Department of Health and Kinesiology
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Laura J. Claxton
Assistant Professor
| Education: | Ph.D. (2007), Developmental Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst M.S. (2002), Developmental Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst B.A. (1998), Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene |
| Office: | LAMB 304A |
| Office Phone: | (765) 49-62293 |
| Office Fax: | (765) 49-61239 |
| Email: | |
| Web Site: | Motor Behavior Program -- http://www.cla.purdue.edu/hk/motorbehavior/motor%20behavior/Home.html |
| Specializations: | Motor Development |
| Courses: | HK 253 - Principles of Motor Development |
Academic Appointments:
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Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2008-present)
Research Interests:
Dr. Claxton’s research explores motor and cognitive development in young children. Current projects investigate how motor behaviors can be influenced by cognitive factors.
Memberships in Professional Organizations:
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North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
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Society for Research in Child Development
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Cognitive Development Society
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American Psychological Association
Recent Publications:
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Claxton, L.J. (in press). An investigation of preschoolers’ misattributions of the properties of two-dimensional images: Understanding the relationship between a symbol and its referent. Infant and Child Development.
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Claxton, L.J., McCarty, M.E., & Keen, R. (2009). Self-directed action affects planning in tool-use tasks with toddlers. Infant Behavior and Development, 32, 230-233.
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Carlson, S. M., Moses, L. J., & Claxton, L. J. (2004). Individual differences in executive functioning and theory of mind: An investigation of inhibitory control and planning. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 87, 299-319.
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Claxton, L. J., Keen, R., & McCarty, M. E. (2003). Evidence of motor planning in infant reaching behavior. Psychological Science, 14, 354-356.
Recent Presentations:
- Claxton, L.J., Witt, J., Haddad, J. M., Ryu, J. H., & Ponto, K. (2010, June). The Dorsal Stream Anticipates Future Actions. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, Tucson, Arizona.
- Claxton, L.J., & Ponto, K. (2009, October). Preschoolers’ use of live and televised individuals as sources of information about the real world. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Cognitive Development Society, San Antonio, Texas.
- Claxton, L.J., & Daehler, M. W. (2007, March). Can You See Me? Preschoolers Interactions with Televised versus Live Actors. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Claxton, L.J., & Daehler, M. W. (2007, March). Real or Pictures: Understanding the Properties of Televised Objects. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Claxton, L. J., Haddad, J. M., & Keen, R. (2005, October). Motor planning in infants when reaching for objects at varying distances. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Cognitive Development Society, San Diego, California.
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Haddad, J. M., Claxton, L. J., & Keen, R. (2005, April). Reaching beyond arms’ length: The development of trunk and arm coordination in one-year-old children. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Atlanta, Georgia.
Grants:
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Individual differences in the development of executive functioning and motor control in preschool-aged children. Kinley Trust. ($19,214 funded; 8/10-8/11; PI).
Awards:
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University of Massachusetts Psychology Department NIMH trainee fellowship (2002-2003)