University of North Carolina at Asheville
Asheville, NC 28804-8508
Office Telephone: 828/251-6313
Email: msmith@unca.edu
Web Page: http://facstaff.unca.edu/msmith
Education
B.A.,
Clark University (Psychology)
M.A., University of Connecticut (Developmental Psychology)
Ph.D., Clark University (Developmental Psychology)
Courses Taught
General Psychology: Brain & Behavioral Processes
General Psychology: Personality & Social Processes
Developmental Psychology
Special Topics in Developmental Psychology
Research and Professional Interests
Broadly, my research examines how young children use language in everyday contexts. Although my recent focus has been centered on studying the transition to abstract grammar between the ages of two and four, my research has also utilized children’s naturally produced language as a tool for exploring other cognitive and social aspects of development, such as theory of mind and perspective-taking. Furthermore, I am interested in sociocultural differences in processes of caregiver-child interaction and more generally in the interface between early language and cognitive development. Students interested in this area of psychology should contact me about joining my research team.