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As a learner-centered and discovery-driven institution, Â鶹´«Ã½ values the research of its faculty. The following lists the research interests of faculty members in the Department of Psychology.

Jonathan Baker

• Applied research in Behavioral Gerontology, including the assessment/treatment of behavioral excesses and developing programs that remediate behavioral deficits in older adults with Neurocognitive disorders/dementia, treatment adoption and verbal behavior.
• Applied research in staff training in aging/intellectual disabilities human services 
• Translational research in Behavioral Gerontology

Lisa Baker

• Behavioral pharmacology of addictive drugs
• Preclinical screening of addictive drugs for abuse liability including drug discrimination, conditioned place preference, and behavioral sensitization procedures
• Preclinical screening of novel psychiatric medications for pharmacotherapeutic potential.

Hugo Curiel

• Stimulus preference assessments
• Reinforcer assessments
• Gender issues

Amy Damashek

• Prevention of Unintentional childhood injury Among Young Children
• Prevention of Child maltreatment
• Interventions to Support Low-Income and Underrepresented Families (e.g., home visiting)
• Prevention of infant sleep-related deaths
• Health disparities
• Parenting Interventions

Anthony DeFulio

• Contingency management and health incentives
• Behavioral economics
• Behavioral pharmacology

Wayne Fuqua

• The management of health risk behaviors, including eating, exercise, and various behaviors
• Developmental disabilities and functional assessment and analysis
• Training and dissemination of evidence-based behavioral practices

Scott Gaynor

• Psychotherapy process and outcome
• Contemporary behavior therapy

Heather McGee

• Comprehensive behavioral systems analysis
• Behavior based safety
• Instructional technology and learning

Amy Naugle

• Emotional, psychological, and interpersonal factors associated with stress, trauma, and adversity
• Clinical outcome research and contextual behavioral interventions (behavioral activation, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based treatments)
• Analogue methods of studying emotional responding and emotion regulation

Stephanie Peterson

• Dimensions of reinforcement
• Choice between communication and problem behavior for children in the applied setting,
• Behavioral technology
• Literacy and special education

Cynthia J. Pietras

• Behavioral pharmacology, models of choice
• Pro-social and aggressive behavior
• Experimental analysis of human and nonhuman behavior

Sarah Pinkelman

• Bridging the research-to-practice gap
• The application of behavior analysis to public school systems and classrooms
• School-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS)

Alan Poling

• Applied behavior analysis (recent staff training, exercise, training for employment)
• Experimental analysis of behavior (including scent detection and behavioral pharmacology)
• Gender issues 

Sharlet Rafacz

• Rule-governed behavior
• Motivating operations, reinforcement, and aversive contingencies in organizational settings
• Health and well-being in the workplace

Ron Van Houten

• Traffic safety
• Simulation research
• Community and organizational psychology