RESEARCH AREAS

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We study how kids think about people, groups, and society! Our research centers around the development of (1) moral concerns for fairness and others' welfare, (2) social identities and intergroup attitudes, and (3) beliefs about social inequalities.

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​CURRENT PROJECTS

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Social Class Identity Project: This mixed-methods study explores social class identity, family functioning, and beliefs about society among adults and children in the U.S. and the U.K.

Collaborators: Rashmita Mistry, University of California, Los Angeles; Luke McGuire, University of Exeter.

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Inclusive Parents Project: This experimental study investigates how parents make decisions about their children's interactions with peers who differ in gender, race, and social class.

Collaborators: Aline Hitti, University of San Francisco.

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New Americans Project: This correlational study examines how U.S. children think about peers from immigrant backgrounds and the circumstances that promote fair treatment.

Collaborators: Kelly Lynn Mulvey, North Carolina State University; Christia Spears Brown, University of Kentucky.

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Social Mobility Project: This experimental study explores young children's perceptions of fair and unfair ways that people gain status and move up social hierarches.

Study lead: Megan Norris, Purdue University.

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Friendship Stories Project: This experimental study investigates how U.S. children learn about the experiences of immigrant peers and their families through stories about friendship. Funded by the Kinley Trust at Purdue.