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Learning Research and
Development Center (LRDC)

Message from LRDC Director Charles Perfetti


The Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC) is home to multidisciplinary research on human learning and education. Our research spans a wide range from the neural bases of learning and memory, through literacy, language, reasoning, and STEM learning, the social and developmental contexts that affect educational attainment and equity, and to large-scale efforts for educational improvement. We are pleased to share some of our research with the University of Pittsburgh community and the wider learning and educational sciences communities through these occasional reports of the LRDC Research News, prepared by Elizabeth Rangel, LRDC Director of Communications.

Summer 2023

 
research news heading with yellow text and blue backsplash

“I am your personal robot . . .  I want to be unique from other robots.”


Using robots to help girls see themselves as change agents is the focus of LRDC's Jennifer Nwogu, Amanda Buddemeyer, Erin Walker, and Angela Stewart's research. Read more on the LRDC website.

One Key to Success in College?


LRDC's Omid Fotuhi and colleagues show how fostering a sense of belonging helps college kids stay there. Read more on the LRDC website.

Distinction in the Learning Sciences


Pitt undergrads can now take advantage of the Center's powerful multidisciplinary research environment — and earn a Learning Sciences Distinction while doing it. Read more on the LRDC website.
recent news and awards heading with yellow text and blue backsplash.

Alex Silver Awarded Research Excellence Distinction

Alex Silver, Cognitive Psychology, LRDC graduate student researcher in Melissa Libertus' KitLab, received a 2022-2023 Research Excellence Award from FABBS. Read more on the LRDC website. 

Lorraine Blatt Recipient of NAEd/Spencer Fellowship

Lorraine Blatt, Developmental Psychology and LRDC grad student, was named a 2023 NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellow. Lorraine is a member of the PPEL lab led by Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal.  Read more on the LRDC website.

Meet the 2023 LRDC and Joint School of Education Research Awardees

LRDC faculty Rip Correnti, Diane Litman, and Lindsay Clare Matsumura, and Center Associate Amanda Godley, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies, funded for “Using ChatGPT to Analyze Classroom Discussions.” Read more on the LRDC website. 

Recent Publications


Del Toro, J., Jackson, D. B., Testa, A., & Wang, M.-T. (2023).The Spillover Effects of Classmates’ Police Intrusion on Adolescents’ School-Based Defiant Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Institutional Trust. American Psychologist.

DeMartino, S., Nolly, G., & Petrosky, A. (2023). Teacher leaders make change ideas stick. The Learning Professional.

Duong, S., Bachman, H.J., Votruba-Drzal, E., & Libertus, M. E. (2023).  Exploring the role of “in the moment” and global caregiver and child factors in caregiver questioning during shared book viewing. Cognitive Development.

Vogt, K.M., Ibinson, J.W., Burlew, A.C., Smith, C.T., Aizenstein, H.J., & Fiez, J.A. (2023). Brain connectivity under light sedation with midazolam and ketamine during task performance and the periodic experience of pain: Examining concordance between different approaches for seed-based connectivity analysis. Brain Imaging and Behavior.

Carpenter, S.K., King-Shepard, Q., & Nokes-Malach, T. (2023). The prequestion effect: Why it is useful to ask students questions before they learn. In "In Their Own Words: Science of Learning, Principles and Approaches." American Psychological Association.

Leyva, D., Yeomans-Maldonado, G., Weiland, C., & Shapiro, A. (2023). Latino home learning opportunities, parental growth mindset, and child academic skills. Early Education & Development. 

Kessner, T. M., & Pérez Cortés, L. E. (2023). Mechanics and experience in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Opportunities to develop (global) civic empathy. Simulation & Gaming.

Ren, X. & Libertus, M.E. (2023). Identifying the neural bases of math competence based on structural and functional properties of the human brain. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Eagle, S. R., Puccio, A. M., Agoston, D. V., Mancinelli, M., Nwafo, R., McIntyre, P., Agnone, A., Tollefson, S., Collins, M., Kontos, A. P., Schneider, W.,  Okonkwo, D. O., & Soose, R. J. (2023). Association of plasma biomarkers with sleep outcomes and treatment response after mild traumatic brain injury. Neurotrauma Reports.

Chan, J. & Schunn, C.D. (2023) The importance of separating appropriateness into impact and feasibility for the psychology of creativity. Creativity Research Journal.

Spilich, G., Ed. (2023). (LRDC Alum, Ph.D., ’80). Behavioral Neuroscience, First Edition. Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-119-50566-2

Zhou, L., & Perfetti, C. (2023). Global mapping congruence influences phonological interference: ERP evidence for early and persistent ortho-phonological effects in reading Chinese for meaning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition.

*LRDC researchers' names appear in boldface
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