Nicole Else-Quest, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Learning & Emotion Lab

Research Scope

Currently, two lines of research comprise the work in the Learning and Emotion Lab.  These projects are focused on:

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Mathematics Achievement and Affect  

 

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Cross-National Patterns of Gender Differences in Mathematics: A Meta-Analysis

What is the magnitude of gender differences in mathematics achievement across nations?  Are those gender differences related to the degree of societal gender equity?  This meta-analysis aims to link psychological differences between males and females to their cultural and social contexts, using cross-national studies (such as the TIMSS and PISA) and UNDP indices of gender development and equity.

Presentations from this project:

Else-Quest, N. M. & Hyde, J. S. (April 2008). Cross-National Patterns of Gender Differences in Mathematics: A Meta-Analysis. Gender Development Research Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Else-Quest, N. M. & Hyde, J. S. (May 2008). Cross-National Patterns of Gender Differences in Mathematics: A Meta-Analysis. Annual Meeting of the Association for Psychological Science.

 

 

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Emotions in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Learning

How do the emotions we experience in the context of STEM education relate to our learning, performance, and future course choices?  In collaboration with Dr. Janet Hyde of the University of Wisconsin, this question has been examined in 9, 11, and 13 year-old children while working mathematics problems with their mothers at home.  Using an observational emotion coding system based on the FACS (Ekman) and SPAFF (Gottman) systems, we are looking at the role of positive emotions (such as joy and interest) and negative emotions (such as boredom and frustration) in performance on a mathematics test.  We plan to expand this program to other age groups and outcomes.

Publications/Presentations from this project:

Hyde, J. S., Else-Quest, N. M., Alibali, M.W., Knuth, E., & Romberg, T.  (2006).  Mathematics in the home: Mother-child interactions doing mathematics.  Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 25, 136-152.

Else-Quest, N. M., Hyde, J. S., & Hejmadi, A.  (2008).  Mother and child emotions during mathematics homework.  Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 10, 5-35.

Else-Quest, N. M., & Hyde, J. S. (2006).  Behavioral observations of maternal and early adolescent emotions during mathematical problem solving.  Society for Research in Adolescence, San Francisco.

 

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Disease-Related Stigma and Self-Conscious Emotions

 

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Stigmatization of HIV-positive individuals

Stigmatization of HIV leads people to avoid HIV testing and disclosing their HIV status, both of which contribute to the spread of the disease.  How do attributions about disease causality and responsibility shape our tendency to stigmatize HIV patients?  Are individuals stigmatized differently according to gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity?

 
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Stigma and Self-Blame in Cancer

Do patients who perceive their disease as related to past behavior blame themselves and feel ashamed?  Does the experience of guilt and shame lead to feeling depressed or having poorer health outcomes?  In collaboration with Dr. Noelle LoConte of the University of Wisconsin and Dr. Joan Schiller of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, this project examines the experience of stigmatization and self-blame (especially the emotions of guilt and shame) in a sample of lung cancer patients.

Publications/Presentations from this project:

Else-Quest, N. M., LoConte, N. K., Schiller, J. H., & Hyde, J. S.  (in press).  Perceived stigma, self-blame, and adjustment in lung, breast, and prostate cancer patients.  Psychology & Health.

LoConte, N. K., Else-Quest, N. M., Hammes, L., Eickhoff, J., Hyde, J., & Schiller, J. H.   (2008).  Assessment of guilt and shame in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer compared to patients with breast and prostate cancer.  Clinical Lung Cancer, 9, 171-178.

Schmidt, N., Else-Quest, N. M., Eickhoff, J., Hyde, J., & Schiller, J. (2005). Guilt and shame in lung cancer patients. Lung Cancer, 49, S46.

Else-Quest, N. M., Schmidt, N. K., Eickhoff, J., Schiller, J. S., & Hyde, J. S.  (2005).  Shame and guilt in lung cancer patients.  International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, Barcelona, Spain.

Else-Quest, N. M., Schmidt, N. K., Hyde, J. S., & Schiller, J. H.  (2006).  Self-blame and depression in lung cancer patients.  Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana .

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Gender Differences in Self-Conscious Emotions

Although the emotions of shame, guilt, and embarrassment are stereotyped as feminine and the emotion of pride is stereotyped as masculine, it remains unclear to what extent these stereotypes reflect gender differences in the experience of the "self-conscious" emotions.  We are currently conducting a meta-analysis of the literature to estimate the magnitude of the gender differences in these emotions and to determine whether this gender differences changes throughout development.  This project is an extension of our previous work on the assessment of self-conscious emotions in cancer patients.

 

 

Other Projects in the Lab

 

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Continuity and Change in the Mother-Child Relationship

Are relationships between mothers and children relatively stable across childhood?  Using behavioral observations from the Wisconsin Study of Families and Work, in collaboration with Drs. Janet Hyde and Roseanne Clark, this project examines the quality of the mother-child relationship in 400 families from infancy through early adolescence.

Manuscript currently under review

 

Previous Projects

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Cognitive and Social Outcomes of Montessori Education

Do children who are educated in the Montessori curriculum develop cognitive abilities and social skills earlier than children educated in more traditional Western curricula?  In collaboration of Dr. Angeline Lillard of the University of Virginia, this project examined outcomes in K-5 and 6th-grade children educated in a public Montessori School in Milwaukee.

Publications from this project:

Lillard, A. S., & Else-Quest, N. (2006).  An evaluation of Montessori education.  Science, 313, 1893-1894.

 

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The Development of Adaptive Cognitions in Cancer Patients

When faced with a life-threatening illness, why do some people manage to find "the silver lining" and experience post-traumatic growth, while others become depressed and hopeless?  This longitudinal study of cancer patients charts the psychological changes that cancer patients experience following a diagnosis of lung, breast, or prostate cancer.

Manuscript currently under review

 

For Current and Prospective Students

Thinking about graduate school in psychology?  Looking for research experience?  The Emotion & Learning Lab is seeking motivated, hard-working students to assist in current research projects.  Please email Dr. Else-Quest for more information: nicole.else.quest@villanova.edu

If you're interested in learning more about the MS Program at Villanova, visit the Villanova Psychology Department Graduate Program website!

 

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