Currently, Dr.
DeFreitas’ primary research interests are concerning the academic and
mental health development of youth, particularly urban, ethnic minority
youth. She is conducting research examining mentoring relationships,
faculty-student interactions, and the influence of educational
environment on students.
PUBLICATIONS
Trevino, N.
& DeFreitas, S. C. (2014). The relationship between intrinsic
motivation and academic achievement for first generation Latino college
students. Social Psychology of Education. doi:
10.1007/s11218-013-9245-3.
DeFreitas, S. C. & Rinn, A. (2013).
Academic achievement of first generation college students: The role of
academic self-concept. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and
Learning. 13(1), 57-67.
DeFreitas, S. C. (2012). Differences
between African American and European American first-year college
students in the relationship between self-efficacy, outcome
expectations, and academic achievement. Social Psychology of Education,
15(1), 109-123. doi:10.1007/s11218-011-9172-0
DeFreitas, S. C.
& Bravo, A. (2012). The influence of involvement with faculty and
mentoring on the self-efficacy and academic achievement of African
American and Latino college students. Journal of the Scholarship of
Teaching and Learning, 12(4), 1-11.
Stewart, C., Moore, T., Crone,
T. S. & DeFreitas, S. C. & Rhatigan, D. (2012). Who gets
blamed for intimate partner violence? The relative contributions of
perpetrator sex category, victim confrontation, and observer attitudes.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 27(18), 3739 – 3754.
doi:10.1177/0886260512447571
DeFreitas, S.
C. (2020). African American psychology: A positive psychology perspective.
Springer Publishing Company
University Level Grants:
Faculty Development Grant, Spring 2015:funded travel to National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology Conference, Association of Psychological Sciences Membership, and supplies.
Faculty Development Grant, Spring 2014: funded travel to Teaching Professor Technology Conference.
Service Learning Mini-Grant, Spring 2014: funded development of a service learning component for a Fall 2014 course.
Organizational Research Committee Grant, Summer 2013: funded a course release to allow time to conduct a research project as well as funding to purchase software and equipment for research.
Faculty Development Grant, Spring 2013: funded Association of Psychological Science membership and travel to annual conference.
Faculty Development Grant, Spring 2012: funded Association of Psychological Science membership and travel to annual conference.
Organizational Research Committee Grant, Spring 2010: funded a course release to allow time to conduct a research project.