Rebecca H. Bauer

Dr. Rebecca H. Bauer serves as the Elliott Assistant Professor of Psychology at Hampden-Sydney College, where she directs the Creativity and Early Development (CreatED) Lab. Her research program investigates the development of imagination, creativity, executive functions, socio-emotional skills, and school readiness in early childhood through community-based research in schools and after-school programs.

Education:

• B.S. from Weber State University (2013)
• M.A. in Psychological Science from University of North Carolina-Wilmington (2016)
• Ph.D. in Developmental Science and Cognitive Psychology with minor in Statistics from University of Alabama (2022)

Dr. Bauer's research focuses on understanding how creativity develops in early childhood, examining what fosters creativity development, optimal measurement approaches, and the supporting roles of imagination and self-regulation. Her work explores whether pretend play enhances school readiness skills and how imaginative activities positively impact cognitive and socioemotional development. She investigates creativity across multiple contexts including scientific creativity, classroom settings, and naturalistic play environments.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent investigation into the relationship between imagination, self-regulation, and creativity using diverse methodologies including naturalistic observations, story-stem tasks, and mixed-methods classroom assessments. Her research spans developmental psychology, cognitive science, and educational psychology with practical applications for early childhood education and intervention strategies.

Dr. Bauer actively mentors Hampden-Sydney College undergraduates through independent studies and summer research projects. Students collaborate with her on community-based research in schools and after-school programs, gaining hands-on experience with developmental research methods. The lab recently partnered with the YMCA (2024) for a community children research initiative, and student researchers have opportunities to present findings at regional conferences including the Eastern Psychological Association.

The Creativity and Early Development Lab conducts multiple ongoing projects examining scientific creativity, creativity measurement approaches, and observational assessment methods for young children. The lab's completed projects have demonstrated significant findings including how imaginative play predicts executive functions and prosocial behaviors, and how the interaction between imagination and self-regulation produces optimal creativity outcomes in preschoolers.