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| Department of Psychology Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 Phone: 828.262.8683 Email: gagnonsg@appstate.edu |
| Education |
| Ph.D., 2001, University of South Carolina, School Psychology |
| M.E., 1996, The Citadel, School Psychology |
| B.S., 1989, The University of Georgia, Child and Family Development |
| Research Interests |
| Ecological Correlates of Child Temperament: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the relationships between preschool child temperament and various social relationships and behavioral characteristics that exist within the child's surrounding ecology. Previous research indicates that temperament influences the ways in which children relate to others within their environments, including parents, teachers, and peers, and that these relationships contribute significantly to the development of important competencies during early childhood, particularly those relevant to school adjustment. Consistent with emerging contemporary approaches to the psychoeducational assessment of preschoolers, the researchers are guided by the goodness-of-fit model developed by Thomas and Chess, which emphasizes the interaction between temperament and the demands of the surrounding environment. Identifying the aspects of the child's ecology that demonstrate the strongest associations with their temperaments may elucidate targets for interventions geared toward promoting healthy development and subsequent readiness for school. The initial phase of this research involves clarifying these relationships. The results will be used to guide the development of specific strategies for working with children who experience difficulties within one or more settings. Interventions will incorporate the goodness-of-fit model by addressing the interactions between children and significant others within their environments, rather than focusing on within-child variables. |
| Representative Publications |
| Nagle, R. J., Gagnon, S. G. (in press). Best Practices in Planning and Conducting Needs Assessment. In A. Thomas, & J. Grimes (Eds.) Best practices in school psychology - V. Washington, DC: National Association of School Psychologists. |
| Gagnon, S. G., Nagle, R. J., & Nickerson, A. B. (2007). Parent –teacher convergence: Ratings of peer interactive play and social emotional development of preschool children at risk. Journal of Early Intervention. |
| Gagnon, S. G., Kidder-Ashley, P., & Nickerson, A. B. (2007). Assessment of school and classroom environment. Chapter to be published in B. A. Bracken & R. J. Nagle (Eds.), Psychoeducational assessment of preschool children (4th ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum. |
| Nickerson, A. B., Duvall, C. C., & Gagnon, S. G. (2007). Assessment of home and family dynamics Chapter to be published in B. A. Bracken & R. J. Nagle (Eds.), Psychoeducational assessment of preschool children (4th ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum. |
| Gagnon, S. G., & Nagle, R. J. (2004). Relationships between peer interactive play and social competence in at-risk preschool children. Psychology in the Schools, 41, 173-189. |
| Nickerson, A. B., & Gagnon, S. G. (2003). Preparing, applying, and navigating through life as a junior professor. The School Psychologist, 57, 55-59. |
| Gagnon, S. G., & Nagle, R. J. (2000). Comparison of the revised and original versions of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. School Psychology International, 21, 293-305. |
| Presentations |
| Swaim, M. P., Gagnon, S. G., Kidder-Ashley, P. (April, 2007). Preschool Child Temperament and Student-Teacher Relationships: Predictors of Social Competence. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, New York, NY. |
| Kidder-Ashley, P. Gagnon, S. G., & Swaim, M. P. (October, 2006). School-Based Consultation: School Psychologists’ Perceptions of Training Quality, Current Practice, Level of Skill, and Perceived Barriers. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the North Carolina School Psychology Association, Raleigh, NC. |
| Swaim, M. P., Gagnon, S. G., Kidder-Ashley, P. (October, 2006). Child Temperament and Student-Teacher Relationships as Predictors of Social Competence. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the North Carolina School Psychology Association, Raleigh, NC. |
| Gagnon, S. G., Lewis, A. D., Lutz, M. E., Mangrum, A. R., & Swaim, M. (2006, August). Ecological correlates of child temperament: Teacher and Classroom Variables. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA. |
| Gagnon, S. G., Kidder-Ashley, P., Schoykid, A. N., & Johnson, E. E. (April, 2005). A research-based, problem-solving approach to student assistance teams. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Atlanta. |
| Kidder-Ashley, P., Gagnon, S. G., Conlon, C. (April, 2005). High stakes testing accountability programs:Teachers’ perceptions of outcomes. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Atlanta. |
| Kidder-Ashley, P., Gagnon, S. G., Massengill, S., Sargent, & C., Kessler, J. (2004, October). Teachers’ perceptions of high stakes testing accountability programs: Survey development. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the North Carolina School Psychology Association, Wilmington, NC. |
| Kidder-Ashley, P., Gagnon, S. G., & Massengill, S. (2004, April). Teachers’ perceptions of high stakes testing accountability programs: Survey development. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Dallas, TX. |
| Teaching and Research Awards |
| Faculty/Staff of the Month Award, National Residence Hall Honorary, March 2007 |
| Early Career Scholar, Inaugural School Psychology Research Collaboration Conference (SPRCC), Society for the Study of School Psychology (SSSP), 2003 |
Phone: (828) 262-2272 Fax: (828) 262-2974
Department Chair: Paul Fox foxpa@appstate.edu
Administrative Assistant: Carol M. Anderson andersncm@appstate.edu
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