معرفی
Dr. April McGrath is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Mount Royal University's Faculty of Arts. She holds a PhD and MA from Carleton University and a BA (Honors) from St. Thomas University. Her research focuses on cognitive dissonance theory and innovative teaching practices, particularly addressing statistics anxiety and student engagement in higher education.
Education:
- PhD, Carleton University
- MA, Carleton University
- BA (Hons), St. Thomas University
Research Interests: Dr. McGrath explores cognitive dissonance reduction mechanisms and applies psychological principles to improve teaching strategies. Her work emphasizes fostering student interest in psychology through structured learning environments and reflective practices. Recent projects include analyzing the impact of office hour interactions on statistics anxiety and investigating sketching-based learning in biopsychology.
Awards & Grants:
- 2015 Outstanding Teaching Award (Faculty of Arts, MRU)
- 2016 SoTL Research Grant ($)
- 2014 APS Teaching Fund Grant
Teaching Focus: Creates engaging curricula that challenge students to deepen their psychological understanding. Implements evidence-based practices like learning reflections and targeted feedback to enhance academic success.
