Our Values

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity is at the heart of our commitment to understanding the range and scope of human development. We recognize that historically, psychology research has not been representative of the broad range of backgrounds and perspectives in the United States and the world more broadly. Thus, it is our mission to make participating in research more accessible and inclusive and to celebrate and honor the unique perspectives that each family brings.

Community Engagement and Reciprocity

We strive not only to advance scientific knowledge, but also to make a positive contribution to the lives of the many families that make up our research community. We see ourselves as ambassadors of science whenever and wherever we conduct our studies. Through our partnerships with local schools and museums, we strive for mutual exchange that enriches both our research efforts and the educational experience of the broader community via talks for parents and teachers, and the dissemination of educational materials. We often thank the teachers we work with by giving them gift cards towards school supplies.

We also work with families all over Connecticut (and beyond) and we hope to make a lasting and positive impact wherever we are invited to work. Many of our team are members of the New Haven community and have children in the local schools. In part because of this, we particularly hope to do our part to open the doors of our institution and be active and engaged members of the community regardless of the science we also hope to contribute. In our labs, [and beyond] we hope to create a safe and welcoming environment for open dialogue with the community to learn more about how we can best contribute to educational initiatives in New Haven.

Humility

We see the pursuit of knowledge as a collective, unending endeavor; therefore, humility is a cornerstone of our research values. We recognize that there is always more to learn, and we embrace our mistakes with open-mindedness and a willingness to reevaluate our assumptions. Our commitment to humility extends beyond the lab and influences how we engage with our participants and the broader community. We hold a profound appreciation for the insights of caregivers and educators and the input of our community partners; without the perspective of the people who know children best, our research would be incomplete.