Dr. Kim Noels
My research interests focus on the social and cultural psychology of language and communication processes, particularly as they pertain to intercultural relations and communication. I am interested in how aspects of the social context, including opportunities for intergroup contact, relative group status, and situational norms are implicated in communication processes. One facet of my research program concerns the relation between language behavior and ethnic identity during the process of acculturation. A second aspect concerns how feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness are associated with the motivation to learn languages, and how others (e.g., teachers, family members, and members of the language community) encourage or discourage learners’ motivation. In both of these research programs I take a developmental perspective, using longitudinal designs and multilevel modelling, to better understand these dynamic and contextualized processes.
Email: knoels@ualberta.ca