Sarah completed her PhD in Applied Social Psychology in 2021. In her dissertation, Sarah investigated the experience of receiving a pre- or post-natal Down syndrome determination to develop an understanding of how parents make meaning of this experience. She also assessed the extent to which these experiences align with best practice recommendations for relaying determinations. The results of this research provide recommendations regarding the strengths and weaknesses of historical and current determination practices. Her research interests are focused broadly on experiences in the reproductive health care system and informed reproductive decision making. Sarah has a strong background in program evaluation research, and has conducted several evaluation projects with public, private, and non-profit organizations.
Sarah is currently an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Regina. She loves to teach Social Psychology, Research Methods, and History and Systems in Psychology.
PUBLICATIONS
Williamson, L., Sangster, S., Bayly, M., Gibson, K., Lawson, K., & Clark, M. (2017). A needs assessment on addressing environmental health issues within reproductive health service provision: Considerations for continuing education and support. Canadian Medical Education Journal, 8(4), e65.
Sangster, S., Loy, K., Mills, S., & Lawson, K., (2016). Engaging first-year university students in research: Promise, potentials, and pitfalls. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. 7(1), article 3. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5206/cjsotl-rcacea.2016.1.3 Available at: http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cjsotl_rcacea/vol7/iss1/3
Sangster, S., & Bayly, M. (2016). “Anarchists”, “naturalists”, “hippies”, and “artists”: Beliefs about midwifery care and those who choose it. The Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice, 15(2), 38-46.
Williamson, L., Roberson, D., Gibson, K., Heimlick, M., Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2016). Evaluate this! A case for developing evaluation competencies. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 31, pp-pp. doi:10.3138/cjpe.274
Couture, J., Sangster, S., Williamson, L., & Lawson, K. (2016). Endorsement of abortion: The differential impact of social perspective on women and men. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 34(2) 210-220. doi:10.1080/02646838.2015.1124071
Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2015). Is any press good press? The impact of media portrayals of infertility on young adults' perceptions of infertility. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada: JOGC, 37(12), 1072-1078. doi: 10.1016/S1701-2163(16)30072-X
Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2014). “Falling down the rabbit hole’: The construction of infertility in print media. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 32, 486-496. doi:10.1080/02646838.2014.962016
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2020, November). Experiences receiving pre and postnatal Down syndrome determinations in SK [E-Poster]. Saskatchewan Health Authority Research Showcase, Regina, SK.
Sangster, S. (2018, May). Do we serve evaluation when we contrast it with research?. Flash presentation at the 38th Annual Canadian Evaluation Society Conference, Calgary, Alberta.
Sangster, S. & Lawson K. (2018, May). Evaluation and Research: Two sides of one coin or different kettles of fish? Oral presentation at the 38th Annual Canadian Evaluation Society Conference, Calgary, Alberta.
Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2017, September). “A lot of us that don’t have high functioning kids get silenced”: marginalization within the Down Syndrome community. Poster and flash presentation at the 37th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, York, UK.
Williamson, L., Bayly, M., Sangster, S., & Taylor, A. (2017, May). Collaborative evaluation and capacity building with grassroots organizations: Reflections on competent evaluation practice. Oral presentation at the 37th Annual Canadian Evaluation Society Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Sangster, S., Duerkson, K., Bayly, M., & Lawson, K. (2016, September). Women’s attitudinal, control, and normative beliefs about delayed childbearing. Poster and oral presentation at the 36th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, Leeds, UK.
Bayly, M., Duerkson, K., Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2016, September). “Later, baby!”: Age-related attitudinal differences toward delayed childbearing. Poster and oral presentation at the 36th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, Leeds, UK.
Couture, J., Sangster, S., Williamson, L., & Lawson, K. (2016, June). Pregnancy Termination: It’s All About the Context … Poster presented at the 77th Annual Canadian Psychological Association Convention, Victoria, BC.
Clark, M., Bayly, M., Gibson, K., Sangster, S., & Williamson, L. (2015, October). Maternal and infant environmental health: What do health professionals and service providers need? Oral presentation at the Prevention Matters annual conference, Saskatoon, SK.
Sangster, S., Bayly, M., Lawson, K., Krosnick, J., Silber, H., Stark, T., & Blom, A. (2015, September). A national survey of Canadians attitudes towards midwifery. Poster presented at the 35th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, Nottingham, UK.
Sangster, S., Fick, F., Gibson, K., & Lawson, K. (2015, September). A qualitative analysis of young adults’ beliefs about parenting and remaining childfree. Oral presentation at the 35th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, Nottingham, UK.
Sangster, S., Gibson, K., Fick, F., & Lawson, K. (2015, September). “I wouldn’t judge anyone… so long as you’re stable”: Young adults’ philosophies about criteria for becoming parents. Poster presented at the 35th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, Nottingham, UK
Gibson, K., Sangster, S., Fick, F., & Lawson, K. (2015, September). “They’re just weird ”: Young adults views of the childfree. Poster presented at the 35th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, Nottingham, UK
Williamson, L., Couture, J., Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2015, September). The differential impact of social perspective on women and men’s endorsement of abortion. Oral presentation at the 35th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Bayly, M., Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2014, November) "Baby in one hand, mop in another": A Qualitative Analysis of Young Adults' Beliefs About Midwives. Poster presented at the 13th Annual Canadian Association of Midwives Conference, Ottawa, ON.
Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2014, September). The Framing of Infertility in Print News: A Content Analysis. Poster presented at the 34th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, Valletta, Malta.
Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2014, September). The Effects of Alarm Frames on Consumers of Infertility News. Poster presented at the 34th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, Valletta, Malta.
Sangster, S., Bayly, M., & Lawson, K. (2014 September). “People Who like Organic Food or Go to Yoga”: Young Adults’ Beliefs about People who Choose Midwifery Care. Poster presented at the 34th Annual Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Conference, Valletta, Malta.
Williamson, L., Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2014, June). “Hey girl…”: The Effect of Ryan Gosling Feminist Memes on Feminist Identification and Endorsement of Feminist Beliefs. Poster presented at the 74th Annual Canadian Psychological Association Convention, Vancouver, BC.
Sangster, S., & Lawson, K. (2013, November). Midwife Assisted Births: Fine for you, But not for Me. Poster presented at the 13th Annual Canadian Association of Midwives Conference, Ottawa, ON.