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Center for Understanding and Treating Anxiety – The primary emphasis in the lab is studying information-processing biases that may lead to the maintenance, and possibly the development of, anxiety disorders. We use various paradigms that examine cognitive disturbances (e.g., attentional bias, implicit and explicit memory bias, interpretation bias) in anxious patients and normal individuals with elevated trait anxiety. Currently work is being conducted to apply the findings from experimental psychopathology and information processing to devise interventions for these disorders. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Alcohol Sensory Processing – Primary interests are in studying the physiological mechanisms of action of ethanol on the nervous system that regulate behavioral ingestion of the drug. Goals are to identify specific substrates with which ethanol interacts that are involved in controlling intake and to determine how variation in those substrates leads to excessive consumption. Research utilizes pharmacological and genetic manipulations combined with quantitative measures of ingestive behavior and in vivo electrophysiology to address these issues. Research Keywords: Addiction, Alcohol, Ethanol, Chemosensory, Taste, Trigeminal. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Marital Satisfaction and Mental Health Lab - Research in this lab focuses on how marital satisfaction is related to anxiety and depression among Mexican American and European American couples; how the relationship between marital satisfaction and mental health changes over time; and how the marital satisfaction of one partner affects that of the other. We look at ethnic differences; how acculturation and acculturative stress may influence marital satisfaction and mental health among Mexican American couples; and how various factors such as premarital cohabitation, children, and religiosity influence marital satisfaction. |
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Personality Measurement Lab - This research group examines the measurement of various personality dimensions and how they are related to work and health outcomes. For example, research in this lab assesses a variety of temporal and personality characteristics including Big 5 dimensions, time urgency, polychronicity (preference for multitasking), and time management behaviors and relates them to work and health outcomes in employees in a variety of different organizations and industries. Research Keywords: Multitasking, Stress, Personality, Selection, Personnel, Performance, Time, Organization. Currently accepting entering MS Students. |
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Eating Disorders and Body Image – Eating disorders and body image, including cultural and familial contributions to these issues; resilience and promotion of mental and physical wellbeing in college students; quality of life and relationship with the body among cancer patients and survivors; and mental-health issues pertaining to Latinos, women, and individuals from lower socioeconomic statuses. Research Keywords: eating disorders, body image, college students, Latinos, cancer. |
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Health Outcomes Studies – In these studies we develop, implement, and evaluate interventions designed to increase the health and well being of people with chronic diseases. In addition we develop interventions designed to increase cancer screening and prevent cancer. We also focus on ethnic disparities in health care and in other multicultural issues. We assess both psychological and physical health and conduct cost-benefit analyses of interventions. There are several research opportunities for students (undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate) interested in health psychology. COR Scholars Program – The Career Opportunities in Research (COR) Program provides financial support (stipends, travel, books, and tuition) for minority students interested in pursuing careers in the field of mental health research. Mental health is very broadly defined. The program is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health Research. Research Keywords: Health, Community, Disparities, Ethnicity, Chronic Illness, Mental Health, Interventions, Integrated health care, Cancer, Pain. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Intergroup Relations Laboratory – Research in this lab focuses on issues related to social identity, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. We explore how attitudes and beliefs about self and social groups operate outside of conscious awareness or control. For example, some of our work reveals that ethnic minorities (African, Asian, Latino, or Native Americans) are implicitly conceived of as being less American than White/European Americans. We are also investigating the influence of socio-cultural realities on the implicit academic self-concept of underrepresented groups. Finally, we conduct research on emotional responses occurring in intergroup contexts. Students are involved in all steps of research; they gain experience in designing studies, collecting and analyzing data, as well as interpreting results. Research Keywords: Intergroup Relations, Social Identity, Prejudice, Stereotypes, Multiculturalism, Diversity. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Associative learning- The primary focus of the research has been on the value of a signal for reward in a context of uncertainty. A series of studies have investigated the strength of the signal itself as one of the determinants of choice behavior. The findings have implications for risky choice situations, including gambling, across species. |
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Research on Organizational and Leadership Effectiveness (ROLE) Lab - This research examines a number of issues related to organizational and leadership effectiveness in organizations, including the following topics: organizational citizenship behavior (e.g., group norms for citizenship, gender stereotypes), services management (e.g., service climate, emotional labor), leadership (e.g., follower preferences for leadership, diversity and leadership), stress (e.g., stress in nurse managers, helping and stress), and groups and teams (e.g., group mood, safety climate, climate strength). Research Keywords: Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Organizational Psychology, leadership, organizational climate, organizational culture, organizational citizenship behavior, work stress, group norms, diversity. Currently accepting entering MS Students. |
