Current research topics
Our lab is interested in how children interact with pretend, fantasy, imagination, and media and how this interaction influences their cognitive and social development. Some current projects in the lab are:
- How television viewing impacts executive function, cognitive skills, creativity, and attention
- How children negotiate the boundary between reality and pretense. For example, does pretending to be an aggressive character lead to increases in aggression once the pretend episode is over?
- Does pretend play help children develop social understanding? Will children be better at recognizing emotions and thinking about others' mental states after engaging in social pretend play?
- Can children learn new information and/or skills through pretending and fiction? How might this type of learning differ from direct instruction?
- How does Montessori education compare to traditional schooling for child outcomes like theory of mind, executive function, and academic performance? Visit the Montessori Science website for more information.