Determining predictors of executive function performance in children.
Dana Miller-Cotto, Professor
Education
Applications for Spring 2025 are closed for this project.
This research is a mixed methods research project which aims to understand the predictors of executive function, a cognitive resource that controls our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, and its performance in early schooling. In particular, we study the 1) role of how context may play a role in executive function performance and 2) how strategies to support executive function while learning is defined. There are two projects that students can work in: (1) a study examining how various cognitive strategies are defined in the literature and (2) a study examining how data collection sites may explain performance in executive function performance.
Many studies have demonstrated a strong significant correlation between executive function and academic outcomes. However, most are correlational and do not include mechanisms that may explain these relations. This project uses both qualitative approaches and quantitative analyses to understand what may explain these relations. This will be a great research opportunity for students who want to be mentored in doing a social science or education research project, particularly those who want to learn both qualitative coding and quantitative research analysis. There will also be opportunities for co-authorship on conference proposals/presentations and publications if the undergraduate student wants it.
Role: The undergraduate students will be tasked to do: (1) conducting a literature review (2) guided analysis of quantitative data, (3) thematic analysis of articles, and (4) weekly meetings.
At the end of the semester, the student will have learned the following skills: (a) qualitative coding and analysis of research data, (b) descriptive and inferential quantitative analysis for social scientific research, (c) critical assessment of research literature, (d) creating and using an annotated bibliography to develop a well-structured literature review, and (e) writing skills for social scientific research.
Qualifications: We are looking for students who are: (1) interested in social science and/or education research, (2) interested in cognitive processes that underlie children’s learning and academic outcomes, and (3) able to work with a group of hardworking students and research mentors.
Required: careful attention to detail, motivated
Desirable but not essential: experience with MS excel, basic statistics knowledge
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Josh Medrano, Post-Doc
Hours: 6-8 hrs
Education, Cognition & Psychology