Individual Differences in Learning and Development

Our research focuses on individual differences (e.g., motivation, personality, self-regulation, and cognitive abilities) and their interplay and role in individuals’ learning and development. Considering that children and adolescents are growing up in increasingly culturally diverse and often unequal worlds, we are also interested in questions relating to how schools approach diversity and how they can address social inequities. Further, we conduct research on digital learning and develop interventions based on digital technologies to support children’s and adolescents’ positive development. Our research is currently supported by grants from the German Research Foundation, Jacobs Foundation, Eliteprogram for Post-docs Funding of the Baden-Württemberg-Foundation, and CIFAR.

We are always interested in international and inter-disciplinary collaborations. Please contact Lisa.Bardach@psychol.uni-giessen.de !

Please see German version.

Here are some examples of central questions that we are going to study over the next years:

Individual differences/Identity

How do we become "the person we are"? How do individual differences and their interplay develop over time and from moment to moment, and what are implications for learning and development? Our lab focuses on multiple dimensions of individual differences, ranging from personality, motivation, socio-emotional skills, and self-regulation to cognitive abilities. In current research projects, we furthermore explore behavioral manifestations of different individual characteristics (especially curiosity), using log-files, eye-tracking data and other behavioral traces, and link curiosity and behavioral traces to learning outcomes. Another line of research sheds light on the dynamic interplay between personality states and cognitive performance states. We also investigate how to best adapt to diverse learners and their needs, both in "offline contexts (e.g., differentiated instruction/personalized learning) and in "online contexts" (e.g., by using adaptive technology).

Diversity and Equity

How can we harness the strengths that go along with increasing cultural and ethnic diversity while counteracting potential threats (e.g., discrimination of certain groups)? In a current project, we examine how schools approach cultural diversity and how different dimensions of a school’s cultural diversity climate (e.g., based on intergroup contact theory’s optimal contact conditions, multiculturalism climate, critical consciousness climate) relate to chilren and adolescents’ intergroup, academic, and socioemotional outcomes.

In the future, we aim to achieve an even more comprehensive understanding by combining multiple diversity dimensions and their intersections. Considering that children and adolescents often grow up in unequal worlds, we also investigate individual and contextual factors that may become resources or risk factors for students from (socio-economically) disadvantaged backgrounds.

Interested in similar questions? We are always excited about international and inter-disciplinary collaborations. Just get in touch!