Dr. Jack Croxton
Research
My training is in the field of Social Psychology. The majority of my research has been in the area of attribution processes, or how people infer causality when perceiving the behavior of others. In particular, I have tried to document and explain why people often make mistakes or exhibit biases when asked to explain why people act in a certain way. I am also interested in how schemas can influence our recall of information about others. Another area that I have studied concerns the role of gender stereotypes in sports related settings. Most recently, I have been investigating cultural stereotypes and their impact on self-perceptions. I always try to involve undergraduates in my research and many of them have co-authored my papers and publications.
Teaching
The courses that I most commonly teach are Social Psychology, Psychology and the Law, and Health Psychology. I have also taught courses such as Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Sports Psychology, and Applied Psychology. In addition to teaching undergraduates, I teach a graduate course that concerns the role of expectancy effects in the classroom environment. I recently received a Fulbright Scholar Award to teach in Russia and I found it to be a very rewarding experience. I have been a Fulbright Scholar in Bulgaria as well. I love interacting with students in the classroom, in my office, in the hall, or on the streets. I try to be a mentor, facilitator, and active listener. I always try to motivate my students by conveying my own genuine interest in the course material. My advice to students is to study and travel abroad as much as possible in order to expand your horizons.
Department and University Service
I was the Chair of the Psychology Department for fourteen years. I am currently the Director of the Office of Student Creative Activity and Research. A few years ago I served as the Interim Dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences. For three years I was the Director of the Office of Assessment. I was also the Co-Chair of the Middle States Steering Committee that focused on student outcomes as part of our ten-year re-accreditation self-study. Over the years I have chaired many college wide committees.
Selected Student - Faculty Collaboration
Donlon, A., Blakely, K., & Croxton, J. (2008, April). Perceptions of Russian Students as a Function of Gender, Physical Attractiveness, and Vocal Cues. Poster presented at the Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Penn State Behrend, Erie, PA, and at the Student Research and Creativity Exposition, SUNY Fredonia.
Moore, S., Vecchio, G., & Croxton, J. (2007, April). Person Perception as a Function of Physical Attractiveness, Tone of Voice, and Gender. Poster presented at the Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Grove City, PA.
Leone, J., Gretarsdottir, H., & Croxton, J. (2005, April). Trait and Behavioral Attributions as a Function of Cultural and Gender Stereotypes. Paper and poster presented at the Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA and at the Student Research & Creative Endeavors Exposition, SUNY Fredonia.
Kosinski, S., & Croxton, J. (2005, April). Attitudes and Attributional Patterns in Relation to Health Outcomes. Paper and poster presented at the Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Allegheny College, Meadville, PA and at the Student Research & Creative Endeavors Exposition, SUNY Fredonia.
|