Psychological Science Labs
Learn about psychology and gain valuable hands-on experience in CMC Psych Science faculty's laboratories and research institutes.
Our majors are involved in original research projects and publish with faculty. Laboratory opportunities provide hands-on experience in cutting-edge psychology research. Internships provide off-campus learning experiences in clinical and other types of work environments.
Applied Mind and Health Laboratory
Integrating emotional, socio-cultural, and developmental perspectives, the AMH Lab at CMC focuses on examining the biological, social, and individual correlates of physical health and psychological well-being. We take a bio-ecological systems theory approach, which argues that multiple environmental and individual subsystems play important roles in influencing children’s development. We approach our work through the lens of the cultural-fit hypothesis, which emphasizes the person-situation interaction and highlights how psychological processes may vary across cultures and contexts. This understanding would lead to different solutions to the same problems of healthy adaptation and development, as well as acknowledging different strengths. Dr. Stacey N. Doan directs the AMH Lab. Our goals include:
- advancing understanding of how psychological states and social environments lead to health and disease
- disseminating and applying health psychology research to real-world settings
- educating relevant stakeholders including educators, students, parents, and policy makers on the importance of psychosocial factors for promoting health.
Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development
The Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development is directed by Dr. Stacey N. Doan. The institute is broadly interested in understanding structural and societal factors that influence adaptation and development across the lifespan. The Institute takes an interdisciplinary approach to its research and collaborates with faculty in a variety of fields including history, gender studies, and government.
Center for Applied Psychological Research
The research center explores the applications of psychological theories and research to two broad areas: the legal system and intergroup relations. Students in Psychological Science contribute to research in areas such as jury decision-making, expert testimony, the prediction of dangerousness, interrogations and false confessions, the death penalty, stereotyping, prejudice, and intergroup conflict. For further information, contact Professor Costanzo, Professor Krauss, or Professor Levin.
Psychology Lab with Professor Dan Krauss
Whether you're a psych major or someone interested in the law, this lab with professor of psychology Daniel Krauss, J.D., Ph.D., who is a board certified forensic psychologist, offers undergraduates exposure to legal issues and research, including how juries make decisions with respect to psychology and law. "Students… will be working from an empirical perspective on legal questions,” says Krauss, whose own expertise includes jury decision-making and expert testimony. Students assist in research studies from start to finish––collecting results, analyzing data, and even presenting findings at professional conferences.
Child Development and Public Policy Lab
This research laboratory examines the intersection of developmental psychology and educational policy. She is primarily interested in children’s cognitive development and school performance as well as the use of longitudinal and cross-sectional methodology. Currently, she has 2 active lines of research that examine: 1) the role of language development in memory formation in bilingual and monolingual children, and 2) the longitudinal impact of IQ scores on school children’s special education diagnoses. For further information, contact Professor Kanaya.
Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory
In the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab we use the tools of cognitive psychology, cognitive neuropsychology, and functional neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG/ERP) to investigate the role that the body plays in directing our perception, attention, recognition, and emotional processing. In addition to studying the behavior and brain function of typical individuals, we collaborate with neurologists and neuropsychologists to study people with brain-damage and atypical development. Students not only tocontribute to on-going studies but also develop their own original experiments. For further information, contact Professor Reed.
Claremont Autism Center
The Claremont Autism Center is a treatment and research facility for children with autism and their families. It is housed in the Leon Strauss Foundation Clinic on the 1st floor of Seaman Hall. Students who are interested in getting hands on experience providing behavioral intervention with the children may take courses and study in the Autism Center. Additionally, there are numerous research projects available for student participation. For further information, please visit The Claremont Autism Center's website. Contact Dr. Rachel Fenning or the center's staff at (909) 621-8598.
Cognition and Data Visualization Laboratory
Research in this lab focusing on exploring how individuals perceive, attend to, remember, and make decisions about various types of information. Specifically, research investigates how variables influence processing of data visualizations and graphical literacy. Research assistants learn about theories that inform data visualization and/or prospective memory as well as practice cleaning, modeling, and visualizing data using R. For further information, contact Professor Cook.
Cultural Influences on Mental Health Center
This center seeks to answer two primary questions. How does culture affect mental health? And, how do we improve the treatment of mental illness for those from diverse backgrounds? Students conduct research in areas such as immigration’s impact on family relationships, adaptation of mental health services for those from different backgrounds, cultural competence and mental health outcomes, and ethnic differences in dating preferences. For further information, contact Professor Hwang.
Decision Neuroscience Laboratory
Research in this lab examines how valuation and decision-making emerge at the neural level, and how these cognitive processes interact during choice. Using neuroscience techniques such as event-related potentials (ERP), students will contribute to research on how decision-making unfolds over time, and across domains including social and economic choice. For further information, contact Professor Harris.
Kravis Leadership Institute
The Kravis Leadership Institute sponsors leadership studies at CMC. The Institute hosts conferences, workshops, and speaker series, and conducts research on leadership applications, contributing to the growing body of knowledge in the field. See “Special Programs for details.” For further information, contact Professor Conger, Professor Riggio, or visit the Kravis Leadership Institute web site.
Memory and Aging Laboratory
Research in this lab examines memory in healthy aging, specifically investigating older adults’ prior knowledge and its influence on other aspects of memory. More broadly, we are interested in how knowledge works in memory, not only in older adults, but also in our memories for the stories of our lives (autobiographical memory), in our shared culturally-based experiences (collective memory), and in educational contexts. Students can participate in all aspects of conducting research including developing experiment ideas, recruiting participants, collecting data and interacting with participants, analyzing data, and presenting findings at professional conferences. For further information, please contact Professor Umanath.
Methodological Examination of Teams Research in Inter-Cultural Settings (METRICS) Laboratory
The goal of the METRICS Lab is to understand and improve team dynamics at work, especially those teams that are diverse in nature. To achieve this overarching goal, the lab focuses on teamwork, diversity and methods. An array of research projects, including qualitative, quantitative, and theoretical work, are ongoing. Specific examples of some of our papers include: (1) debunking some of the team assumptions through the lens of culture research, (2) coming up with lessons learned for extreme teams, and (3) how to measure ethnic identity. Ultimately, we seek to enhance the benefits of diversity in teams at work. For further information, please contact Professor Feitosa. Read about Metrics Lab
Moral Emotions and Trust Lab
Research in the MEAT Lab examines how emotions and non-conscious processes influence judgments of equity, justice, and harm as well as the tendency to engage in antisocial or prosocial behavior. Examples of current research include 1) the influence of emotional states such as compassion gratitude and awe on social judgment, and 2) understanding the processes by which institutions lose and regain public trust after moral transgressions. For further information, contact Professor Valdesolo.