Pamela P. Martin, PhD
Interim, Psychology Department Head
Associate Dean
College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology
ppmartin@pvamu.edu
The African American Protestant Faith Communities Project (AAPFCP) is a research study
conducted by Dr. Pamela P. Martin, Professor of Psychology at Prairie View A&M University.
Churches and families represent significant institutions within African American communities.
Working together, churches and parents have important roles in delivering messages that teach
values to adolescents. The messages or values adolescents receive from churches and parents
during these years help shape decisions that teens make about work, school, and friendships.
The adolescent years can be difficult; children become more independent and participate in
activities away from the home. Dr. Martin’s multidisciplinary and ethnically diverse research
team investigates the many different ways faith communities support families in the rearing of
adolescents. Therefore, participation in AAFCP helps churches, clergy, parents and researchers
understand how adolescents incorporate religious messages into their daily lives.
Research Projects 1- Religious Practices and Theological Orientations in Context
Religious Socialization Project investigates the different socialization strategies churches and
parents impart religious values to adolescents. A goal of this project examines how churches
communicate race-related messages to adolescents.
Holy Hip Hop Project examines the role of sacred and secular rap music as a conduit to
facilitate faith among African American adolescents.
Faith Communities Psychometric Validation Study/CRIS Study explores the development
and refinement of the African American Protestant Faith Communities Scale (AAPFCS). The
scale, adult and adolescent versions, examines the theological orientations within African
American Christian faith communities
Research Projects 2- Emerging Adulthood Study
The Emerging Adulthood Study examines how psychological processes shape the experiences
of African-American students in social institutions, such as colleges and universities. Research
has documented the important role of cultural and religious attitudes in the daily lives among
African Americans. This research seeks to examine the interaction of cultural, personal, and
religious identities of college students. We are interested in understanding how these different
beliefs shape identity development for individuals traversing from late adolescence to adulthood.