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Student & Faculty Research

Our students are active researchers in psychology laboratories and research groups. The Department of Psychology offers many opportunities for students to gain research experience, including the ability to earn course credit for working in a research lab. Previous research experience is NOT necessary!

WKU Study Board

The Study Board is an automated online system for scheduling research participation in the Department of Psychological Sciences and the Department of Psychology. The information on these pages assists students, course instructors, and researchers in using the Study Board.

More Info

Student researchers and Dr. Im demonstrating methods used in the Translational Neuroscience Lab.

Student researchers and Dr. Im demonstrating methods used in the Translational Neuroscience Lab.

Student Research Opportunities in the Department of Psychology

Contact any of the faculty below to learn more about how you can get involved with their research.

Faculty Name Faculty Research Interests Lab Name

Sarah Bonis

My research examines how we can most accurately identify youth at risk for a variety of academic, behavioral, and mental health concerns. This includes improving measurement through studies of technical adequacy and practical utility. I am also interested in how we can use technology and other novel assessment approaches to improve accuracy, particularly for diverse student populations.

Measurement and Intervention Team

Pitt Derryberry

My research interests pertain to socio-cognitive development during adolescence and the college years with specific emphases on the development of moral judgment and self-understanding.

Research of Ethical and Social Topics (REST) Lab

Lisa C. Duffin

My research interest spans the factors that impact academic quality at many different levels (i.e., program-level, group-level, and individual-level) and in many different contexts (i.e., university, K-12 schools, lab).

The Academic Quality (TAQ) Lab

Rick Grieve

My research interests lie in the area of eating disorders, and right now I am investigating men's eating disorders, especially muscle dysmorphia. I am also interested in sport fan behaviors. I have a number of studies going in both areas through the Clinical/Applied Research (CAR) Group.

Clinical/Applied Research (CAR) Group

Thomas Gross

The Behavior in Education, Assessment and Results (BEAR) Lab focuses on applied research with child, family, and learner support systems. There are currently a few ongoing projects:

  1. Broadening Participation Research Project: Investigating the Integration of Mathematics into Biology by Reciprocal Course Content Exchange (NSF Grant #1719262).
  2. The Good Behavior Game and Student Motivation.
  3. School Psychology Diversity Training and Training Assessment.
  4. Family and Youth Assessments and Behavioral Outcomes in School and Community Settings.

Behavior in Education, Assessment and Results (BEAR) Lab

Sungjin Im

My research focuses on bridging the gap between cognitive neuroscience and clinical science by applying a wide range of cutting-edge approaches including fMRI, EEG, ECG, EDA, EMG, impedance cardiograph, and computerized behavioral tasks. Current research projects involve:

  1. Mechanisms of change that underlie post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and severe mental illness
  2. Efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions, especially their impact on cognitive function
  3. Transdiagnostic processes that cut across multiple psychological disorders
  4. Integration of multi-method approaches to improving our understanding of diagnostic categories and nature of psychopathology

Translational Neuroscience Lab (TNL)

Erin Jant

My research focuses on cognitive and social foundations of young children’s learning and remembering. Areas I study include:

  • Children’s Learning and Memory
  • Parent-Child Interactions
  • Transfer of Learning
  • Spatial Thinking and STEM Reasoning
  • Informal STEM Education
  • Head Start
  • Professional Development for Head Start Teachers

Learning and Development Lab

Christopher Peters

My research focuses on various topics in Forensic Psychology, which is the interface between Psychology and Law. Major subject areas I am interested in include jury decision making, child witnesses, courthouse dogs, protecting children, and diversity issues within the justice system.

https://factslab.weebly.com/

Jenni Redifer

My research examines cognitive factors related to student learning and achievement. I am interested in how working memory capacity (the limited attentional resources we have available during effortful tasks) influences problem-solving and retrieval of information from long-term memory. Part of this work investigates methods for teaching effective strategies to individuals with low working memory capacity (i.e., fewer attentional resources).

Attention and Memory Lab

Steve Wininger

My research interests are in motivation and performance psychology. Specific topics include: 

  • Stress & performance
  • Goal setting
  • Attentional focus & multi-tasking
  • Myths in psychology, specifically relating to cognition, motivation, & stress.

Motivation Lab

Qin Zhao

My current research interest involves how top-down metacognitive processes (e.g., beliefs/mindsets, self-perceptions, expectancies) influence student learning, motivation, and psychological well-being. I am also interested in reducing common bias (e.g., anchoring, overconfidence) in metacognitive judgments.

Metacognition Lab

The Department of Psychology

Gary A. Ransdell Hall, Office 3012

1906 College Heights Blvd. #11030,
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1030


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 Last Modified 10/13/23