Research

UPSHOTs LAB

The UPSHOTs Lab is a research and mentoring community dedicated to understanding the cognitive, motivational, social, developmental, and contextual processes that support higher-order thinking. The lab brings together faculty, graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and interdisciplinary collaborators interested in how people think creatively, critically, scientifically, wisely, and courageously.

Our work examines higher-order thinking not only as a collection of cognitive skills, but also as a set of habits and dispositions shaped by learners’ experiences, relationships, cultures, and educational environments. Through theoretical development, measurement, quantitative and qualitative research, and community-engaged scholarship, the lab seeks to generate knowledge that can improve educational practice and support learners in formal and informal settings.

The UPSHOTs Lab also provides opportunities for students to participate in research design, literature reviews, data collection and analysis, instrument development, scholarly writing, conference presentations, and collaborative publications.