Sarah Hutchison

Program affiliation: Lifespan development

Research interests

My key research interests are cognitive development and social development in children. I am currently working on my Doctoral dissertation which will explore the relation between obesity, self-regulation and executive function in young children. My Master’s thesis investigated the relation between the bilingual experience and executive function in German-English preschool children (age 3-6). Other topics of interest include social competence, emotional regulation, and school readiness. Clinical populations of interest include individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Awards

Centre for Early Childhood Research and Policy (CECRP) Graduate Student Award for Exemplary Research, 2011
University of Victoria Fellowship, 2009
Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) – University of Victoria: Research in Early Education and Child Health (REACH) Recognition Award for Exemplary Research Relevant to Early Childhood, 2009
University of Victoria Fellowship, 2008
Mount Royal University Lincoln A. Wood Scholarship for Academic Achievement, 2008
Athabasca University Laurence Decore Scholarship for Student Leadership, 2008
Mount Royal University Lois Hole Scholarship for Student Leadership and Community Service, 2007
Mount Royal University Laurence Decore Scholarship for Student Leadership, 2007
Athabasca University Community Leadership Scholarship, 2007
Mount Royal University Jason Lang Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement, 2007
Mount Royal University Hong Kong Study Abroad Scholarship, 2006

Representative publications and presentations

Hutchison, S.M., Gardiner, E., Kerns, K., & Iarocci, G. (June 2012). The relation between performance on computer-based measures of EF and parental reports of adaptive functioning and maladaptive behavior. Poster to be presented at The Jean Piaget Society, 42nd annual meeting in Toronto.

Gardiner, E., Hutchison, S.M., Miller, M., Mueller, U., Kerns, K., & Iarocci, G. (May 2012). Computer based assessments of executive function in preschoolers with and without ASD: The relations to parent ratings of social and behavioural functioning. Poster to presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), Toronto, ON.

Hutchison, S. M. (June 2011). Executive function and the bilingual experience in preschoolers. The Jean Piaget Society, 41st annual meeting in Berkeley, California, USA.

Hutchison, S. M. (June 2011). Does parental ratings predict problem behaviors in preschool children? Poster presented at The Jean Piaget Society, 41st annual meeting in Berkeley, California, USA.

Hutchison, S. M. (May 2011). Does Languages Exposure and Language Proficiency Predict Performance on Executive Function For Young German-English Bilinguals?. Northwest Cognition and Memory 12th annual meeting in Vancouver, BC., Canada.

Hutchison, S. M. (March 2011). Executive function and bilingualism: What are the effects of language proficiency? Poster presented at The Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Hutchison, S. M, Liebermann Finestone, D., Giesbrecht, G. & Müller, U. (June, 2009). Executive function: What is the relation between the behavior rating scales of executive function and executive function tasks in 3-year-olds? Poster presented at The Jean Piaget Society, 39th annual meeting in Park City, Utah, USA.

Giesbrecht, G. F., Miller, M. R., & Hutchison, S.M. (June, 2008). Creating space through social interaction: Psychological distancing in parental discipline strategies. In G. F. Giesbrecht (Organizer), Creating space for self-regulation: Psychological distancing in the development of executive function, emotion regulation, and theory-of-mind. The Jean Piaget Society, 38th annual meeting in Québec City, QC, Canada.