Randi L. Garcia, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Research Scientist
Department of Psychology
Clark University
Worcester, MA 01610-1477
Phone: 508.793.7259
Email: RaGarcia@clarku.edu
Dr. Garcia earner her B.A. in psychology and women’s studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and Ph.D in social psychology from the University of Connecticut. After graduate school she held a postdoctoral research associate position at Princeton University. She joined Clark University in Fall 2014 and is currently teaching introductory statistics.
Current Research and Teaching
Blending Social Psychological and Methodological interests, Dr. Garcia’s research focuses on understanding how the dynamics of interpersonal interactions and perceptions are affected by differences in group membership (i.e., intergroup-interpersonal interactions). Whether it is ethnic diversity in work teams, race in interracial interactions, or gender in a heterosexual dating context, perceptions of ourselves, our interaction partners, or our entire group may be influenced by the social groups to which we belong. In both dyadic and group contexts Dr. Garcia has developed methods useful for analyzing interpersonal data. This methodological work developed and extended models for investigating the effects of people’s many characteristics in groups and dyads. Dr. Garcia’s current work in small group processes continues to explore how demographic differences and individuals’ identification with their social groups influence psychological group formation. The focus of this work is on finding the contexts that make demographic differences more salient and more potent predictors of a person’s feelings towards the group in addition to exploring the effects of group composition and identification on the behaviors within these groups. More specifically, will people behave and will others expect them to behave more or less stereotypically depending on the composition of the group? Will discrimination against people from lower status groups be affected by the composition of the team, and what will people likely attribute this poor treatment to?
Dr. Garcia is currently teaching introduction to statistical methods in the social sciences. She is interested in optimizing quantitative education and skills for students in the social sciences and humanities. In particular, her teaching focuses on techniques for reaching those students who might approach statistics courses with apprehension and/or disinterest.
Recent Publications
Garcia, R. L., Meagher, B. R., & Kenny, D. A. (2015) Analyzing the effects of group members’ characteristics: A guide to the group actor-partner interdependence model. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations.
Trujillo, M., Garcia, R. L., & Shelton, J. N. (in press). “I thought you were Japanese”: The effects of ethnic miscategorization on identity assertion. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology.
Garcia, R. L., Kenny, D. A., & Ledermann, T. (in press). Moderation in the actor-partner interdependence model. Personal Relationships.
Jans, L., Leach, C. W., Garcia, R. L., & Postmes, T. (in press). Developing self-definition and self-investment in new groups: A multi-level approach to multiple dimensions of identification. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. doi:10.1177/1368430214540757
Shelton, J. N., Douglass, S., Garcia, R. L., Yip, T., & Trail, T. (2014) The Power of Intergroup Friendships on Feeling (Mis)Understood for Ethnic Minorities in Interracial Interactions. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40, 1193-1204.
Kenny, D. A., & Garcia, R. L. (2012). Using the actor–partner interdependence model to study the effects of group composition. Small Group Research, 43, 468-496.
Under Review
Garcia, R. L., Bergseiker, H. B., & Shelton, J. N. (2014). Racial attitude (dis)similarity and liking in same-race minority interactions. Under review at the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.