Research Summary
Dr. Son’s research focuses on early education and development of school readiness, including early literacy, language, and social/emotional skills among at-risk children in socio-economic disparities. Current projects include (1) evaluating home/community/classroom-based early reading intervention programs and policy analysis, (2) supporting and assessing reading engagement, and (3) characterizing multimedia technologies for early reading, academic language, and STEM concept learning.
Education
- PhD, Early Childhood Education/Language, Literacy, and Culture, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- MA, Education Research Methods, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- MA, Early Childhood Education, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- BA/MA, Child Development and Family Studies, Seoul National University
Biography
Dr. Seung-Hee Claire Son is an associate professor of Educational Psychology and director of Literacy, Language, and Learning program, and EARLY lab (https://ed-psych.utah.edu/early-lab/) at the University of Utah, where she conducts research with her students on the importance of early education and school readiness skills among young at-risk children who experience social and economic disparities. She believes in the power of early reading and the importance of supporting young children’s literacy and language development, and has actively served public, community, and professional organizations and committees, including Sesame Workshop, Inc., Utah School Readiness Board, Salt Lake City Public Library, and Utah Kids Ready to Read.
An expert on early literacy, language, and socioemotional development, Dr. Son is an author of numerous articles and chapters identifying important predictors of early literacy development in the home, school, and community environments as well as the role of multimedia technology for reading. Her research has received multiple awards from the University of Utah, the American Educational Research Association, and the International Literacy Association, including the Dina Feitelson Research Award. Dr. Son earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.