Understanding Development in Diverse Contexts Lab
University of Pittsburgh
Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC)
Our Mission
The UDDC Lab’s overarching aim is to understand the sociocultural and contextual factors and processes that influence the learning, behavior, and health of racially-, ethnically-, and socioeconomically-diverse youth. We also have a specific focus on exploring how race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status intersect to shape child and adolescent development. Our lab uses rigorous scientific methods, including large-scale secondary data analysis as well as qualitative, mixed method, and community-engaged approaches, to examine how the families, neighborhoods, and society children grow up in influence their developmental outcomes, profiles, and trajectories.
Our Values
Community-Engaged Research
We collaborate with youth, families, and community partners to ensure our research reflects real-world needs and priorities.
Equity-Centered Approach
Our work is grounded in a commitment to racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic equity across all stages of the research process.
Intersectional Frameworks
We examine how overlapping identities—such as race, class, and culture—interact with social systems to shape child and adolescent development.
