Recently, Dr. Leslie Echols, associate professor of psychology at Missouri State University, worked with Dr. Jerreed Ivanich of the University of Colorado to conduct a Fast Friends study. It looked at using questions and answers to foster friendships among middle school students. This research was featured in the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley’s recent list of … [Read more...] about Professor’s work featured in ‘Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2021’ list
Is there an effective way to foster friendships among tweens and teens? Yes, according to a recent study conducted by psychologist Dr. Leslie Echols of Missouri State University and Dr. Jerreed Ivanich of the University of Colorado. Engaging in meaningful Q&A The researchers implemented the 36 questions activity known as Fast Friends in a local middle school. About 300 … [Read more...] about Using questions to help kids build friendships
How do kids build friendships and navigate bullying in schools? Dr. Leslie Echols, Missouri State University associate professor of psychology, is trying to find out with her latest research project. Echols and her co-researcher, Dr. Sandra Graham from University of California – Los Angeles, received a grant of about half a million dollars from the National Science Foundation. … [Read more...] about Tackling bullying and promoting friendships in middle schools
Victimization happens when a person is on the receiving end of cruel or unjust treatment. According to a Science Daily article, “researchers estimate that as many as 75% of children and youth report experiencing some sort of peer victimization, with 10 to 15% experiencing more severe and prolonged victimization.” Dr. Leslie Echols, assistant professor of psychology at … [Read more...] about A focus on peer victimization
Bullying is a scary prospect for parents and children. For victims, it’s even scarier. Dr. Leslie Echols, assistant professor of psychology at Missouri State University, has gathered first-hand accounts of aggression for her research. Victimization is the concept of bullying from the perspective of the victim. To discover what it is that makes a chronic victim, Echols has … [Read more...] about A habitat for victimization