Professor

Office: Room 315A, Life Science Building
Phone: (502) 852-5947
Fax: (502) 852-8904
Email: bburns@louisville.edu

Lab Location: Life Sciences Building 358F

Lab Phone: 852-2348

Lab Website: Early Intervention for Families Lab

Education

B.A.  University of Connecticut, 1974

Ph.D. Brown University, 1979

Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California, 1981-1983 

Research Interests

The research in my lab is focused on understanding the development of self regulation in young children and its significance for child outcomes. We are interested in (1) understanding the factors that support healthy self regulation and (2) identifying the significance of self regulation for both academic achievement and psychopathology (e.g., attention problems, conduct disorders, etc.). In 2008-2009 we are working on projects in collaboration with  JCPS Head Start, Seven Counties Services, and the Department of Pediatrics-Child Evaluation Center.

Selected Publication

Chang, F. & Burns, B. M. (2005) Attention in preschoolers: Associations with effortfulcontrol and motivation. Child Development, 76, 247-263.

Weatherholt, T., Harris, R.C., Clement, C., and Burns, B.M. (2006) Attention and analogical reasoning in children from low-income families. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 27(2), 125-135.

Harris, R.C., Robinson, J.B., Chang, F. & Burns, B. M. (2007) Characterizing preschool children's attention regulation in parent-child interactions: The role of effortful control and motivation.  Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 28(1), 25-39.

Courses Often Taught

Life Span Developmental Psychology PSY 363

Seminar in Psychology: Social Cognition PSY 622