Labs and Research Groups

The Advanced Cognitive Engineering Lab (ACE)

The Advanced Cognitive Engineering Laboratory (ACE Lab) is associated with the Visualization and Simulation (VSIM) Centre at Carleton University.

The mission of the VSIM ACE Lab is to discover fundamental principles of human perception and cognition and to apply these principles to the design, implementation and evaluation of advanced human-machine systems.

Carleton Cognitive Modeling Lab (CCM)

The CCM Lab is a part of the VSIM group at Carleton University. It was created to support the efforts of those involved with cognitive modeling. This includes building cognitive models, building systems for creating cognitive models, developing better systems for testing cognitive models, doing the research to verify cognitive models, finding real world applications for cognitive models, and promoting the use of cognitive models. In terms of projects, we are open to the use of any modeling system that can offer insights into how the human mind operates.

Centre for Applied Cognitive Research (CACR) 

The Centre for Applied Cognitive Research includes members from Cognitive Science, Psychology, Human Computer Interaction, Linguistics, and Philosophy. Researchers at the Centre for Applied Cognitive Research are involved in a wide range of applied and basic research projects. There are four areas of focus for the centre:

1. Aviation Psychology
2. Education
3. Modelling Complex Tasks
4. Speech and Language

Child Language and Literacy Research Lab (CLLR)

CLLR (pronounced clear) Lab members conduct research on language development and literacy acquisition.  There are four main research streams currently being explored by CLLR lab members:

1. The Role of Home Literacy Experiences in the Acquisition of Language and Literacy
2. Acquisition of Vocabulary
3. Learning to Read and Write in French and Other Languages
4. Individual Differences in Phonological Processing

The Cognition, Language, Sound Symbolism, Iconicity (CLaSSI) Lab

The CLaSSI Lab explores questions related to language and cognition, using a variety of experimental techniques and language analyses. There are five research themes within the CLaSSI Lab:

1. Sound Symbolism
2. Iconicity
3. Name Sound Symbolism
4. Language Processing
5. Embodied Cognition

Child Language and Literacy Research Lab (CLLR)

CLLR (pronounced clear) Lab members conduct research on language development and literacy acquisition.  There are four main research streams currently being explored by CLLR lab members:

1. The Role of Home Literacy Experiences in the Acquisition of Language and Literacy
2. Acquisition of Vocabulary
3. Learning to Read and Write in French and Other Languages
4. Individual Differences in Phonological Processing

The Laboratory for Child Forensic Psychology (LCFP)

The LCFP Lab’s research is primarily focused on eyewitness identification issues as mistaken eyewitness identifications have played a significant role in wrongful convictions. As a secondary line of research, the lab is interested in factors which influence juror decision making as well as researching mental health and well-being.

Four lines of research are being examined the LCFP:

1. Child and Adult Eyewitness Abilities
2. The Influence of Familiarity on Eyewitness Identification
3. Juror Decision Making
4. Mental Health and Well-Being

Pickering Centre for Research in Human Development

The Pickering Centre is Canada’s developmental psychology hub, home to leading researchers advancing our understanding of how people of all ages – especially children, adolescents, and young adults – can adapt and thrive during key periods of growth and change. The Pickering Centre’s mission emphasizes providing a scholarly community for early-career researchers studying human development to hone their skills, gain experience, and expand their professional networks; knowledge exchange between academic researchers, students, and other professions at and beyond our semi-regular Development conference; and evidence-based guidance to support individuals and families as they navigate major life transitions.

Research on Emotion and Addictions Development and Methodology Lab (READY)

The READY Lab’s research activities focus on emotional well-being and mental health in adolescence and the transition to adulthood, with emphasis on the unique challenges of the transition to university. Current projects capture repeated measures across the academic year and examine emotion-substance use links, changing patterns of depression and anxiety symptoms, challenges faced by youth with ADHD, and roles of parent support and involvement in a successful transition to university.

Solitude & Aloneliness (SOLO) Research Lab

The SOLO lab conducts research on experiences of solitude in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Current research interests include the costs versus benefits of time alone across development, the impact of different motivations for seeking solitude, the interface between solitude and technology, and the unique benefits of spending time alone in nature. More information can be found at the SOLO lab website.

The Aggressive Cognitions and Behaviour Research Lab (ACBR)

The focus of research in the Aggressive Cognitions and Behaviour Research (ACBR) Laboratory is on the conceptualization and measurement of cognitions thought to be relevant to violent behaviour, and the role these cognitions may play in violent behaviour. The main goal of the ACBR Lab is to contribute to scientific knowledge about the causes of violence, which provides the foundation for effective and efficient assessment and intervention aimed at reducing violence.

