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Selected Projects 2016-18
Texas, in April 2017. A future goal of mine is to submit
a manuscript based on my findings for publication in
a peer-reviewed journal of psychology.
Being offered the opportunity to work at a greater
capacity on this research project helped me understand
the many different techniques employed by
researchers to gain insight and information into how
to improve everyday life. In particular, I am thankful
for a greater understanding of how children’s language
and emotion knowledge are important for
adaptive social functioning and how they could be
helpful in guiding early intervention and prevention.
Recognizing deficits at an early age increases
the ability to facilitate improvement in important
aspects of a child’s relational functioning.
In addition to addressing my own research questions,
the data collection that occurred under the
OUR summer grant and CAS Dean’s fellowship
will be used to address goals of a broader future research.
Research in psychology is very important: it
helps elucidate what makes people think, feel, and
act in certain situations. It can also give clinicians
a better understanding of how relationships within
families can improve. As a Psychology major, I
wanted to get more involved with research in the
field. When I first started at the university I hoped
to gain as much experience within the discipline
of psychology as I could; I wanted to better understand
how research is conducted. The opportunity
to work in Professor Locke-Arkerson’s lab was
extremely valuable to me. Above all, it prepared me
for graduate programs in clinical psychology. I am
currently a full time graduate student in the Master’s
in Social Work Program at Bridgewater State
University continuing my education. I will graduate
in 2020, after which I will obtain my license and
become a therapist. My ultimate goal is to be an
LICSW and open my own practice working with children
and families. Choosing this clinical psychology
path, I want to develop treatment models based
on the factors that influence social development.
Understanding how and why research is conducted
has helped me in term of my future career goals. I
look forward to assisting children and families develop
the skills needed for productive relationships
and better social interactions.
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