The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that Luke Hicks will present Master's research titled, Investigating the Pursuit of Prosocial Goals Among Neurodivergent Individuals: A Naturalistic Prospective Memory Study on 03/05/2026 at 1:00 pm in 540 McCallie Building, Room 394. Everyone is invited to attend. 

Psychology

Chair: Dr. Jill Shelton

Abstract:

Neurodiversity refers to natural variations in neurological development and cognitive functioning. Individuals who diverge from typical developmental trajectories, commonly referred to as neurodivergent, often include those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Due to their atypical cognitive processing and unique behavioral manifestation, neurodivergent adult clinical samples have received much empirical spotlight, especially within the field of prospective memory (PM). PM refers to the ability to remember to carry out intentions in the future such as remembering to turn off the stove or remembering to pick up medicine from the pharmacy before it closes at 5 pm. Many existing studies evaluating PM in neurodivergent samples have been conducted using laboratory-based designs. However, PM is an everyday construct with day-to-day implications. Therefore, the present utilizes a naturalistic, participant-driven, goal setting paradigm exploring motivational factors that may influence goal completion among ASD and ADHD individuals.