Research Labs
Assessment of Children in Education Settings Laboratory
Students in the Assessment of Children in Educational Settings laboratory focus their
scholarly and research efforts on the development, evaluation, and application of
assessment methods designed to measure important constructs and behaviors in school
and related settings.
Point of Contact
Randy G. Floyd, Ph.D.
rgfloyd@memphis.edu
Challenging Health Disparities in Adolescents & Nurturing Global Empowerment (CHANGE) Lab
The CHANGE lab explores risk and protective factors that contribute to HIV- and obesity-related
health disparities among adolescents, young adults, and their families. In concert
with many local Memphis organizations, we strive to develop culturally-tailored interventions
that promote healthier lifestyles, support medication adherence, increase safer sex
practices, and decrease risk behaviors among diverse adolescents and young adults.
Center for Health Promotion and Evaluation (CHPE)
Established in 2002, the Center for Health Promotion and Evaluation (CHPE) is directed
at understanding and improving health behaviors, particularly among young people.
Most of our research currently focuses on reducing tobacco consumption, but we have
also conducted research on a wide range of issues, including school violence, binge
eating, dietary restraint, attitudes toward breastfeeding, and body mass index in
teens.
Point of Contact:
Leslie Robinson, Ph.D.
lrobinso@memphis.edu
Child Health and Illness Lab - Child and Family
The Child Health and Illness lab conducts research spanning the fields of pediatric psychology, child-clinical, clinical
health psychology, and applied-quantitative psychology. Most broadly, this research
focuses on cultural, family, and behavioral factors that promote health and reduce
morbidity in childhood chronic illness. More specifically, this research hopes to:
- Examine models of stress and adaptation to promote quality of life and regimen adherence among youth with type 1 diabetes and their families
- Identify the influence of cultural and family factors on children’s weight, diet, and mealtime behavior, with a particular focus on obesity in early childhood.
- Integrate quantitative and behavioral methodologies to inform, develop, and refine clinical health interventions and assessment to reduce and eliminate health disparities.
Point of Contact
Kristoffer S. Berlin, Ph.D.
ksberlin@memphis.edu
Development of Psychological Strengths in Youth (DePSY) Lab –
Child and Family Research Area
The DePSY Lab examines the characteristics and function of positive psychological
strengths (e.g., hope, life satisfaction, self-control) that protect and promote positive
youth development. Further, we explore how these psychological strengths develop in
childhood and adolescence, particularly in the context of family, school, and interpersonal
relations. Cross-culture research and diversity issues are also important components
in our lab. We aim to contribute to the development of evidence-based prevention and
wellness promotion efforts in schools and communities.
Point of Contact:
TBD
Habit Lab
The HABIT laboratory conducts research that addresses important public health priorities
related to addiction and health. For example, alcohol abuse among young adults results
in thousands of injuries, assaults, and fatalities each year and can set the stage
for a lifelong pattern of alcohol abuse and/or dependence. We have conducted several
controlled clinical trials that have demonstrated that brief interventions incorporating
motivational interviewing and personalized drinking feedback can reduce heavy drinking
among young adults (including both college students and military veterans). These
interventions are now being adopted across the country. We are currently funded by
NIH to improve standard brief alcohol and marijuana interventions by adding a behavioral
economic supplement that encourages engagement in constructive alternatives associated
with delayed reinforcement.
The HABIT lab also conducts applied clinical research that is influenced by basic
behavioral and biological research (e.g., translational research) and contributes
to the overall goal of improving our scientific understanding of human behavior. For
example, we have used behavioral economic theory and basic laboratory research to
guide our applied research on substance abuse etiology, assessment, and prevention.
Point of Contact:
James Murphy, Ph.D.
jgmurphy@memphis.edu
Historical Psychoeducational Test Collection
Research Areas
Dr. Tom Fagan's research areas include historic tests, literature, and biographic
information on psychologists significant to the origins and development of school
psychology. Students interested in these topics are encouraged to contact Tom Fagan
in Room 115, 678.4676.
Point of Contact:
Tom Fagan, Ph.D.
tfagan@memphis.edu
Institute for Gambling Education and Research - Clinical Health Psychology Concentration
The Gambling Lab
The Institute of Gambling Education and Research (TIGER) is composed of the Gambling
Clinic and the Gambling Lab. The Gambling Clinic treats individuals with gambling
disorders, trains professionals and doctoral students, educates consumers, as well
as develops tools to measure and intervene with excessive gambling behavior.
Point of Contact:
James P. Whelan, Ph.D.
jwhelan@memphis.edu
gambling@memphis.edu
The Gambling Clinic
The Gambling Lab transforms its Gambling Clinic experiences into empirical questions about both risk factors and protective factors related to disordered gambling.
Knowledge Acquisition Laboratory
Students in the Knowledge Acquisition lab explore diverse topics in cognitive psychology
including individual differences in learning and memory, as well as the educational
practices that support successful knowledge acquisition.
