M.A. and Ph.D., Psychology,
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Duke University
Advisor David Rubin Committee Kevin LaBar, Roberto Cabeza, and Tim Strauman
B.A. Biopsychology
and Cognitive Science,
University of Michigan,
Advisor Bob
Belli
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Teaching
My primary teaching interests are introducing students to psychological science. Therefore, I have taught Introductory Psychology, Research Methods, and would like to teach Cognitive Psychology and Human Memory for Psychology majors and Misunderstanding Memory and Psychology in the Popular Press for non-majors. Besides these content areas, I want my students to become more skeptical thinkers, more coherent writers, and more excited scholars.
Introductory Psychology
Psychology is the study of how people think, feel, and act. It involves the study of attention, perception, memory, language, intelligence, emotion, motivation, personality, among other topics in a variety of contexts and through various methods. We will discuss both the development of the field, techniques used to study these topics, and the major theoretical and empirical findings in each.
Course Objectives
To abandon misconceptions about psychology and to appreciate its breadth and scientific rigor.
To identify and appreciate the scientific method as used in psychology.
To become familiar with basic psychological terminology and current knowledge.
To critically analyze scientific information and understand the role of psychology in the real world.
Research Methods in Psychological Science
Research methods are perhaps best learned through their application and this course is designed to help you understand the process of scientific research in psychology and to give you sufficient background in the methods of psychological science to prepare you for the hands-on application of its principles.
Course Objectives
Read and understand primary sources such as journal articles, proceedings from scientific meetings, or book chapters aimed at an academic audience.
Appropriately cite such sources in original written work.
Recognize and consider the ethics of conducting research in psychology and the implications of past ethical transgressions.
Outline the assumptions of the scientific method.
Identify, describe, and evaluate the various methods used in psychological research.
Present scientific data and research findings clearly and comfortably.
Human Memory
We will cover basic research issues in remembering, as well as theoretical and practical aspects of the subject. You will learn how researchers ask and experimentally answer questions about human memory. We will cover both the “classics” of memory research as well as modern developments in the field. Specific topics include: the brain basis of remembering, sensory memories, childhood amnesia, forgetting, and much more.
Course Objectives
Recognize and understand the major issues in the field of memory research.
Be able to evaluate the research studies used as evidence in these debates.
Be able to apply your knowledge about basic memory research to domains such as education and the law.