Thom Dunn
Title: Associate Professor
Degree: Ph.D., 1999, University of Cincinnati, Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology
My Area of Interest:
Neuropsychological Malingering
I have two broad areas of interest. Primarily, I am interested in neuropsychological assessment and issues of malingering and response bias. While commercially available tests are sometimes used for this purpose, I am interested in novel ways to detect effort of those undergoing neuropsychological evaluation. At present, I am studying whether a test of executive function, the Tower of Hanoi, is an effective measure for response bias. A side interest of mine is the psychological issues involved in the delivery of the emergency medical services, particularly in education and training. One example of a project I am presently involved with is the use of high fidelity manikins and simulation studios to train paramedics. I have been designated a subject matter expert in the emergency services by the Department of Homeland Security.
My Teaching
I teach a broad range of classes, including statistics, cognition, physiological psychology, and psychopharmacology. I believe the role of the instructor is to excite and energize students to go above and beyond the material. I am particularly gratified when students tell me that they repeated something that I taught them to their roommate or friends because what they learned was so interesting. I have been fortunate to have several students go on to Ph.D. programs and always like hearing that things they learned in my classes have benefited them in graduate school.
My Latest Professional Activity
- Dunn, T.M., Schrader, A. and Klein, B. (May, 2009). Effect of Vignette in Simulated Malingering. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.
- Dunn, T.M., Collins, V., House, R.M. and Weintraub, P. (2009). Male genital self-mutilation with maggot infestation: A case report. Mental Health and Substance Use: Dual Diagnosis, 2, 235 – 238.
- Immel, C.S. & Dunn, T.M. (2009). Simulation training for wildland firefighters: Fidelity of fire shelter deployment. Modern Psychological Studies, 14, 10-16. Dunn, T.M. (In press). Review of the Rivermead Assessment of Somatosensory Functioning. In: Spies, R.A. and Plake, B.S. (Eds). Mental Measurements Yearbook Buros: Lincoln.