Catherine M. Sandhofer

Catherine M. Sandhofer is a Professor of Developmental Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she directs the UCLA Language and Cognitive Development Lab from the Psychology Building (2253B).

Her research centers on cognitive development and learning in children, specifically examining how children acquire words, categories, and concepts through environmental interactions. She investigates how learning contexts differentially engage psychological processes to shape developmental outcomes using three core methodologies: environmental analysis of children's natural learning settings, experimental training studies on input effects, and longitudinal acquisition tracking. Her work bridges theoretical cognitive science with practical educational applications.

Professor Sandhofer actively offers research opportunities for students to participate in laboratory studies, fostering hands-on experience in developmental psychology methodologies and data collection.