Forensic Psychology Research Centre

The aim of the Forensic Psychology Research Centre is to serve as a central hub for advancing and promoting forensic research and practice. Research themes covered include:

1. Police and Legal Psychology
2. Correctional Psychology

The Forensic Psychology Research Centre has three goals:

1. Progress theoretical and applied research by providing connections, expertise, and funding
2. Mobilize the knowledge generated by members to impact everyday Canadians through connections with industry and knowledge translation activities
3. Develop and support the next generations of researchers, practitioners, and policy makers

Gender and Crime Research Lab

The Gender and Crime Research Lab is ultimately dedicated to improving gender responsive services for girls and women in the criminal justice system. The lab also studies gender differences, meaning that boys and men in conflict with the law are also often incorporated into research. The lab adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to research, both theoretically and methodologically.

With the lab’s collaborators, they are currently involved in 3 inter-related streams of research:

1. Understanding the role of strengths in risk assessment, service delivery, and desistance from crime among justice-involved adults (both men and women), and justice-involved adolescents (males and females)
2. Enhancing the gender responsiveness of global risk assessment measures and supplementary or more targeted measures. Collectively these measures are used to assess the risk of future criminal conduct, assess treatment needs, and progress during intervention
3. Understanding how complex trauma, risks, and strengths among deeply entrenched justice system youth—males and females- either result in more violence and crime, or successful exit strategies characterized by law-abiding citizenship

The Laboratory for Child Forensic Psychology (LCFP)

The LCFP Lab’s research is primarily focused on eyewitness identification issues as mistaken eyewitness identifications have played a significant role in wrongful convictions. As a secondary line of research, the lab is interested in factors which influence juror decision making as well as researching mental health and well-being.

Four lines of research are being examined the LCFP:

1. Child and Adult Eyewitness Abilities
2. The Influence of Familiarity on Eyewitness Identification
3. Juror Decision Making
4. Mental Health and Well-Being

Police Research Lab (PRL)

The PRL provides an environment where researchers are able to examine a range of important issues in policing. Currently, researchers in the PRL conduct research in four primary areas:

1. Evidence-Based Policing
2. Police De-escalations and Use of Force
3. Police Responses to People in Crisis
4. Psychologically-Based Investigative Techniques

Psychological Research in Investigative Science and Methodology Lab (PRISM) 

The goal of the PRISM lab is to conduct research that has meaningful impact on real-world practices and advances psychological theory within the forensic field. The lab currently has three research areas:

1. Improving Investigative Interviewing Practices
2. Cold Case Investigations
3. Advancing Legal Literacy: Protecting Adults and Youth During Police Interrogations

Sexually Harmful Behaviours Lab

The Sexually Harmful Behaviours Lab seeks to understand the factors linked with the onset and maintenance of sexually harmful behaviours. The lab encourages the next generation through teaching and mentorship programs. Some current research focuses include:

1. Incest and Sexual Behaviour Between Siblings
2. Online Sexual Offending
3. Casual Candidates
4. Sexting and Non-Consensual Sharing of Sexual Materials
5. Risk Assessment

Behaviours, Exercise, Assessment, and Well-Being Lab (BEA-WELL)

The overall goal of research in the BEA-WELL lab is to understand predictors of behaviour and well-being. Some topics being studied in the lab include:

1. Well-Being: flourishing, meaning, positive and negative affect, and symptoms of depression and anxiety
2. Behaviours: physical activity and exercise, sport, screen time and social media, sleep quality
3. Correlates and Mechanisms: Psychological need satisfaction and frustration, autonomous and controlled motivation, harmonious and obsessive passion, self-compassion, family achievement guilt, minority stress, procrastination, mindfulness
4. Assessment: reliability and validity evidence for scores of self-report instruments, adapting self-report instruments

The Betterment Labs

The Betterment Labs has two lines of research:

1. Conflict Resolution: In this line of research, the lab examines the causes and consequences of harmdoing at both the interpersonal and intergroup level, with an emphasis on the emotional reaction that stems from harming or being harm and their effects on relations with others.
2. Gambling and Overcoming Barriers to Change: In this line of research, the lab examines factors that lead to excessive play and means to increase responsible gambling. A significant focus is placed on how to help people who live with addiction overcome barriers to behavioural change and how those in recovery can stay on that path

Click [modal url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RRIqfAitaoQ"]here[/modal] to see an educational video that the Gambling Lab helped to produce for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, entitled “Slot Machine: What Every Player Needs to Know.”

Carleton Cognitive Modeling Lab (CCM)

The CCM Lab is a part of the VSIM group at Carleton University. It was created to support the efforts of those involved with cognitive modeling. This includes building cognitive models, building systems for creating cognitive models, developing better systems for testing cognitive models, doing the research to verify cognitive models, finding real world applications for cognitive models, and promoting the use of cognitive models. In terms of projects, we are open to the use of any modeling system that can offer insights into how the human mind operates.

