معرفی
Dr. Cara DiYanni is a Professor of Psychology at Rider University's Department of Psychology. She earned her Ph.D. in early childhood cognitive development from Boston University in 2006 and has been at Rider since 2008. Her research focuses on imitation, social learning, play, and imagination in early childhood development. She engages undergraduate students in her lab, emphasizing hands-on research experience.
Her research explores how children imitate models, factors influencing social learning (e.g., conventional language, cultural background), and the benefits of outdoor education/play. Notable projects include studies on imitation under time pressure, outdoor education’s impact on self-reliance, and pandemic effects on child play. She has published extensively in journals like Journal of Experimental Child Psychology and Journal of Cognition and Development.
Her work highlights themes such as cultural differences in imitation, children’s trust in informants, and the role of play in cognitive development. She collaborates with institutions and disseminates findings via Psychology Today blogs and presentations.
