Research Areas

Research in the Department spans a variety of areas within the broader field of psychology. Our researchers are exploring psychology’s major areas including:

Please note that a faculty member can affiliate with more than one research area.

Cognitive

About Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychologists are interested in basic and applied processes related to memory, attention, perception, speech and language, decision-making, and human performance.

Faculty are investigating such questions as:

• How do we acquire and develop language and literacy skills?
• How do we process arithmetic and other numerical knowledge?
• What are the limits of human perception?
• How can we design safer transportation systems?
• How can we improve medical decision-making and patient safety?

Faculty Researchers

Related Labs and Research Groups

• The Advanced Cognitive Engineering Laboratory (ACE Lab)
• Carleton Cognitive Modeling Lab (CCM)
• Center for Applied Cognitive Research
• Child Language and Literacy Research Lab (CLLR)
• The Cognition, Language, Sound Symbolism, Iconicity (CLaSSI) Lab

Developmental

About Developmental Psychology

Development refers to the systematic changes that individuals undergo starting before birth and continuing throughout their lifespan. Developmental psychologists study these changes and try to find the best way to describe and explain what occurs.

Developmental psychology emphasizes the important interrelationships among the physical, mental, social, and emotional aspects of human development. Development is viewed as a complex interplay between what the individual brings to the process and the context in which development occurs.

Topics of interest include:

• How infants, children, adolescents and adults change over time
• Why such developments take place
• The factors that influence particular developmental processes
• How and why individuals may differ from one another

Questions being addressed by Carleton Faculty include:

• What factors influence the development of shyness, social withdrawal and social anxiety in childhood?
• How does participating in extracurricular activities affect youth development?
• How do students experience the move from high school to university and other important life transitions?
• How do children acquire and develop language and math skills?

Faculty Researchers

Related Labs and Research Groups

• Child Language and Literacy Research Lab (CLLR)
• The Laboratory for Child Forensic Psychology (LCFP)
• Pickering Centre for Research in Human Development
• Research on Emotion and Addictions Development and Methodology Lab (READY)
• Solitude & Aloneliness (SOLO) Research Lab

Forensic

About Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology refers broadly to the research and application of psychological knowledge to the justice system, including such areas as:

• The empirical and theoretical analysis of criminal behaviour
• Correctional psychology (including institutional and community corrections)
• Psychology and law (including, sentencing, eyewitness testimony, jury decision making, and legislation)
• Victim services
• Police psychology
• The design, delivery and evaluation of prevention and treatment programs for youth and adult offenders

Students studying in the area will gain:

• Knowledge of the application of psychology to the justice/legal system
• Expertise to design and evaluate research
• Communication and consultation skills necessary to express and apply their findings effectively to diverse groups in a variety of settings

Faculty Researchers

Related Labs and Research Groups

• The Aggressive Cognitions and Behaviour Research (ACBR) Lab 
• Gender & Crime Research Lab
• Forensic Psychology Research Centre
• The Laboratory for Child Forensic Psychology (LCFP)
• Police Research Lab (PRL)
• Psychological Research in Investigative Science and Methodology (PRISM) Lab
• Sexually Harmful Behaviours Lab

Health

About Health Psychology

Health psychologists are concerned with the psychological, social and behavioural factors that influence the onset, course and treatment of disease, as well as the impact of stress and illness on the individual. Questions of interest to faculty in the Department of Psychology include:

• What are the differences between happy and unhappy people?
• How do people adapt to life-changing experiences?
• What are the psychological benefits of forgiveness?
• What factors contribute to gambling and refusal to seek treatment?
• What predicts the health and well-being of workers?
• How does cancer treatment affect memory and sexuality?
• How do individual differences influence health, coping with medical problems and seeking treatment for them?

Faculty Researchers

Related Labs and Research Groups

• Behaviours, Exercise, Assessment, and Well-Being Lab (BEA-WELL Lab)
• The Betterment Labs
• Carleton University Happiness Laboratory 
• Carleton Cognitive Modeling Lab (CCM)
• Center for Applied Cognitive Research
• Child Language and Literacy Research Lab (CLLR)
• Goal Pursuit and Self-Regulation Lab
• Health Psychology Lab

Personality & Social

About Personality & Social Psychology

Personality psychology involves an examination of the relatively enduring traits that help to make each of us unique and how these characteristics interact with the environment to influence our behaviour. Social psychology is the study of how we are influenced by other people, but also how other people are influenced by us. Key questions being asked by Carleton’s Personality and Social Psychologists include:

• Why do we procrastinate?
• What are the differences between happy and unhappy people?
• What factors are associated with positive behaviours in close relationships?
• How important are the social groups to which we belong?
• How do we react when another person or group has transgressed against us?
• What are the psychological benefits of social support?

Faculty Researchers

Related Labs and Research Groups

• The Betterment Labs
• Carleton University Happiness Lab
• LifeTools Lab
• Positive Activities in Intimate Relationships (PAIR) Lab
• Social Diversity Lab