My research interests are quite broad, ranging from adjustment to bereavement and social support processes in close relationships, to basic person perception and self-regulation.  In all of my research, I try to maximize the value of the data through the choice of statistical models.  In particular, I have been working on developing models for estimating random effects in different repeated measures designs, which can afford researchers new insight into the amount and type of variability that exists in the population, and, consequently, a means for quantifying and explaining individual differences in social cognitive processes.

In the Trope Lab, I am exploring the role that mood plays in effective self-regulation.  The theory of Affect-Dependent Structure (Trope, Igou, & Burke, in press), posits that positive mood states lead to a more structured goal system representation relative to neutral mood, and should thus lead to more effective self-regulation.  Individuals in a positive mood, relative to individuals in a neutral mood should be better able to distinguish superordinate goals from subordinate goals, should be better able to distinguish effective means from ineffective means, and should recognize superordinate points of convergence and divergence among subordinate tasks.