Douglas Behrend, Ph.D.

Doug Behrend received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1986 and was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan. He has been with the University of Arkansas since 1989 and is currently celebrating his 30th year in the department. He is head of the WordPlay lab and teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in developmental psychology and related issues. Dr. Behrend has been conducting research in child development for over 20 years. His research interests have long included children’s word learning, and more recently children’s selective trust in speakers, children’s learning and sharing of privileged information, and children’s accent preferences.

My name is Bri Jordan. I’m a graduate research assistant, and I graduated from Arkansas State University in May 2024 with a B.S. in Psychology. As I continue my education at the University of Arkansas, I am eager to grow as a researcher and expand my knowledge on cognitive development. I am thrilled to be part of this team as we explore new information and delve into exciting topics in our field.

My name is Madeleine Johnson, and I am a senior studying Psychology. After graduation, I plan on continuing my studies and go on to be a Psychologist, working in a clinical setting, performing diagnostics and therapy with children and adolescents. This is my fourth semester in the WordPlay lab, and I am excited to be a part of this year’s research!

Hi, my name is Briya Patel, and I’m a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Medical Humanities. This is my first semester in the WordPlay lab, and I’m excited to dive into research on cognitive development! I love learning and working with children, so I’m thrilled to be part of this lab. My future goals include attending medical school and completing a residency to become a pediatrician!

My name is Grace Kim, and I am a sophomore majoring in psychology and communication sciences & disorders. This is my first semester in the WordPlay lab, and I am so excited to join the team! I am passionate about research in cognitive development, especially as it relates to language. Further down the road, I plan to pursue cognitive neuroscience in graduate school.

My name is Alejandra Salazar and I am a Junior majoring in Psychology. This is my first semester working in the lab, so I am excited to learn more about the research. My goal is to become a therapist for kids and with that I will continue my education by going to grad school when I graduate!

Hi! My name is Elizabeth Tran. I am a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences and Journalism. This is my second semester with Wordplay, and I excited to deepen my understanding of research. My future goals include going to grad school and becoming a forensic psychologist!

Hi, I’m Sophia Pierce!  I’m an undergraduate research assistant majoring in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. My goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in child psychology, with a focus on the neuroscience behind sleep and eating disorders. I’m super excited to be a part of the WordPlay Lab and gain more hands-on research experience working with children! 

Hello! My name is Caroline Nicole Haag, and I am an adult student and a senior in psychology at the University of Arkansas. A career in visual art led me to a study of and passion for psychology. After this I plan to pursue a graduate degree in psychology and work in a clinical setting. My particular interests include development, trauma and women’s issues. I hope to find new and exciting overlap between creativity and psychology in my continued education and career. I am excited to be assisting this team in researching psychological development.