Principal Investigator

Dr. Codie Place leads a dynamic research team at Cal Poly SLO, comprised of dedicated students who are actively engaged in exploring innovative approaches to enhance communication within law enforcement. Their current project focuses on "Exploring Linguistic Training to Reduce Reactance in Law Enforcement," where they investigate how tailored linguistic strategies can minimize defensive reactions and improve interactions between officers and the community. The team is committed to developing evidence-based training programs that foster positive communication, aiming to contribute to more effective and empathetic policing practices.

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Katie Wong and I am a third year Psychology major. After my undergraduate studies, I plan to pursue a PhD in Neuropsychology, where I will get the chance to work in a clinical setting. This particular research with Dr. Codie Place aligns well with my own passion for understanding how a subtle shift in communication could make a profound impact on society. By recognizing that law enforcement officers may unintentionally provoke resistance through their language, the study opens the door to more effective communication strategies that can improve outcomes in critical situations.

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Amber Hicks, and I’m a fourth-year psychology major with a minor in studio art. After graduation, I plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, focusing on research and clinical practice. I am particularly excited about my work with Dr. Place on the impact of language in our interactions. This research is inspiring because it highlights the potential for positive change in our systems and in the way we treat one another.

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Matthew Lin and I am a third year Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies major concentrating in Psychology and Computer Science. In the future, I plan on pursuing a master's degree in Organizational Psychology, focusing on cultivating and empowering community-based leadership. The research Dr. Place is working on has the potential to bring effective change to our communities by exploring the words we use and their influence on how others perceive our intentions. I am excited to help be a part of this research on language and communication and the resulting opportunities for making our world a better place.

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Kylee Rampani, and I’m a psychology major in my final year at Cal Poly. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to engage in volunteer opportunities abroad to gain valuable cross-cultural experiences. I am particularly interested in research and am aiming to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. The “Why Words Matter” research will be an essential contribution to an underrepresented area of psychology. By studying reactance, I hope to improve information gathering in critical interactions, such as interrogations.

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Viane Puga, and I am a Psychology major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After my undergraduate studies, I plan to pursue a PhD in Cognitive Psychology, with the goal of building a career in research. Being a part of a research team investigating something as significant as mitigating reactance is an incredible opportunity, especially given its importance to law enforcement and improving how interactions and interviews with citizens are conducted. The potential of this research to influence the field and create more effective communication strategies is immense, and I am excited about contributing to such meaningful work!

Undergraduate Researcher

I am Ahmed Qandhawi, I am a 4th year psych major from Cal Poly. I would like to pursue research and am working towards a PhD because of it. I have an interest in Cognitive Psychology. Due to my volunteer experience I also want to be able to hold therapy sessions. The “Why Words Matter” research is something really important to me as it addresses a lot of issues with how there is not that much data within police training broadly. By studying reactance I hope to bring more data in order to achieve better outcomes within police training.