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Infant and Child Development Laboratory - We are engaged in three related lines of research involving basic processes of language learning and literacy development. First, the children in greatest need of language intervention are subject to a host of difficulties including academic and psychiatric problems. We have developed a promising approach to predicting risk early using language comprehension assessment. Second, recent research suggests that language is embodied within human perceptual experience. We are conducting ground-breaking research on the relation between perceptual and cognitive processes and their neuro-physiological mechanisms. We are integrating traditional approaches to verb learning with studies of action processing to establish perceptual and physiological processes involved in word-to-world mappings. Finally, the current crisis in educational attainment has led to an increased emphasis on early literacy experiences and literacy across the lifespan. We are evaluating changes with age in the composition of the home literacy environment and the relation of specific subcomponents (such as shared reading and parent-child conversations) to language acquisition. Research Keywords: spatial learning, conceptual development, language acquisition, language comprehension, crosslinguistic, cognitive development, emergent literacy, literacy, school-readiness, executive function. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Psychosocial Factors in Coronary Heart Disease Risks and Outcomes - This research focuses on psychological and social factors in the etiology and course of cardiovascular diseases in three general domains 1) Psychosocial factors and interpersonal experiences in cardiovascular stress responses 2) Psychosocial factors and outcomes in cardiac patient populations and 3) Gender, ethnic, and cultural factors in psychosocial risk processes. Research Keywords: health disparities, socioeconomic status, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, minority health, social factors. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Aging and Dementia - My primary research interests focus on how memory processes supported by temporal and frontal lobe neurons are affected by age, disease, and brain damage. I am particularly interested in the use of model systems and human participants to study memory impairments associated with healthy aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cortical and subcortical dementias. As a result, my research uses a multi-faceted approach to examine brain-behavior relationships related to learning and memory. Research Keywords: Aging, Memory, Alzheimer’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Neuropsychology, Cognition, Neurodegeneration, Dementia, Hippocampus. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Decision Making, Probability Theory, Social Phenomena, Sports Psychology. Research Keywords: Sports |
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Culture, Work Values, and Organizational Behavior - This research examines the influences of culture on core work values, and the role of culture in moderating effects of values on attitudes and behavior. Most of this research is multilevel in nature, meaning that we examine not only the influences of national culture on the values and behavior of individuals, we also examine work value and attitude constructs at the national level of analyses and examine their joint effects on outcomes at the national level. Currently accepting entering MS Students. |
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Training Effectiveness and Motivation (the TEAM lab) - Our lab is studying factors that influence the effectiveness of non-traditional workplace training. For example, what motivates an employee to actively participate in diversity training? We are also interested in another motivational theory, self-efficacy ( i.e., confidence), and how that theory can be applied to a number of workplace issues (e.g., leadership, performance). Research Keywords: Occupational health psychology, Employee well-being, Workplace stress, Worker safety, Motivation, Training, Harassment/Discrimination, Labor unions. Currently accepting entering MS Students. |
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Tobacco Research, Cultural Diversity, and Health - Health disparities, with an emphasis on cancer disparities— The influence of cultural and gender factors on health and illness. This includes variables such as discrimination (e.g., racism, sexism, and other “-isms”) and acculturation, and how these variables may be related to physical and mental health. A second major line of research centers around the use of tobacco by youth, including how youth obtain cigarettes and other nicotine products illegally, and the effects of youth ethnicity, age, and behavior on the likelihood of being able to purchase cigarettes both face-to-face and over the internet. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Child & Adolescent Services Research Center- The emerging field of developmental psychopathology recognizes the interdependence of normal and abnormal development. That is, classical developmental theory and research informs our understanding of psychopathology, and in turn, insights from populations that evidence abnormal development can increase our understanding of normal developmental processes. Dr. Litrownik’s research is currently focused on identifying developmental pathways in children who have been maltreated. As part of a 20-year multi-site longitudinal project, Dr. Litrownik is examining factors (e.g., protective, risk) that result in adaptive (e.g., resilient) or maladaptive functioning.The ultimate goal of this research is to identify and develop appropriate interventions for these children. Students who participate in this lab are typically trained to conduct face-to-face interviews with caregivers and children. In addition, there are opportunities to work on special projects (e.g., design newsletters), abstract records, and develop interview protocols. These activities are designed to familiarize students with the project (e.g., goals, methods) as well as prepare them for the task of completing theses and dissertations. |
