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The research conducted in the Harris P-C Interaction Lab, directed by Dr. Yvette R. Harris, focuses on exploring environmental antecedents of cognitive, intellectual and socio emotional development of minority and non-minority preschool and school age children. The theoretical philosophy embraced by the lab is a combination of the Vygotskian, Ecological and Social Cognitive Learning perspectives.

Therefore the investigations in the lab examine how early learning occurs in the context of the home environment, and we examine the role of culture, socioeconomic status on cognitive and social outcomes.

In addition to the basic research we also are launching two new applied lines of work. One focuses on exploring the issues of family stabilization as mothers’ return to their homes, and communities from prison. The next line explores the impact of sickle cell disease on family functioning and mental health.

The work in the lab has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, Miami University, The United Way, Proctor and Gamble, the Center for Human Development Learning and Technology, the Harvard Radcliffe Murray Center and the Department of Psychology

Links for Additional Information on Parents and Children

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Child Welfare League of America

Institute for Educational Statistics

Civic Research Institute

Children of Incarcerated Parents

Sickle Cell Disease Association

National Institute of Justice

Society for Research in Child Development

National Association for the Education of Young Children

Children of Promise, NYC

Children's Bureau

Prospective Students

Undergraduate Students

Dr. Harris and the lab are always on the look out for bright, energetic undergraduate students who are interested in learning more about research methodology in developmental psychology. Undergraduate research assistants are involved in a variety of lab activities ranging from coding parent child interaction data, assisting with subject recruitment, and collecting data and data entry. Junior and seniors are encouraged to design their independent research projects though such mechanisms as the Summer Scholars Award and other fundings/support opportunities. Undergraduate researchers are encouraged to serve as co-presenters at National and International Conferences.

Graduate Students

Dr. Harris is highly interested in recruiting graduate students who have interest in conducting research on parents and children from diverse family backgrounds exploring issues of cognitive development, health, and parental incarceration. Graduate students work closely with Dr. Harris on many of the projects and are responsible for supervising undergraduates in the lab, analyzing data, and assisting in preparing manuscripts and grants. Many of the graduate students in the lab serve as co-authors or lead authors on articles, grants, and conference presentations.

Learn More

Sign Up to Participate

Please contact Dr. Harris if you are interested in participating in any of our research projects, or need additional information about our community outreach projects.

Prospective graduate students should contact Dr. Harris directly through email for more information about our graduate program in psychology.

Contact Information:
Yvette Harris, Ph.D.
harrisyr@MiamiOH.edu
(513) 529-2009

Research

Current Research

Parental Contributions to Math Literacy

This is one of our on-going projects. Our goal is to identify predictors of math literacy performance in K, 1st, and 2nd grade children. We are interested in recruiting minority and non-minority parents and children for this project. Please contact us if you know a parent who might be interested in participating in this research project.

Parents, Preschoolers' and iPads

We are in the initial stages of identifying how preschool children "interface" with iPads and what role might socioeconomic status, and home environment contribute to that interface. Additional details are forthcoming about recruiting participants.

Previous Research

The Motherhood Initiative

The motherhood initiative was a three phase study designed to examine the challenges that reentering mothers and their children, caregivers, and relatives encounter when mothers are returning from prison.

Impact of Sickle Cell Disease on Mental Health and Family Functioning

This project was a collaborative project with Dayton Children's Hospital Sickle Cell Clinic, and colleagues in MU's departments of anthropology and family studies. Our goal was to explore how SCD impacts mental health and family functioning over the course of a year.

Publications & Presentations

Harris, Y. R. & Almutairi, S. (2016). A Commentary on Parent Child Cognitive Learning Interactions: What have we learned from two decades of research? Frontiers in Psychology

Harris, Y. R. & Graham, J.A. The African American Children: Development and Challenges. 2^nd edition. New York: Springer Publishing Company

Harris, Y.R. & Harris, V.A. (2014). Pathways to Understanding Parenting Addiction and Incarceration: A Pilot Investigation. Journal of Psychology and Clinical Psychiatry 1(2):00008.

Harris, Y. R., & Rothstein, S.E. (2014). Exploring story grammar structure in the book reading interactions of African American mothers and their preschool children: a pilot investigation. Front. Psychol. 5:545. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00545

Graham, J.A. & Harris, Y. R. (2013). Children of Color and Parental Incarceration: Implications for Research, Theory and Practice. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development.

Harris, Y. R. & Schroeder, V.M. (2013). Deficits or Differences? What we know about African American Vernacular English in the 21^st Century. International Education Studies.

Harris, Y.R., & Schroeder, V. M. (On line first 2012). The association between maternal strategies and preschoolers location memory, European Journal of Developmental Psychology.

Harris, Y.R., & Schroeder, V. M. (2012). What the Bernstein Bears can tell us about School Readiness: Maternal Story Grammar and Preschool Narrative Structure, Journal of Early Childhood Research, 12, 1-20.

Harris, Y.R., Graham, J.A., Oliver, Carpenter, G.J. (2010). Children of Incarcerated Parents: Theoretical, Developmental and Clinical Implications. New York: Springer Publications

Harris, Y. R. & Graham, J. A. (2009). Developmental Science: An Introductory Textbook Dubuque Iowa: Kendall Hunt

Harris, Y.R., & Bergen, D. (2008). African-American Children and Families: A Guide for Educators and Service Providers. Association for Childhood Education International.

Harris, Y. R., & Graham, J. A. (2007) The African-American Child: Development and Challenges. New York: Springer Publications

Harris, Y. R. (2005) Cognitive Development across the Life Span. In N. Salkind (Ed). The Encyclopedia for Human Development, vol 1, pp.275-280.

Manuals Produced by the Lab

Hung, A,. & Harris, Y.R. (June, 2013). How to Manage Your Sickle Cell Disease. Coping, Mental Health and Stress Strategies. Pamphlet for Adolescents with SCD for Dayton Sickle Cell Clinic at Dayton’s’ Children’s Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio

Harris, Y.R., (January 2013). Distressing the Stress in Your Life. Manual for Parents Participating in Cincinnati Ohio’s Core Change Program

Harris Y. R., Asher, S., Douhit A., Kurtkoti, A., Matteson, D., Whitaker, J., & Wiggins, E. (December 2013) Going Home: Making Your Transition Back to Parenting. Manual for Parents Leaving River City Detention Center

Harris, Y. R (September, 2012). Working on Your Parenting Skills. Manual for attendees of the Urban League’s REXXO Program.

Harris, Y. R. (June 2009). Camp Determination. Manual for Counselors and Parents of children attending Camp Determination.

Harris, Y. R, Walker, R. D., & Oates, S. (2000). Measuring Social Influences on Preschool Cognitive Development (Tech. Rep. No. 1). Oxford, Ohio: Miami University, Center for Human Development Learning and Technology.

The Harris Parent Child Interaction Lab

Lab Members

Yvette Harris, Ph.D.

Additional Resources