Research Projects
The ABCs of Psychology Research Team Is Currently Pursuing Several Lines of Research.
Click the links below to learn more.
- Emotion recognition—an autism spectrum disorder study
- Posterior cortical atrophy project
- Parental investment and family relationships
- Emotion development (infant jealousy)
- Moral development
Emotion Recognition Study
Researchers at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) are conducting research to understand the factors that contribute to the development of socio-emotions during childhood. This study is being led by accomplished scientists from FGCU (Krystal D. Mize, PhD) and FAU (Nancy Aaron Jones, PhD). Both scientists lead teams of student research assistants and regularly publish. Drs. Mize and Jones have dedicated their careers to investigating the physiological and behavioral underpinnings of affective development.
We are seeking volunteers to join our study that will look at how well children recognize emotions. We can conduct the research at our labs at FGCU or FAU.
Considering participating in our study?
Do you:
- Have a child between 4 and 8 years old?
- With or without a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Want to help researchers understand the emotional development of children with ASD?
- Want to better understand how your child recognizes emotions?
We’re offering a $20 Amazon gift-card to families who participate, and your child will be able to select a free toy. Results will be available to you upon request.
We're so excited to have you participate in research with us! Book your session now by emailing Dr. Mize at kmize@fgcu.edu.
Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) Project
Posterior cortical atrophy is a progressive neural degenerative syndrome that initially
affects the visual perception system in the brain. Most cases are found to stem from
Alzheimer’s or Lewy body diseases. Over time, the atrophy can spread into other regions
of the brain resulting in memory and other symptoms (e.g., dementia) associated with
better known major neurocognitive disorders. Despite an international effort to establish
consistent diagnostic criteria, the unusual presentation of the syndrome makes PCA
difficult to diagnose.
Dr. Mize and her research team are working with individuals living with PCA and their
care partners to raise awareness of the syndrome.
If you or your loved one are living with this syndrome, we would love to have you share your story and contribute to our project. We are also looking for medical professionals to interview for this project.
Parental Investment and Family Relationships
The research team is currently designing a study to explore the factors associated with parental investment and family relationships. Recruitment and data collection will begin soon.
Please visit the Research Assistants page if you are interested in helping with the project or email Dr. Mize if you are looking to participate.
Emotion Development: Infant Jealousy
The overarching aim of the infant jealousy project is to examine infant's responses to the loss of their mothers’ exclusive attention in social-rival and nonsocial conditions. Temperament and physiological measures have been incorporated into the study. The research team is collaborating with researchers from Florida Atlantic University to analyze data that has been collected in this study over the last decade.
An extension of this project is underway in which usurpation of parental attention by a social rival will be examined in infant-mother and infant-father dyads.
Recruitment and participant visits for this study is anticipated to begin in Fall 2023.
Moral Development
The preschool moral development research is a two-part, short-term longitudinal study investigating the effects of maternal and paternal mood and depression status on the development of empathy and prosocial behaviors in children. We are working in collaboration with research at Florida Atlantic University to analyze previously collected data.