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Psychosocial, Medical, & Multicultural Aspects of Adjustment to Chronic Illness - Research in this lab focuses on understanding psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness in patients, & their family members. Ongoing studies include: 1) evaluating problem-solving therapy for improving quality of life in men with prostate cancer and their spouses; 2) describing and treating fatigue in African-American cancer survivors; 3) examining the effects of healing environments on pediatric cancer patients; and 4) quality of life in patients with systemic sclerosis and spouses. Other studies focus on children’s and adults’ beliefs about physical illness and psychological disorders. Research Keywords: chronic illness, quality of life, measurement, assessment, culture, diversity, disparities, prevention, clinical trials, cancer, rheumatic diseases. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Threat, Emotions, and Stereotyping Lab (the TEST lab) - Our lab focuses on several aspects of social cognition including stereotypes, social comparison processes, attention, and information processing. More specifically, we examine the experience of stereotype threat, defined as the situational pressure posed by the prospect of being seen or treated through the lens of a negative group stereotype as well as ways to reduce the negative effects of stereotype threat. Members of the lab are involved in all steps of research from designing experiments to analyzing the results. Research Keywords: Gender, self and identity, prejudice and stereotyping, stereotype threat, social cognition, and intergroup relations. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Measurement and Evaluation Research Group (MERG) - MERG is engaged in research relevant to tobacco control, behavior-environment interaction, measurement, and program evaluation. Our ongoing work examines how microenvironments, such as homes and cars, become polluted with tobacco smoke constituents, how nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke pollutants, and how to better protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure. We investigate how smoking in homes, hotel rooms, and cars can lead to persistent pollution of these micro environments and how nonsmokers may be exposed to toxic tobacco smoke constituents weeks or months after the last cigarette was extinguished. The goal of this research is to design better strategies to protect nonsmokers from secondhand and thirdhand smoke. We also investigate new methods to improve the validity of self-reports, especially retrospective quantitative estimates, by developing measurement strategies that rely on cognitive models of information processing. Specifically, we apply fuzzy set models of magnitude estimates to better reflect how humans encode, process, and communicate quantitative information. Last but not least, we are interested in applying meta-analysis and other methods to probe the generalizability of causal relationships. Research Keywords: tobacco control, behavior-environment interaction, measurement, evaluation, meta-analysis, generalizability of causal relationships , validity of meta-analytic conclusions, tobacco smoke pollution, microenvironments, secondhand smoke, secondhand smoke exposure, thirdhand smoke, thirdhand smoke exposure, tobacco policies , validity of self-reports, retrospective quantitative estimates, cognitive models of information processing, fuzzy set theory, fuzzy set models of magnitude estimates. Currently accepting entering MS Students. |
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Alcohol Research Lab - Several ongoing studies are investigating the influence of prenatal alcohol exposure on changes in brain and behavior. Prenatal alcohol exposure is considered the leading known cause of mental retardation, most severly Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). We study neuropsychological, cognitive, and behavioral problems seen in children with FAS and less severe manifestations. There are ample and varied research opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate students interested in neuropsychology, Behavioral Teratology, Physiological Psychology, and/or Neuroscience. Research Keywords: Alcohol, behavioral teratology, neuropsychology, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, prenatal alcohol exposure, fetal alcohol syndrome, Jacobsen syndrome. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Cognitive Sex Differences - Organizational and activational influences of sex steroids on cognitive sex differences in humans and animals. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Brain and Spatial Cognitive Development in Children - Brain and spatial cognitive development in typically developing children and children with perinatal brain injury. Magnetic resonance-based neuroimaging methods to study brain function and structure in typical and atypical pediatric populations. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Brain Development Imaging Lab - We study functional and anatomical brain development in neurotypical children and those with developmental disorders (especially autism). Research applies multimodal magnetic resonance imaging techniques (functional and functional connectivity MRI, anatomical volumetrics, diffusion tensor imaging and tractography, MR spectroscopy), as well as eye-tracking, behavioral, and neuropsychological measures. Research Keywords: Brain development, autism spectrum disorders, functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, brain networks, cognition, emotion, sensorimotor function. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Life-Span Human Senses Lab - The Life-Span Human Senses Laboratory pursues biomedical research projects, funded by the NIH, in the following areas: life-span aging of the senses, particularly taste and olfaction; sensation, perception and cognition in Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias using psychological, neuro-psychological, event-related potential and neuroimaging techniques. Students are integrated into the research at all levels, including testing human subjects, data reduction and analysis, presentations to the laboratory group and (when appropriate) at regional and national conferences. