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The Development of Thinking (DoT) Lab in the Department of Psychology at Occidental College is directed by Dr. Jamie Amemiya, PhD.
Our team studies social-cognitive development. We apply this knowledge to support children's motivation to succeed and to promote social harmony. We also conduct research with adults on related topics.
Ongoing research projects include:
Children and AI
Children and AI
AI is increasingly becoming a part of children's lives. How do children evaluate the morality of using AI, such as for homework help? How do they evaluate peers who copy answers from AI? And when are children tempted to use AI to (falsely) boost their reputations as smart?
Learning from Explanation
Learning from Explanation
Although children are known as the "why" askers, adults ask "why" and answer "why" questions all the time. What do children learn from adults' choices to ask about or explain something? In this project, we examine how children learn from even the subtlest social cues--the mere act of asking or answering "why" questions.
Seeking Compromise
Seeking Compromise
How do children approach disagreement with others? In this study, we examine children's ability to seek compromise following a disagreement with another child. We explore the role of children's intellectual humility, i.e., recognizing the limits of one's own knowledge, in this process.
Raising Hands
Raising Hands
How do children feel about sharing versus withholding their answers in class? This study examines these questions, with the goal of informing new strategies to support students' confidence in the classroom.
Lab logo designed by Ellie Lin-Stevens and Margaux Simons
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