Kendal Smith Profile

Photo of Dr. Kendal Smith

Kendal Smith, Ph.D.


Dr. Kendal Smith is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Counseling and Psychology Department at Texas A&M University–Central Texas. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. She then earned a master’s in Brain and Behavior Science (Experimental Psychology) and her PhD in Cognitive Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Smith has taught a variety of courses including Human Cognitive Processes, Writing in Psychology, Psychology Major Seminar, and Psychology of Learning.

Dr. Smith’s research focuses on human and animal cognitive processes, with a particular interest in memory, learning, tool use, and problem solving. Dr. Smith’s research interests also pertain to cognitive development, as well as the ontogeny of cognitive processes. More recently, Dr. Smith’s research has also focused on the impact of technology on students learning and human problem solving. Dr. Smith welcomes interested students to contact her via email (kendal.smith@tamuct.edu) regarding current research opportunities.


Selected Publications:

Smith, K. A., Huff, M. J., Pazos, L. A., Smith, J. L., & Cosentino, K. M. (2021). Item-specific encoding reduces false recognition of homograph and implicit mediated critical lures. Memory, 30(3), 293–308. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2021.2010762

Coane, J. H., McBride, D. M., Huff, M. J., Chang, K., Marsh, E. M. & Smith, K. A. (2021). Manipulations of list type in the DRM Paradigm: A review of how structural and conceptual similarity affect false memory. Frontiers in Psychology , 12, 668550. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.668550

Lilley, M. K., Smith, K. A., & Botero-Acosta, N. (2017). Cetacean life history. In J. Vonk & T. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior (pp. 1242-1250). Springer.