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Social Development Lab - Students will learn about methods for examining developmental change and recent empirical research in the areas of cognitive, affective, and social development. Students will also be given opportunities to develop competencies in interviewing children and their families, in conducting observations of social interactions, and in data preparation, aggregation and analyses. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Social Influence and Group Dynamics Laboratory- Groups, especially those in the minority, influence others for various reasons. For example, others’ support may be instrumental toward other goals (e.g., getting elected), or it may be a goal in itself (e.g., getting accepted). How do motives that drive social influence affect targets’ reactions to influence. How do successful groups (e.g., minorities that become majorities) react to their success depending on what motivated their efforts to influence others? This research focuses on motivated social influence and group dynamics in the aftermath of successful social influence that restructures numerical positions, power, and status within a group (minority <—> majority, powerless <—> powerful, low status <—> high status). Research Keywords: Social Influence, Persuasion, Attitudes, Group Dynamics, Minority Influence, Social Change. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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CRMSE – Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education - The Center for Research in Mathematics & Science Education (CRMSE) brings together researchers interested in studying how individuals acquire knowledge in mathematics and science. Facilitating and encouraging collaboration among faculty members from College of Sciences’ departments of Mathematical Sciences, Physics, Biology and Psychology, and from the College of Education’s School of Teacher Education faculty, CRMSE is engaged in activities designed to investigate issues of fundamental importance to teaching and learning. Research Keywords: Cognition, problem solving, instruction, learning, math |
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Behavioral Teratology - Ongoing research projects examine the effects of drugs of abuse (alcohol and nicotine) on brain and behavioral development. Several studies focus on the consequences of developmental alcohol treatment such as examining mechanisms by which alcohol causes CNS damage, factors that influence vulnerability to alcohol’s adverse effects and potential treatments for reducing the severity of fetal alcohol effects. Students are integrated into all levels of research and gain experience with behavioral testing and histological evaluation.Alcohol Research Lab – Several ongoing studies are investigating the influence of prenatal alcohol exposure on changes in brain and behavior. Prenatal alcohol exposure is considered the leading known cause of mental retardation, most severly Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). We study neuropsychological, cognitive, and behavioral problems seen in children with FAS and less severe manifestations. There are ample and varied research opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate students interested in neuropsychology, Behavioral Teratology, Physiological Psychology, and/or Neuroscience. |
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Stress and Coping Lab - This research lab examines how individuals perceptions of stressful events (e.g., appraisals, attributions) influence the coping methods that they employ to diminish the negative emotion associated with the stressful event and/or eliminate the stressor altogether. We are interested in the role that personality dimensions (e.g., neuroticism, openness) and culture/ethnicity play in shaping these perceptions and the possible positive growth that one can realize from successfully coping with a stressor. Research Keywords: stress, coping, cancer, quality of life, statistics, measurement, psychometrics. Currently accepting entering MA and MS Students. |
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Stereotyping and Emotions (STEM) Lab - Areas of interest include category differentiation and inter-group evaluative bias, the formation of stereotyping and prejudice in groups and the implications for information processing. Dr. Sadler has studied emotions, attributions and policy endorsement in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Her current research involves investigation of cognitive control and unconscious racial biases in decision-making in police officers. Currently accepting entering MA and MS Students. |
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The sense of taste is the monitor that determines which chemicals from the external environment are permitted to become part of the tightly controlled biochemical environment within each of us. It protects us from poisons and goads us to consume the macronutrients carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and salt. The manner in which taste detects this variety of chemicals is now reasonably well understood. We investigate the neural code through which it carries out its subsequent tasks of (1) orchestrating reflexes to reject or to swallow, (2) analyzing the quality and intensity of each chemical, and (3) imbuing this analysis with an emotional tone of pleasure or disgust. This has taken us from hindbrain to cortex, with the goal of comprehending the taste signal, and determining how that signal drives eating behavior. |
 Jennifer Thomas, Ph.D |
