Andy DeSoto

When an individual is very confident in recalling a particular memory, is that person also likely to be accurate? I research this topic in the Memory Lab at Washington University Psychology Department in St. Louis, MO, where I received my master's degree and am currently a Ph.D. candidate.

I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Computer Science from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where I did my senior thesis on eye movements while zoning out during reading. At William & Mary, I was involved in the university's wind ensemble, started up the first student podcast on campus, and blogged about technology and social media.

Nowadays, when I am not in the lab, I can usually be found exploring the city of St. Louis or engaging in one of my hobbies -- technology and digital media, music (piano, tuba), or being an avid Yelper. Most recently, I have enjoyed biking around town and learning how to keep green things alive in my plot in the community garden.

EDUCATION

Washington University in St. Louis, MO

Ph.D. in Psychology; concentration in Brain, Behavior, & Cognition (exp. 2014)

A.M. in Psychology; concentration in Brain, Behavior, & Cognition (2011)

Major Adviser: Dr. Henry L. Roediger, III

The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA

B.S. in Psychology with High Honors, Minor in Computer Science (2009)

The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Alexandria, VA (2005)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The relationship between memory confidence and memory accuracy, metamemory, applying cognitive psychology principles to education, the intersection of psychology and technology

HONORS AND AWARDS

Recipient, Lee and Ann Liberman Graduate Fellowship (2011)

Honorable Mention, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (2010)

Recipient, APSSC Travel Award (2010)

Recipient, Washington University in St. Louis University Fellowship (2009)

PUBLICATIONS

DeSoto, K. A. (2011). Often wrong but never in doubt: Categorized lists produce confident false memories.  Unpublished master's thesis, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Roediger, H. L., Wixted, J. H., & DeSoto, K. A. (in press). The curious complexity between confidence and accuracy in reports from memory.  In L. Nadel & W. Sinnott-Armstrong (Eds.), Memory and law.  Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Weinstein, Y. (with contributions by DeSoto, K. A.). Flash programming for the social and behavioral sciences: A sophisticated guide to online surveys and experiments. London: SAGE Publications.

DeSoto, K. A. (2009). Eye movements while zoning out during reading: implications for mind wandering and metaconsciousness. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia. [PDF] 

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

DeSoto, K. A. & Roediger, H. L. (2010, November). Confidence and accuracy in recognition memory: positive, negative, and zero correlations. Poster presented at the 51st Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, St. Louis, Missouri.

Weinstein, Y., & DeSoto, K. A. (2010, November).  Teaching Flash programming for psychology. Poster presented at the 40th Meeting of the Society for Computers in Psychology, St. Louis, Missouri.

DeSoto, K. A. (2010, June). Driving factors of the confidence-accuracy correlation. Paper presented at the Show Me Mental Life Conference, St. Louis, Missouri.

DeSoto, K. A. & Roediger, H. L. (2010, May). The confidence-accuracy correlation. Poster presented at the 22nd Meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Boston, Massachusetts. [PDF]

DeSoto, K. A. (2010, February). The confidence-accuracy correlation: implications for eyewitness and basic psychological research. Poster presented at the Washington University in St. Louis Graduate Research Symposium, St. Louis, Missouri. [PDF]

Ball, C. T. & DeSoto, K. A. (2009, November). Eye movements while zoning out during reading. Paper presented at the 50th Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Boston, Massachusetts.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Social Psychology, Dr. Alan J. Lambert (2011)

Teaching Assistant, Human Learning and Memory, Dr. Kathleen B. McDermott (2010)

Supervisor, Mind/Brain/Behavior and Independent Study Undergraduate Projects (2010-2011)

EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES

Reviewer, APSSC Student Grant Competition

Reviewer, APSSC RiSE-UP Award

Reviewer, APSSC Student Research Award

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Graduate Student Affiliate, Association for Psychological Science

Midwestern Psychological Association

International Association for Metacognition

Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition

DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Mendeley Advisor, 2011 -

Campus Representative, APSSC, 2011-2012

Membership and Volunteers Officer, APSSC Executive Board, 2010 - 2011

Social Co-Chair, Psychology Graduate Student Association, 2010 - 2011

Representative, Washington University Judicial Board Committee, 2009 - 2010

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

DeSoto, K.A. (2011). Student notebook news. Observer, 24, 37. [HTML]