Carleton University Happiness Lab

The CU Happiness Lab studies a variety of topics that are related, in some way, to personality and well-being. This includes examining the correlates of happiness, as well as the basic processes (e.g., cognitive and emotional) underlying important individual differences. For example, current projects include:

1. Examining why people act more or less sociable or extraverted, and the cognitive and emotional consequences of this variation in behaviour
2. Examining how being exposed to nature influences goals, cooperation, cognitive performance, and moods
3. Examining how individual’s subjective connection with nature, or nature relatedness, is associated with environmentally responsible behaviour and well-being
4. Large scale, international collaborations on well-being, and to help assess and improve the replicability of psychological science

Centre for Applied Cognitive Research (CACR) 

The Centre for Applied Cognitive Research includes members from Cognitive Science, Psychology, Human Computer Interaction, Linguistics, and Philosophy. Researchers at the Centre for Applied Cognitive Research are involved in a wide range of applied and basic research projects. There are four areas of focus for the centre:

1. Aviation Psychology
2. Education
3. Modelling Complex Tasks
4. Speech and Language

Child Language and Literacy Research Lab (CLLR)

CLLR (pronounced clear) Lab members conduct research on language development and literacy acquisition.  There are four main research streams currently being explored by CLLR lab members:

1. The Role of Home Literacy Experiences in the Acquisition of Language and Literacy
2. Acquisition of Vocabulary
3. Learning to Read and Write in French and Other Languages
4. Individual Differences in Phonological Processing

Goal Pursuit and Self-Regulation Lab

The Goal Pursuit and Self-Regulation Lab’s research addresses questions such as: How do people’s experiences in different areas of their lives and the goals they pursue affect their health and well-being? What are the mechanisms that underlie greater success in certain goals, and how can people improve their goal pursuit to accrue the psychological and physical benefits of attaining their goals?

The lab currently has three main lines of research:

1. Examining the mechanisms through which autonomous goals are more likely to be attained by distinguishing between automatic and controlled processes and their effects on self-regulation
2. Investigating the role of the domains in which the goal is set
3. Examining the effects of self-critical perfectionism on the development of mental health problems during the transition to university

Health Psychology Lab 

The research conducted by the Health Psychology Lab examines the links between psychosocial factors and health outcomes. Currently, three questions are being examined:

1. What are the links between mental health and physical health among people with diabetes?
2. How and when do spouses influence the diabetes-related health outcomes?
3. Can strong habits help people lead healthier, happier lives?

The Betterment Labs

The Betterment Labs has two lines of research:

1. Conflict Resolution: In this line of research, the lab examines the causes and consequences of harmdoing at both the interpersonal and intergroup level, with an emphasis on the emotional reaction that stems from harming or being harm and their effects on relations with others.
2. Gambling and Overcoming Barriers to Change: In this line of research, the lab examines factors that lead to excessive play and means to increase responsible gambling. A significant focus is placed on how to help people who live with addiction overcome barriers to behavioural change and how those in recovery can stay on that path

Click [modal url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RRIqfAitaoQ"]here[/modal] to see an educational video that the Gambling Lab helped to produce for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, entitled “Slot Machine: What Every Player Needs to Know.”

Carleton University Happiness Lab

The CU Happiness Lab studies a variety of topics that are related, in some way, to personality and well-being. This includes examining the correlates of happiness, as well as the basic processes (e.g., cognitive and emotional) underlying important individual differences. For example, current projects include:

1. Examining why people act more or less sociable or extraverted, and the cognitive and emotional consequences of this variation in behaviour
2. Examining how being exposed to nature influences goals, cooperation, cognitive performance, and moods
3. Examining how individual’s subjective connection with nature, or nature relatedness, is associated with environmentally responsible behaviour and well-being
4. Large scale, international collaborations on well-being, and to help assess and improve the replicability of psychological science

LifeTools Lab

The LifeTools Lab studies skills, strategies, or resources that helps individuals and couples navigates life’s challenges and achieve their goals. There are currently three areas of research within the lab:

1. The Role of Finances in Relationships
2. Goal Strategies
3. Time Perception

Positive Activities in Intimate Relationships (PAIR) Lab

The PAIR lab is interested in the ways people maintain positivity through activities with their partner in the context of long term intimate relationships. They study the factors that promote and hinder positive activities in intimate relationships with a focus on pairs. They have recently extended this work into the context of close friendships.

Social Diversity Lab

Canadian society prides itself for its emphasis on multiculturalism. However, despite these ideals, not all groups are in fact treated equally, nor do all members of a group view their distinctiveness as positive.

Research in the Social Diversity Lab concerns the processes, and the mental health outcomes involved when we define our society and ourselves in terms of our social group memberships. The Social Diversity Lab’s research addresses these issues from four perspectives, including:

• Embracing a negative social identity (Intergroup Processes)
• Overcoming differences in opinion (Intragroup Processes)
• Looking for support (Interpersonal Processes)
• Coping with life’s stresses (Intrapersonal Processes)