My Profile

Biography:

I conduct research on the psychology of literacy and, in particular, on the strategies that people use for locating information. I have studied the role of cognitive and motivational factors in information seeking. Information seeking is the most prevalent workplace literacy task and one that is performed poorly by most adults and children.

I have recently developed a tutoring program to teach elementary students how to use informational books in order to find specific information that has proven very successful with students in the early elementary grades. I am currently examining the strategies that people use to locate information on the Internet, with the goal to develop a tutoring program for adults in workplace literacy programs. I am primary investigator on a literacy project that is how on-line discussion forums can be used to develop critical thinking and writing skills.