Carole Peterson, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Professor
Psychology
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
carole@mun.ca
Office:
(709) 864-7682
Expert In
Bio/Research
Currently, research interests focus on memory and on language. For memory, I have been studying children's eyewitness memory for stressful events, namely injuries serious enough to require hospital emergency room treatment. I have been looking at whether children who are extremely upset by an eve...
Click to Expand >>
Click to Expand >>
Bio/Research
Currently, research interests focus on memory and on language. For memory, I have been studying children's eyewitness memory for stressful events, namely injuries serious enough to require hospital emergency room treatment. I have been looking at whether children who are extremely upset by an event remember or describe it differently than children who are less upset, how the interviewer's questions can alter the child's recounting of what occurred, and what other individual difference variables (e.g., language skill, temperament, attachment) affect long-term memory for these events. All of these have implications for children's reliability as witnesses in forensic situations. As well, I am studying infantile amnesia, or the age of earliest memory. We are exploring the factors that affect when and what gets remembered years later.
For language, I have been studying children's autobiographical narratives, or stories about personal experience. I have been looking at how children acquire narrative skills, and in particular, the role that parents play in helping them learn these skills. Narrative skills seem to be important for helping children acquire literacy; if so, can good narrative skills be taught readily to young children? In particular, can parents be taught ways of interacting with their children that fosters this skill development? In addition, how do narrative skills and memory interact?
Click to Shrink <<
For language, I have been studying children's autobiographical narratives, or stories about personal experience. I have been looking at how children acquire narrative skills, and in particular, the role that parents play in helping them learn these skills. Narrative skills seem to be important for helping children acquire literacy; if so, can good narrative skills be taught readily to young children? In particular, can parents be taught ways of interacting with their children that fosters this skill development? In addition, how do narrative skills and memory interact?
Click to Shrink <<