Welcome to the Hart Lab, where we explore the fascinating world of how children learn and develop. Our research focuses on understanding why children differ in their academic abilities and what factors contribute to these differences.
The Nature and Nurture of Learning
What shapes how children learn to read and do math?
We study the complex interplay between genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) in children's academic development. Using twin studies and other genetically-sensitive methods, we explore questions like: How and why do children differ in their reading and math learning? How much do schools, families, and communities influence learning? Our research helps us understand that both our genes and our experiences work together to shape learning outcomes.
Reading Development and Disabilities
Understanding why some children struggle with reading
Reading is fundamental to academic success, yet many children face challenges. We investigate the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to reading difficulties, including dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Our work examines how reading skills develop over time, what early warning signs to look for, and how we can better support struggling readers through personalized interventions.
Mathematics Learning and Anxiety
Exploring the emotional side of math learning
Math anxiety is real and can significantly impact performance. We study how mathematical thinking develops, why some students develop anxiety around math, and how emotions affect learning. Our research examines individual differences in mathematical thinking and develops strategies to support confident math learners.
Educational Interventions and Response to Treatment
Making education more personalized and effective
Not all children respond to instruction in the same way. We investigate why some students thrive with certain teaching methods while others need different approaches. Our research examines factors that predict which students will benefit most from specific interventions, helping educators tailor instruction to individual needs. This work contributes to the growing field of "precision education" (Hart, 2016) - customizing learning experiences based on individual characteristics.
Home Learning Environment
How families shape children's academic development
The home environment plays a crucial role in children's learning, but not always in ways we might expect. We study how different aspects of family life - from reading together and helping with homework to the overall chaos or organization of daily routines - influence children's academic success. What makes our research unique is that we account for genetic factors when studying these environmental influences. This is important because parents share both genes and environments with their children, so we need sophisticated methods like twin studies to determine which family practices truly make a difference versus what might be explained by shared genetics. Our research examines both literacy and math environments at home, investigating questions like: How does parent involvement affect learning beyond genetic influences? What home activities are most beneficial for different skills? How do socioeconomic factors interact with family practices to influence children's educational outcomes?
COVID-19 and Educational Disruption
Understanding how the pandemic affected children's learning
The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented natural experiment in education, with millions of children suddenly shifted to remote learning. We study how this massive disruption affected children's academic progress, particularly in reading. Our research examines questions like: Which children were most vulnerable to learning losses during the pandemic? How did different types of remote instruction compare to in-person learning? What family and community factors helped children maintain their learning progress during this challenging time?
Open Science and Data Sharing
Making research more transparent and accessible
We believe that scientific research should be open and accessible to everyone. Our lab is committed to sharing our data, methods, and findings with other researchers and the public. We practice preregistration - publicly documenting our research plans and hypotheses before collecting data - to ensure our findings are robust and reliable. We help develop tools and resources (like LDBase) that make it easier for researchers to collaborate and build on each other's work, ultimately leading to a better understanding of how children learn and develop.
Our ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between scientific research and real-world educational practice, helping ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full learning potential.