Supervising Faculty: Dr. Diana Leyva

Contact: Dr. Diana Leyva, dml114@pitt.edu

Area of Research:  Developmental psychology, culture, language and literacy development, school readiness, family processes

Description of Research: The overarching goal of the Food For Thought lab is to understand how familial processes influence children’s development in specific sociocultural contexts. We are particularly interested in studying skills that are foundational to school success, including literacy, math, and self-regulation. We focused on low-income, and ethnically diverse families living in their home country or as immigrants in another country. 

Students will be matched to one or more ongoing lab projects based on the student's experience and interests, and current lab priorities. Projects include a variety of methods including experimental (randomized controlled trials), correlational (observational), and secondary data analysis. 

Duties of Students:

• Recruiting participants
• Assessing parents and children
• Assisting with data transcription, coding, and entry and/or statistical analyses and interpretation of results

Requirements:

• Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• 12 credits of Psychology (including current term)
• STAT 0200/1000/1100 Statistics
• PSY 0036 Research Methods Lecture
• PSY 0037 Research Methods Lab
• Two-semester commitment required (3 credits each semester; 10 hours per week per semester

Additional Information: For more information on current projects, please visit: http://foodforthought.pitt.edu/

Terms offered: fall and spring

Number of students: 2-4