LETR Lab
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LETR Lab

Research

We explore the processes underlying learning across contexts and for all learners โ€” examining individual differences in cognition, language, and motivation.

Active Projects

Research Areas

Our work spans three interconnected areas, united by a commitment to understanding how people learn and how we can support better outcomes.

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Reading Across Mediums

As learners increasingly shift between print, digital screens, and audio formats, we ask: does medium matter? This project examines how different reading formats shape comprehension, engagement, and metacognition. Drawing on work in reading science and cognitive psychology, we investigate the conditions under which format-based differences emerge โ€” and what they mean for educational practice. We have explored audiobook vs. print comprehension and are currently studying how college students navigate multiple digital sources.

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Knowledge, Beliefs & Reasoning

How and why do people revise โ€” or resist revising โ€” their beliefs about controversial scientific topics? This line of work investigates knowledge updating, argumentative writing, and the interplay between evidence, emotion, and prior beliefs in the context of socio-scientific issues. We use Bayesian network modeling and qualitative methods to understand the structure of students' reasoning, with implications for science education and scientific literacy.

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Mental Health in Academia

Funded by an American Psychological Foundation (APF) Grant, this project investigates the mental health and well-being of early career academics. We examine systemic, relational, and individual factors that shape stress, belonging, and career sustainability in academic contexts. The aim is to develop an evidence base that can inform institutional support structures and mentorship practices.


Methods

How We Work

We use a range of quantitative and qualitative methods depending on the question.

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Quantitative Methods

Survey methods, experimental designs, psychometric modeling, Bayesian network analysis, and statistical approaches appropriate to the research question.

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Qualitative Methods

Think-aloud protocols, interviews, and discourse analysis to examine the processes underlying learning, argumentation, and belief revision.

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Mixed Methods

Many projects combine quantitative and qualitative approaches to capture both the breadth and depth of learning phenomena.


Join the Lab

Working with Students

I'm always excited to work with students who are genuinely curious about the world and eager to ask meaningful questions. More than prior experience, I value intellectual curiosity, intrinsic motivation, and a willingness to engage with complex, open-ended problems where the answers are not immediately obvious.

Research often begins with big ideas. But meaningful progress comes from carefully breaking those ideas into questions that can be studied systematically. I'm looking for students who enjoy thinking deeply, discussing ideas, and are equally willing to put in the sustained effort required to design studies, analyze data, and refine their thinking. If you enjoy learning, embrace ambiguity, and are excited by the challenge of turning difficult questions into rigorous research, I'd love to hear from you.


Interested in Collaborating?

We welcome inquiries from researchers, practitioners, and students interested in our work.

asingh56@sfsu.edu
View Publications โ†’

ยฉ 2025 LETR Lab ยท Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University

 

asingh56@sfsu.edu