Research

Purpose | Past Research | Recent Research Projects

 

Purpose

The Child Study Center is a laboratory nursery school for the Psychology Department of Wellesley College. Its major mission is to serve as an observation and research site for undergraduates in Psychology and other departments. In fulfilling that mission, the Child Study Center works to improve the lives of all children.

Past Research

Some recent research findings from the Child Study Center have been especially significant for their relevance to larger cultural and social issues. Work by Tracy Gleason and her students has contributed to our understanding of young children’s friendships and their understanding of relationships generally, as well as the functional significance of imaginary companions in young children’s social lives. Work by Jennie Pyers has addressed the relation between thinking and language, including how children understand other people’s thoughts and reason about spatial relationships.

Undergraduate research conducted at the Child Study Center also contributes to our general understanding of young children. For instance, research papers dealing with topics as disparate as language, gender differences, non-verbal communication, and the development of pretense understanding have been selected for presentation at highly selective conferences such as the Society for Research in Child Development.

Recent Research Projects

The following are past research:
(Title, Student Researcher(s), Professor, Course)

2012-2013

2011-2012

2010-2011

2009-2010

2008-2009

2007-2008

2006-2007

2005-2006

2004-2005

2002-2003

2001-2002

Spring 2002

Fall 2001

Fall 2000

Spring 1999