Mary Kate Koch, Ph.D.
Why do some young people feel disrupted and distressed by adolescence while others do not? This question lies at the heart of our work in the CAN lab. Adolescence is a time of significant physical and social change, and the individual reactions that young people have toward these changes can shape their experiences and psychosocial outcomes. Our research is geared toward understanding these experiences in context and reducing psychosocial risks.
Research in the lab emphasizes a social ecological approach that grounds young people in their local environments. Accordingly, the research methods we use are diverse and emphasize youth voice. We use traditional survey based-measures in addition to life story approaches, content-coding, natural language processing, experimental designs (e.g., does manipulating physical maturation in class photos of 7th grades affect adult perceptions of youth responsibility?), and assessment of ecological variables (e.g., the content of coming-of-age novels).
Students in the lab engage in hands-on research experiences that strengthen critical thinking, quantitative reasoning and scientific communication. Working collaboratively, students contribute to projects that address meaningful psychological questions while preparing for graduate study and professional pathways. Students have presented their work in student showcases on campus, at national conferences, and through publishing academic journal articles.
We are housed in the Department of Psychology at Gonzaga 海角论坛. Dr. Mary Kate Koch (kochm@gonzaga.edu) is the principal investigator of the lab. Please email Dr. Koch for more information about the lab or to inquire about joining.
Learn more about Dr. Koch's academic profile.