Point of Contact:
TBD
Language and Behavior Lab (LaBlab)
The LAB lab is run by Stephanie Huette. We seek to understand the principles and mechanisms
of cognitive processes that underlie meaning (semantics) in language, as well as their
implications for behavior. We also investigate the role of behavior and real complex
environments on learning and real-time processing of language. Our research uses dynamic
measurements including eye-tracking and motion-tracking technologies to track behaviors
as they unfold.
Point of Contact:
Stephanie Huette, Ph.D.
shuette@memphis.edu
Literacy Lab
Our research focuses on three primary lines of inquiry regarding reading fluency
and its role in supporting reading comprehension. First, we examine theoretical questions
about the relation between oral and silent reading fluency across development and
the roles of various subcomponent skills in facilitating fluency and comprehension.
Second, we investigate assessment practices with the goal of ensuring that students
with reading disabilities are accurately identified as early as possible. Lastly,
we seek to develop literacy interventions that facilitate the development of proficient
oral reading and independent silent reading skills.
Point of Contact:
Beth Meisinger, Ph.D.
bmsinger@memphis.edu
Movement and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Our research uses a multi-disciplinary approach to study the pathobiology of movement
and neurodegenerative disorders including but not limited to Parkinson disease, dystonia,
ataxia, essential tremor, and Huntington disease. We use tools from genetics, molecular
biology, morphological neuroscience, computational biology, behavioral neuroscience,
and neuropharmacology to study humans and relevant model systems.
Point of Contact:
Mark LeDoux, MD, PhD
msledoux@memphis.edu
Optimal Learning Lab
The Optimal Learning Lab (optimallearning.org) represents Dr. Pavlik's and associates'
work on a variety of theoretical and applied learning and memory problems. Specific
interests include the intelligent tutoring, discovery of models, spacing of practice
effects, testing effects, and forgetting. Please contact Dr. Pavlik to be placed on
the mailing list. Publication and demo applications are available on the website.
The Optimal Learning Lab is affiliated with the Institute for Intelligent Systems
and Department of Psychology.
Point of Contact:
Philip I. Pavlik Jr., Ph.D.
ppavlik@memphis.edu
Peer Interaction Group Research Lab
Our research focuses on elementary school-aged children’s peer relations and social
competence. More specifically, we examine peer social status and popularity; friendship
relationships; traditional and cyber, aggression and victimization; and self-perceptions
of social competence, loneliness, peer optimism, and attributions of respect.
Point of Contact:
Robert Cohen, Ph.D.
rcohen@memphis.edu
Resilience Emerging Amidst Childhood Hardships (REACH) Lab - Clinical Child and Family
The REACH Lab examines pathways to risk and resilience among children who have been
exposed to various traumatic experiences, such as interpersonal violence and loss.
We contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions for families and
children exposed to adversity by working within the community of Memphis to explore
pathways to positive and negative functioning following exposure to traumatic events
during childhood.
Point of Contact:
Katie Howell, Ph.D.
khhwell1@memphis.edu
Psychology of Language Laboratory
Students in the Psychology of Language lab explore diverse topics in psycholinguistics,
including discourse processing, pragmatics, nonliteral language (such as exaggeration
and sarcasm), and computer-mediated communication (e.g., via e-mail, Twitter, and
Facebook).
Point of Contact:
Roger Kreuz, Ph.D., Associate Dean
rkreuz@memphis.edu
Psychotherapy Research Lab
Studies in the research lab of Dr. Jeffrey Berman focus on a broad range of issues
concerning the process and outcome of psychotherapy and the interaction between therapist
and client. The lab is within the psychotherapy research concentration of the Clinical
Psychology program. Graduate and undergraduate assistants are involved in all phases
of the research process and are encouraged to develop their own research projects.
Additional Information
Opportunity in Psychotherapy Research Lab
Opportunity for Psychology Honors Students
Point of Contact
Jeffrey S. Berman, Ph.D.
jberman@memphis.edu
Trauma Research and Recovery Lab
This lab conducts basic and applied research on the emotional consequences of exposure
to interpersonal trauma.
Point of Contact:
Gayle Beck, Ph.D.
jgbeck@memphis.edu
Trauma & Coping Research Group
The Trauma and Coping Research Group (TCRG) is focused on studying the ways that people
respond to traumatic events, and on developing ways to help people suffering from
the effects of trauma. The primary focus is on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
and some of the behaviors that can go along with it (e.g., substance abuse). We have
conducted much of our recent work with military veterans who served in Operations
Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF), but we have also conducted studies with
college students and community survivors of violence.
Point of Contact:
Meghan E. McDevitt-Murphy, Ph.D.
mmcdvttm@memphis.edu
Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Lab
The Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Lab conducts research on the prevention
of sexual violence and violence toward sexual and gender minorities (i.e., LGBTQ+
individuals).
Specifically, the VIP Lab focuses on researching:
- Risk and protective factors for sexual violence victimization and perpetration
- Resilience among sexual and gender minorities as well as survivors of sexual violence
- Community and policy-level influences on violence
- Social justice and health equity for marginalized populations
The VIP lab also collaborates with various campus- and community-based partners with similar goals and initiatives including the Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force and the Shelby County Crime Victims and Rape Crisis Center (CVRCC).