Teaching Philosophy

In addition to her research, Candace is committed to providing superior education to her students. The cornerstone of her teaching philosophy is to train students in the practice of critical thought and scientific skepticism, using a variety of engaging and exciting teaching methods (e.g., active learning techniques, service-learning). Additionally, she uses empirically supported techniques that aid in students retention of information. To increase student engagement, she emphasizes how the psychological research covered in her courses relates to students' daily lives. Her experience as a first generation college student has led her to strive for the integration of students' diverse experiences into the classroom context. As the CCG Service-Learning and Community Engagement Coordinator at Wingate University, she also researches and disseminates information to other faculty about how to improve their teaching through the use of Service-Learning. This pedagogical approach focuses students on using their new found knowledge and skills to improve their communities.

Introductory Psychology

​​Sample Syllabus
This course introduces students to the field of psychology with the aim of answering the following questions:
  • What is psychology?
  • How is psychology research conducted?
  • What are the main areas of psychological research?
  • What are the implications of psychological research?​

Child Psychology

Sample Syllabus
This course introduces students to the developmental psychology, focusing on the period of birth through 12 years of age. The goals of the course are: 
  • What are the different types of methods used to study development? 
  • What does theory and research tell us about child development?
  • How can such theory and research be used to improve child outcomes?​

Adult & Aging Psychology

Sample Syllabus
This course teaches students the basics of psychological research regarding adult and aging populations. This course is often taught using a Service-Learning approach. The goals of the course are: 
  • What research designs are used to study aging populations? 
  • What research and theory exists to inform our understanding of the aging process?
  • How can this research and theory be used to increase the likelihood of successful aging?​

Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences

Sample Syllabus
This course introduces students to the basics of research design and methodology as well as statistical approaches to analyzing data. The goals of the course are: 
  • What are the different types of statistical techniques​ used in the behavioral sciences? 
  • How can these techniques be applied to the various behavioral science research designs?
  • How are data analyzed and interpreted within the social sciences?​

Advanced Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences

Sample Syllabus
This graduate level course introduces students to advanced statistical techniques used in the behavioral sciences 
  • How are advanced statistical techniques used to address various behavioral science research designs?
  • How are data coded and analyzed using statistical software?
  • How are statistical analyses interpreted and reported?​

Social Psychology

Sample Syllabus
This course introduces students to the basic psychological theories, principles, and concepts that govern social psychology topics such as, attribution, self-processes, persuasion, group processes, pro- and anti-social behavior, and stereotyping/prejudice.
  • How does social psychological theory and research relate to situations in everyday life?
  • How is human behavior influenced by social factors (e.g., groups, authority figures)?
  • How can we predict the outcomes of various social situations?
  • How do we assess and critically analyze social psychological theories, research methods, and findings?​