91ÑÇÉ«

Welcome to the Interpersonal Perception and Social Cognition Laboratory
Lab Director: Dr. Jennifer Steele

The Interpersonal Perception and Social Cognition (IPSC) laboratory is housed in the Behavioural Sciences Building at 91ÑÇÉ« in Toronto, Ontario. This laboratory is part of the in the at .  We conduct research that focuses on understanding the development of bias, including racial bias and gender stereotyping in childhood and adolescence, as well as the consequences of these biases in adulthood. This research is conducted primarily from a social cognitive perspective.

One line of research is specifically focused on how we can challenge racial biases across development. In another main line of research, being conducted as part of a larger consortium of researchers, we aim to understand the early development of academic stereotypes, including gender stereotypes in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). We are particularly interested in understanding how we can enhance traditionally underrepresented students' sense of belonging and ultimately their achievement and representation in various academic contexts. You can learn more about the research being done on this topic through the website.

Some of our research takes an intersectional approach, recognizing the unique experiences of discrimination that people can face based on their multiple identities. Other lines of research aim to better understand when racial and gender biases are more and less likely to be expressed. A number of our studies make use of implicit measures, including the Implicit Association Test (IAT). To learn more about this measure, you can visit where Dr. Steele is currently on the Scientific Advisory Board.

Researchers in this laboratory include faculty, graduate students, thesis and independent study students, as well as multiple paid and volunteer research assistants. The lab director is Dr. Jennifer Steele, a Professor in at 91ÑÇÉ«. Our research, which is conducted with adult and child participants, has been funded by various external and internal sources including the , the , the , the , and .

As a lab, we recognize that systemic racism serves as a substantial and ongoing barrier to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We realize that this is particularly the case for Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC). We further recognize the importance and value of supporting students who face systemic barriers based on race, religion, gender or gender identity, SES, physical or mental disabilities, age, country of origin or immigration status, and including those from LGBTQ2+ communities.

We strive to create a lab culture that values, respects, and supports each student’s perspectives and contributions, and that aims to ensure that each lab member is able to reach their full research potential. We believe that diversity enriches our lab and we particularly encourage students from the communities noted above to apply to join us.

The administration at 91ÑÇÉ« shares this vision. You can find resources designed to support the fight against discrimination through the . Calumet College is the on-campus undergraduate community affiliated with the Department of Psychology at 91ÑÇÉ«.

If you would like to learn more about our research, or would like to learn how you can get involved, please follow the links above and below.

Follow Dr. Steele on @steeleje123.

See CityTV coverage of our research in February 2023 by .

Read a February 2023 Y-file article about the lab's research by .

Read a September 2019 Y-file article about the lab's research by .

Read a November 2017 Y-file article about the lab's research by .

Read a CBC article about our findings by .

See Dr. Steele's CV by .

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© 2007 Jennifer Steele, Ph.D., 91ÑÇÉ«.                For information about this website please contact Erik Allen at eallen2@yorku.ca                Last updated: 2026-05-03