Social Development Lab

The Social Development lab aims to better understand the processes and outcomes of social and emotional development from childhood through young adulthood. We are particularly interested in understanding how people make sense of their experiences through narratives that they hear from and share with important others, like parents, teachers, and friends. We and our colleagues think of narrating as a mechanism of social-emotional development: it is through narrating our experiences with others that we construct our understandings of morality and identity and maintain our well-being. 

Depending on where we are in the research process (e.g., study design, data collection, data analysis) at the beginning of each semester, we welcome students to apply to work in our lab. Students must be committed to joining a team typically for at least an academic year and being productive and professional (collaborators). All students must complete CITI ethics training prior to working in the lab. If you are interested please contact Professor Shaw (lshaw@weber.edu). 

Current Research Projects

Quiet Ego in Emerging Adulthood

Growth through Adversity in the Adolescent Personality (GAAP Study)

Current Research Assistants

Zoe Marchant, Psychological Science and English minor
Dentyn Sacre, Psychological Science and Philosophy double major

Illustrious Former Research Assistants

Allyson Barazza (now in PhD program in Developmental Psychology, University of Missouri, St. Louis)
Madisyn Carrington (now in PhD program in Developmental and Brain Sciences, UMass, Boston)
Sydnee Eubank (now in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, University of Utah)
Thomas Frazier (now in Counseling program, Thomas Jefferson University)
Keenan Geddes (now in Marriage and Family Therapy program, Florida State)

Our Lab at SSHD in Philadelphia (2023) to Present our Research

Student Poster Presentations at the
2022 Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Meeting