Texas Intervention Development and Behavioral Science Lab (T-ID-BS)
Welcome to the T-ID-BS Lab!
Welcome to the Texas Intervention Development and Behavioral Science (T-ID-BS) Lab! The T-ID-BS Lab is directed by Samuel Spencer, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology (clinical) at the University of North Texas. The overarching goal of our lab is to develop, refine, and test interventions for alleviating suffering and promoting prosperity in diverse groups of individuals with a range of mental health challenges. This work primarily focuses on evidence-based cognitive-behavioral approaches (CBT), with an emphasis on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and the emerging process-based therapy (PBT) movement. We also seek to understand processes of change and moderators underpinning interventions to more powerfully impact change and precisely tailor therapeutic principles to unique individuals. To accomplish these goals, we employ cutting-edge empirical methodologies to answer pertinent research questions related to building a clinical science more adequate to the human condition.
Consistent with our identified mission of “IDing BS” and addressing thorny issues in psychology, we also pursue a variety of conceptual knowledge development efforts. Some of these include (a) analysis of historical trends and movements (including systematic evaluation of the literature), (b) elucidating current and past scientific challenges and methodological issues, and (c) developing strategies for improving rigorous scientific practices in clinical psychology. Finally, aligned with the ethical principles of justice and beneficence in psychology, we continually strive toward living identified lab values related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We work toward this in both choice of research topics (e.g., psychometric research with ethnically diverse groups) and through encouraging participation of diverse groups of individuals in all aspects of the research process, including both lab personnel and research participants.
Several current and ongoing projects in the T-ID-BS lab include:
*Starting in Fall 2025, Dr. Spencer, in collaboration with Tom Dozier at the Misophonia Institute, will be conducting a small pilot clinical trial to examine a novel cognitive-behavioral intervention for misophonia as a conditioned aversive reflex disorder.
*Starting in Spring 2025, Dr. Spencer, in collaboration with his colleague Dr. Nicholas Borgogna at the University of Alabama- Birmingham, is currently working to psychometrically validate a novel measure of trait impulsivity and examine its relation to relevant personality and individual difference variables.
Consistent with our identified mission of “IDing BS” and addressing thorny issues in psychology, we also pursue a variety of conceptual knowledge development efforts. Some of these include (a) analysis of historical trends and movements (including systematic evaluation of the literature), (b) elucidating current and past scientific challenges and methodological issues, and (c) developing strategies for improving rigorous scientific practices in clinical psychology. Finally, aligned with the ethical principles of justice and beneficence in psychology, we continually strive toward living identified lab values related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We work toward this in both choice of research topics (e.g., psychometric research with ethnically diverse groups) and through encouraging participation of diverse groups of individuals in all aspects of the research process, including both lab personnel and research participants.
Several current and ongoing projects in the T-ID-BS lab include:
- Development and refinement of evidence-based psychosocial interventions for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) and misophonia, an emerging and debilitating sound sensitivity condition. Current research in this area involves developing, refining, and empirically testing ACT and related cognitive and behavioral approaches for adults with misophonia. Additional lines of work that are expected to be forthcoming in this domain include examining a PBT-based case conceptualization tool to improve intervention efficacy for OCD, as well as developing and testing an augmental group-based intervention for LGBTQ+ individuals with OCD.
*Starting in Fall 2025, Dr. Spencer, in collaboration with Tom Dozier at the Misophonia Institute, will be conducting a small pilot clinical trial to examine a novel cognitive-behavioral intervention for misophonia as a conditioned aversive reflex disorder.
- Quantitative investigations examining key mechanisms of psychopathology. This work, which often involves state-of-the-art statistical analyses using large datasets, seeks to examine mechanisms and moderators underlying relationships between mental health vulnerability factors and negative behavioral health outcomes. Resilience-related variables and protective (i.e., buffering) factors in such relationships are also of interest. Some recent projects in this area have involved examining third-wave CBT variables, such as psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and engaged living, as key mechanisms underlying behavioral health and well-being.
- Refining and improving measurement of clinical phenomena of interest. In this line of research, we seek to refine and improve the ways in which clinically relevant constructs are conceptualized and measured. This work has involved examining the psychometric properties of existing self-report measures (often those of third-wave CBT constructs), and in some cases developing new measures to improve upon existing strategies. We also prioritize research examining the psychometric properties of said measures across diverse groups of individuals (e.g., measurement invariance), including those from minoritized backgrounds. Future studies in this line of work will involve continued scale development/validation efforts with a range of collaborators to obtain samples representative of the rich degree of complexity in our multiculturally diverse world. Additional future directions include expanding beyond single timepoint self-report measures to focus on behavioral and neurophysiological biomarkers and temporally dense measurement strategies (e.g., ecological momentary assessment).
*Starting in Spring 2025, Dr. Spencer, in collaboration with his colleague Dr. Nicholas Borgogna at the University of Alabama- Birmingham, is currently working to psychometrically validate a novel measure of trait impulsivity and examine its relation to relevant personality and individual difference variables.
