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Naomi Aldrich

Naomi Aldrich

Specialization

Developmental Psychology

Courses Taught

PSY 300 - Research Methods
PSY 301 - Child Development

Research Interests

My research focuses on social cognition and communication in three main areas: 1) factors influencing individuals’ experiences and expressions of interpersonal rivalry; 2) effects of power mobility device use on children living with multiple, severe disabilities (in collaboration with Dr. Lisa Kenyon, Physical Therapy & Athletic Training), and 3) precursors to— and consequences of— typical and atypical socio-cognitive development. My work encompasses the lifespan (infancy through adulthood) and includes quantitative (e.g., meta-analysis), qualitative, and mixed methodologies. Currently, my collaborators and I are working to address the following research questions: 1) Does AI-use in the workplace affect employees’ experiences of envy?, 2) How does automated text analysis align with traditional, qualitative coding when evaluating parental perceptions of toddlers’ experiences with a power mobility device?, and 3) Are body modification behaviors associated with non-suicidal self-injury?

Current Research

  • Children's Personal Accounts of Experiences with Bullying
  • Evaluating Associations between Parental Mind-Mindedness and Child Developmental Outcomes through Meta-Analysis (collaboration with Dr. Jing Chen)
  • Quantifying the Qualitative: Two Feasibility Studies Examining Maternal Perceptions of Power Mobility Training (as part of the Grand Valley Power Mobility Project - interdisciplinary collaboration with Drs. Lisa Kenyon, Physical Therapy, and John Farris, Engineering)

Publications

Hosep, M., & Aldrich, N.J. (2023, April). Is body modification related to deliberate self-harm? A meta-analytic review. Poster session accepted for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Hosep, M. & Aldrich, N.J. (2022, September). Examining relationships between self-injury and body modification behaviors. Research presentation at the 1st Annual GVSU Chalk Art Symposium, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI.

Wardrop, C., & Aldrich, N.J. (2022, September). Tracking traffickers: Investigating the relationship between human trafficking and ports of entry. Research presentation at the 1st Annual GVSU Chalk Art Symposium, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI.

Lambert, R., Marsman, K., & Vasseur, M., Kenyon, L.K., & Aldrich, N.J. (2022, July). Platform presentation presented at DPT Research Day - Class of 2022, Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, College of Health Professions, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI (virtual).

Yarbrough, R.J., Thomson, A.J., Bolcer, K.A., Kenyon, L.K., & Aldrich, N.J. (2022, July). Parental perspectives of children's social cognition. Platform presentation presented at DPT Research Day - Class of 2022, Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, College of Health Professions, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI (virtual).

Page last modified July 21, 2026