Research Interests
My research interests focus on the social psychology of language and communication processes, particularly as they pertain to intercultural relations and communication. I am interested in how aspects of the social context, including opportunities for intergroup contact, relative group status, and situational norms are implicated in communication process. One facet of my research program concerns the relation between language behavior and ethnic identity, and how they are connected to acculturation. A second aspect is intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to learn languages, and how others (e.g., teachers, family members, and members of the language community) encourage or discourage learners' motivation. In both of these research programs I have started to take a more developmental perspective, using longitudinal designs and multilevel modeling, to better understand these dynamic and contextualized processes.