Behavioral Teratology - Ongoing research projects examine the effects of drugs of abuse (alcohol and nicotine) on brain and behavioral development. Several studies focus on the consequences of developmental alcohol treatment such as examining mechanisms by which alcohol causes CNS damage, factors that influence vulnerability to alcohol’s adverse effects and potential treatments for reducing the severity of fetal alcohol effects. Students are integrated into all levels of research and gain experience with behavioral testing and histological evaluation. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Differences Among Generations - This research explores how generations differ in personality traits and attitudes through meta-analysis (using statistics to analyze existing data from journal articles). Current projects explore changes in alienation, interpersonal trust, and psychiatric symptoms; virtually any psychological trait can be studied with this method. Research Keywords: Generations, Birth cohort, Personality, Narcissism, Social psychology, Cultural change, Culture, Self-esteem, Gender roles, Anxiety. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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SDSU Youth Violence Prevention Lab - Research in this lab focuses on the study of physical and sexual violence in the context of a romantic relationship and the use of scientific findings toward the development, implementation, and evaluation of dating violence prevention programs. The lab will also be implementing a campus-wide sexual health survey. Psychology Student Outcomes Assessment – This lab focuses on the tracking and outcome assessment of SDSU psychology students. Students in this lab will assist in the collection, design, and analysis of data. Opportunities for independent projects exist. Currently accepting entering MA and MS Students. |
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Culture, Cognition, and Cognitive Development - We investigate cultural differences in cognitive development across the lifespan and seek to explain differences by identifying the particular worldviews, cultural activities, and language practices that are causally connected to specific concepts and mental models. The primary focus is on studying intuitive understandings of nature and science. Research includes fieldwork, structured interviews, and experimental studies, and students will have the opportunity to use a variety of tools to explore the questions that they find interesting. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Social Relationships and Health Lab - This research focuses on two broad areas: social relationships and health. We look at a variety of social relationships (friends, significant others, work colleagues) at a variety of stages within those relationships (new relationships and transitions such as marriage). We look at mental health (such as anxiety, depression, and self-esteem) and physical health (cardiovascular functioning like blood pressure and heart rate) and work-related variables (such as job satisfaction and burnout). We also examine interpersonal processes involved in social interaction as well as individual-level variables like personality traits.Diversity Training Lab – This research uses social psychological theories of compliance to examine characteristics of both the recruiter and the person being recruited to predict voluntary participation in an LGBT diversity training program (e.g., Safe Zones). We also examine effectiveness of and satisfaction with training. Research Keywords: relationships, health, cardiovascular, lesbian, gay, bisexual, prejudice, stereotype. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Mood Program (ChAAMP) - Research in this lab focuses on the development of effective and efficient interventions for youth anxiety and depression. The lab is also interested in probing the mechanisms of action of these psychosocial interventions. Current projects include a series of studies aimed at developing ‘practice friendly’ cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth anxiety and depression. Research Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Treatment, Children, Adolescents, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy |
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Lab- Research in this lab involves mental health services delivery for children, with particular interests in cultural issues, cultural competence, school involvement in services, and adapting efficacious treatments for culturally diverse populations. Research Keywords: mental health services, children/youth, race/ethnicity, culture, cultural competence. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
Assistant Research Professors
 Amy Drahota, Ph.D |
Implementation of evidence-based practices in community settings; mental health services for children with autism spectrum disorders; use of evidence-based practices in community settings; intervention development and effectiveness for anxiety disorders; university-community collaborative partnerships. |
 Inna Fishman, Ph.D. |
Main research interests lie in the domain broadly described as social neuroscience. Particular interests include neural mechanisms underlying social cognition in typical and atypical development, and understanding how these mechanisms ultimately give rise to overt patterns of social behavior. To this end, multimodal (fMRI, DTI) neuroimaging, is utilized to examine the connectivity patterns of brain areas that participate in neural networks for social cognition in children and adolescents with ASD, theorizing that abnormalities in connections among these neural systems can interfere with, and disrupt the normative social cognitive development in ASD. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
 Rachel Haine-Schlagel, Ph.D. |
Parent Participatory Engagement Project (PPEP)- This program of research focuses on developing and examining methods to increase parent active participation in child mental health services. Research efforts integrate both the treatment development and services/implementation science fields and are directed towards impacting community-based service systems. Currently accepting entering MA Students. Currently accepting entering MA Students. |
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Information-processing in anxiety disorders |
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Research examines the intersection of health and aging. Specific projects include examining sexual well-being in older adults and aging cancer survivors, sexual consent capacity in older adults, and emerging projects related to promotion of sexual healthcare in older adults |
