with the class solidifies the importance of students pursuing research on social issues that interest them,” Molina said. “‘Follow your passion, because it helps when things are not unfolding the way you expect,’ he told the class, referencing his first U-SOAR presentation, ‘Vision vs. Reality: The Learning Process of Research.’ First, having Mr. Crawford as a guest speaker in my class allowed my students to ask questions about autoethnographic research, and second, having Dr. Heider there, too, planted a seed in students’ minds about research opportunities beyond the classroom,” Molina said.
Son of Eric Crawford and Patrice Sherrill, Crawford is a 2022 graduate of East Allegheny High School. He is a dean’s list student and received a Promising Scholars scholarship. He is a member of UBORA Men of IUP and is president of the IUP E-Sports Club.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.