About the Lab
We study how people learn to spell and read by looking at how sounds (phonology), letters (orthography), word parts (morphology), and meaning (semantics) work together. Spelling gives us a clear window into how the mind represents and uses written language, from early learners through college students.
What We Work On
- How prosody, morphology, and vocabulary shape spelling and reading
- Why some words are harder to spell—and what helps learners improve
- How reader characteristics relate to performance on exams and coursework
- Practical insights that can inform instruction and support literacy growth
Opportunities for Students
Undergraduates: Get hands-on experience with study design, data collection, and analysis. Options may include research assistantships, independent study, or senior projects.
Graduate students: Lead projects, present at conferences, and develop expertise in literacy research (phonology, orthography, morphology, semantics) and quantitative methods.
Skills you can build: experimental design, IRB/ethics, data management, statistics (R/Python/Excel), scientific writing, and presenting results clearly.
Contact
Professor Stuart E. Bernstein, Ph.D.
Email: Stuart.Bernstein@mtsu.edu
Phone: 615-898-5943
If you’re interested in joining the lab, send a brief note about your interests, relevant coursework or experience, and your availability.