Math Thinking and Learning Lab 2017-2018
Lab Director

Dr. Colleen Ganley
Assistant Professor
Developmental Psychology
Department of Psychology & Learning Systems Institute
Florida State University
My research centers on the social, cognitive, and affective factors related to mathematical thinking and learning with a specific focus on gender and income-level differences.
Download my CV here.
Follow me on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, or twitter.
Assistant Professor
Developmental Psychology
Department of Psychology & Learning Systems Institute
Florida State University
My research centers on the social, cognitive, and affective factors related to mathematical thinking and learning with a specific focus on gender and income-level differences.
Download my CV here.
Follow me on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, or twitter.
Graduate Students

Connie Barroso
My research interests include studying students’ math- and science-related interest and achievement from elementary school to college. I’m interested in investigating the roles that different cognitive and socio-cognitive, and affective factors play in student achievement and interest in math and science. I would like to further explore how these mechanisms relate to student participation and career interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, along with looking to see if there are different effects or interactions of these factors for less-represented groups in STEM fields.
My research interests include studying students’ math- and science-related interest and achievement from elementary school to college. I’m interested in investigating the roles that different cognitive and socio-cognitive, and affective factors play in student achievement and interest in math and science. I would like to further explore how these mechanisms relate to student participation and career interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, along with looking to see if there are different effects or interactions of these factors for less-represented groups in STEM fields.

Elyssa Geer
My research interests include studying children's spatial reasoning skills in relation to their math- and science-performance and achievement. I am interested in looking at the way in which different external factors (such as gender, socio-economic status, etc.) impact this relationship. One of my goals is to further knowledge in this area in the hopes of discerning new interventions that may be applicable in an educational setting.
My research interests include studying children's spatial reasoning skills in relation to their math- and science-performance and achievement. I am interested in looking at the way in which different external factors (such as gender, socio-economic status, etc.) impact this relationship. One of my goals is to further knowledge in this area in the hopes of discerning new interventions that may be applicable in an educational setting.

Amanda McGraw
The goal of my research is to better understand malleable factors related to mathematical learning in children and adults. To date, my research has examined both cognitive and affective variables that may relate to mathematics performance that can also be potential targets for intervention. This includes typically studied affective and cognitive factors identified as sources of variability in math performance (e.g. math anxiety, working memory), as well as embodied aspects (e.g. finger counting, gesture) of mathematical performance.
The goal of my research is to better understand malleable factors related to mathematical learning in children and adults. To date, my research has examined both cognitive and affective variables that may relate to mathematics performance that can also be potential targets for intervention. This includes typically studied affective and cognitive factors identified as sources of variability in math performance (e.g. math anxiety, working memory), as well as embodied aspects (e.g. finger counting, gesture) of mathematical performance.