SEARCH Research Lab

Welcome!

We are a research lab at Oregon State University committed to investigating the elements of responsive, engaging, and effective adult-child interactions.

Within these types of interactions, we identify ways to support child behaviors, emotional expression, and stress and frustration coping. We focus on interactions and relationships that adults have with children from ~12 months to 6 years of age.

In addition to research, we focus on the translation of scientific research for early care and education professionals. Historically, we offered the Intentional Teaching workshops to early care and education (ECE) professionals. The first session, Building Emotionally Supportive Early Childhood Classrooms, in the Intentional Teaching Series was offered in March, 2014. See the Intentional Teaching page for more information. Currently (as of 2022) some of those efforts are now intertwined with state-research partnerships in Oregon in efforts to support professional development programming across the state for ECE professionals (see Research Projects for more information).

The SEARCH Research Lab is housed in the College of Health's School of Human Development and Family Sciences at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.

The lab is directed by Dr. Bridget E. Hatfield.

“Every child needs at least one adult who is irrationally crazy about him or her.” Urie Bronfenbrenner

Lab news and stories

Hallie E. Ford Center Director Megan McClelland and colleagues publish new research on early childhood development
Megan McClelland and colleagues published two new studies on early childhood self-regulation and executive function, including research spanning Poland, Iran and the United States.
OSU partners with Teaching Preschool Partners to bring Active Playful Learning to Oregon
The College of Health is partnering with Teaching Preschool Partners and the LEGO Foundation to bring evidence-based Active Playful Learning to Oregon preschool classrooms in fall 2025, supporting both academic and life skills development.
OSU receives $14.4 million grant for statewide center to support early childhood educators
New center will provide support and training from an anti-bias, culturally responsive lens to better equip educators who care for children from marginalized populations and for children who have experienced trauma.

Recent publications

See more publications

2026

Ahmadi, A., McClelland, M., Geldhof, J., Rothwell, D., Hatfield, B., Pourmohamadreza Tajrishi, M. (2026) Relations Between Executive Functions, Child Characteristics, Parental Education, and Academic Skills: A Cross-Cultural Study of Young Children in Iran and the United States Early Education and Development

2025

Lewis, H.R., Hatfield, B.E., Lipscomb, S.T., Green, B.L., Weber, R., Patterson, L.B. (2025) Type of Early Care and Education and Family Socioeconomic Status Associated with Family–Teacher Relationship Quality Early Education and Development

Ahmadi, A., McClelland, M., Pourmohamadreza Tajrishi, M., Geldhof, J., Rothwell, D., Hatfield, B. (2025) Adaptation and psychometric properties of the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task in young Iranian children Child Neuropsychology

2024

Parkinson, C., Shen, X.S., MacDonald, M., Logan, S.W., Gorrell, L., Hatfield, B.E. (2024) Adaptative Strategies for Outdoor Recreation During a Time of Stress: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S. Sage Open 14(4)

Case, L., Yun, J., MacDonald, M., Hatfield, B.E., Logan, S.W. (2024) Assessing the Use of Recommended Practices in Adapted Physical Activity/Education Experiential-Learning Programs Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly 41(4)