170 KOCHEL CENTER
ERIE, PA 16563
Biography
Dr. Nixon earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from West Virginia University.
Courses Taught
- C I 295, Introductory Field Experience for Teacher Preparation
- PSU 007, First-Year Seminar Behrend
- PSY 434, Children's Social & Emotional Development
- PSYCH 100, Introductory Psychology (formerly PSY 002)
- PSYCH 212, Introduction to Developmental Psychology
- PSYCH 221, Introduction to Social Psychology (formerly PSY 217)
- PSYCH 231, Introduction to the Psychology of Gender
- PSYCH 301W, Basic Research Methods in Psychology
- PSYCH 406W, Advanced Research Projects in Psychology
- PSYCH 412, Adolescence
- PSYCH 414, Social and Personality Development
- PSYCH 490H, Senior Seminar in Psychology
- PSYCH 494, Research Projects
- PSYCH 496, Independent Studies
- PSYCH 487B, Social Psychology in Our Lives
- PSYCH 497C, Research Presentation in Psychology
- PSYCH 497K, Applied Developmental Research
Research
- Youth Voice Project: In collaboration with Stan Davis, we are looking at how students’ perceptions of peer victimization, strategy effectiveness and school connectedness contribute to perceived levels of trauma. We believe that students’ voices are an invaluable resource to increase our understanding of effective prevention and intervention efforts. The overall goal of this project is to compile a body of knowledge describing the most helpful interventions in order to help adults and youth reduce bullying and harassment in their own schools. It is our hope to use this information to guide educators, parents, and youth in applying effective interventions to reduce bullying and subsequently, optimize students’ development.
- The empirical study of Protective and Risk Factors: Our lab continues to investigate various protective and risk factors as they relate to students’ developmental outcomes across gender and grade level.
- Mentoring in the Schools: How does college mentoring affect students’ development in middle and high school? Are there different effects for at-risk and not at-risk children and youth? Gender effects? Grade level effects? Which individual components of a mentoring program produce the greatest effects? This is a collaborative effort between local schools, colleges and community organizations. College students have been involved at every level of this process.
Publications
Effects of Students’ Grade Level, Gender, and Form of Bullying Victimization on Coping Strategy Effectiveness, International Journal of Bullying Prevention - June 27, 2019
Racially-focused peer victimization: Prevalence, psychosocial impacts, and the influence of coping strategies , Psychology of Violence - 2016
Collaborators: JJ Mendez, Co-Author; Sheri Bauman, Co-Author; Michael Sulkowski, Co-Author; Stan Davis, Co-Author
Targets of peer mistreatment: Do they tell adults? What happens when they do? , Teaching and Teacher Education - 2016
Collaborators: Sheri Bauman, Co-Author; DJ Meter, Co-Author; Stan Davis, Co-Author
Peer Victimization in Youth from Immigrant and Non-Immigrant U.S. Families, School Psychology International
Collaborators: Michael Sulkowski, Co-Author; Sheri Bauman; Savannah Wright; Stan Davis
Cyber-Bullying, Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics - 2014
An investigation into how students' respond to being victimized by peer aggression, Journal of School Violence - 2014
Collaborators: Michael Sulkowski, Co-Author; Sheri Bauman, Co-Author; Stephanie Dinner, Co-Author; Stanley Davis, Co-Author
Racially-Focused Peer Victimization Prevalence, Psychosocial Impacts, and the Influence of Coping Strategies, Psychology of Violence
Collaborators: Julian Mendez; Sheri Bauman; Stan Davis; Array Array
Comparative study of bullying victimization among students in general and special education, Exceptional Children
Collaborators: Michael Hartley, Co-Author; Sheri Bauman; Stanley Davis
Youth Voice Project: Student Insights into Bullying and Peer Mistreatment - November, 2013
Collaborator: S. Davis, Co-Author
Borden and Abbott’s Research Design and Methods - 2012
Empowering Bystanders - 2011
Collaborator: S. Davis
Relational victimization and somatic complaints during adolescence, Journal of Adolescent Health - 2011
Collaborators: C.A. Linkie; P.K. Coleman; C. Fitch
What students say about bullying, Educational Leadership - 2011
Collaborator: S. Davis
Reducing adolescents’ involvement with relational aggression: evaluating the effectiveness of the Creating A Safe School (CASS) Intervention, Psychology in the Schools - 2010
Collaborator: N.E. Werner
Predictors and correlates of abortion in the fragile families and well-being study: Paternal behavior, substance use, and partner violence, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - 2009
Collaborators: C.D. Maxey; M. Spence; P.K. Coleman
Foreword - 2008
Matlin’s Psychology of Women - 2008
Effectiveness of antismoking public service announcements on children’s intent to smoke, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors - 2008
Collaborators: P. Mansfield; M. Thoms
What is relational aggression? - 2007
Santrock’s Child Development - 2006
An exploratory analysis of the relationship between consumer socialization agents and children’s consumption of tobacco, Journal of College Teaching & Learning - 2006
Collaborators: P. Mansfield; M. Thoms
Normative beliefs and relational aggression: An investigation of the cognitive bases of adolescent aggressive behavior, Journal of Youth and Adolescence - 2005
Collaborator: N. Werner
Girl wars: 12 strategies that will end female bullying - 2003
Collaborator: C. Dellasega
Family experiences and early emotion understanding, Merrill-Palmer Quarterly - 2001
Collaborator: A.C. Watson
Sibling disability and children’s reactivity to conflicts involving family members, Journal of Family Psychology - 1999
Collaborator: E.M. Cummings
Social interaction skills and theory of mind in young children, Developmental Psychology - 1999
Collaborators: A.C. Watson; A. Wilson; L. Capage
Education
Ph D, Developmental Psychology, West Virginia University
MS, Psychology, West Virginia University
MA, Guidance & Counseling, Bowling Green State University
BS, Psychology, Biology, Marietta College