Many people struggle when it comes to achieving their goals. They procrastinate, find it difficult to marshal the motivation necessary to finish tasks, and seem to have trouble self-regulating goal-directed activity. The major aim of my research is to uncover the psychological processes that underlie successful goal pursuit in order to develop empirically informed interventions that enhance motivation and self-regulation, helping individuals to improve their chances of successfully achieving their aspirations. The questions that my research addresses therefore have important implications in both basic and applied domains.

My research focuses on two motivational contexts: education and health. In the area of education, my work examines the antecedents, outcomes, and development of individuals achievement goals. I then apply the knowledge generated by this research to the design of interventions that help individuals succeed in real classroom settings. Within the health context, I use theories of social influence and self-regulation to develop tools that health practitioners can utilize to help their patients adopt more healthy behaviors. My training in advanced statistical methods informs my research in all of these areas.

Areas of Expertise

Personality, goal setting, academic achievement, psychological research methods.

Education

Graduate degree: Ph.D., M.A., Michigan State University

Undergraduate degree: B.A., University of Northern Iowa

Selected Publications

Corker, K. S., Donnellan, M.B. (2012). Setting lower limits high: The role of boundary goals in achievement motivation. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104, 138-149.

Corker, K. S., Oswald, F. L., Donnellan, M. B. (2012). Conscientiousness in the classroom: A process explanation. Journal of Personality, 80, 993-1026.

Courses Taught

PSYC150
Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology

PSYC422
Research Methods in Personality

PSY326
Theories of Personality