Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow · Department of Human Development and Family Science
I study how media and technology shape children’s cognitive development — how families navigate digital environments, and how we can design technology that genuinely supports learning and executive function.
I am a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech, working with Dr. Koeun Choi in the Cognitive Developmental Science (CoDeS) Lab. I completed my integrated Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at Koç University in 2025, advised by Dr. Yasemin Kisbu.
My research focuses on how media and digital technology shape children’s cognitive and executive functioning, and how families, designers, and educators can build digital environments that genuinely support learning. I bring together meta-analytic, longitudinal, neural (EEG), and experimental methods — from cross-lagged panel models of early media use to randomized experiments on learning to code.
I am committed to translating this work into actionable insights for parents, educators, and policymakers, and to designing technology that is developmentally responsible by design.
Five interconnected threads, all anchored in how children think, learn, and grow with technology.
How early-life screen exposure, problematic media use, and family media practices predict cognitive and behavioral trajectories from infancy through middle childhood.
Charting how attention, inhibition, working memory, and effortful control develop — and how they respond to interactive, passive, and short-form media environments.
Designing & evaluating digital tools — from coding curricula to AI-enhanced shared reading — that support cognitive growth and educational equity.
Does learning to code transfer to higher-order executive functions? Systematic reviews and classroom-based experiments examining cognitive transfer effects of programming education.
Translating research into evidence-based guidance for parents, educators, and policymakers — including reports for UNICEF Türkiye and NGO collaborations.
Koç University · Istanbul, Türkiye
Dissertation: The role of technology in the cognitive development of children. Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Yasemin Kisbu.
Bilkent University · Ankara, Türkiye
Senior Thesis: Do educational apps enhance learning in cardinality and number magnitude comparison abilities? Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Hande Ilgaz.
Department of Human Development and Family Science · Virginia Tech
PI: Assoc. Prof. Koeun Choi · Cognitive Developmental Science (CoDeS) Lab.
Department of Human Development and Family Science · Virginia Tech
Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Koeun Choi.
Georgia Southern University
Project GAME: Developing and piloting a game design-based computer science curriculum (NSF #2027948). Advisor: Prof. Mete Akcaoglu.
A complete list is on Google Scholar. Bold = first or co-first author.
Özcan, M. Ş., Hong, Y., & Choi, K. (2026). Early media use predicts later executive function difficulties through problematic media use: a cross-lagged panel model in middle childhood with an early childhood media use predictor. Media Psychology, 1–27.
doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2026.2618675Özcan, M. Ş., & Akcaoglu, M. (2026). Development and validation of the multidimensional interest development survey (MIS): An interest survey measuring phases and components. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment.
doi.org/10.1177/07342829261440809Özcan, M. Ş., & Kisbu, Y. (2025). Exposure to interactive media, but at low levels, is associated with better executive functioning in children: A meta-analysis. Media Psychology, 1–33.
doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2025.2471583Oksuz, I., Özcan, M. Ş., Dost-Gözkan, A., & Kisbu, Y. (2024). Health risk behaviors of adolescents in Europe: A latent profile analysis of HBSC data from 43 countries. Journal of Adolescent Health, 76, 115–121.
doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.08.001Özcan, M. Ş., Goksun, T., & Kisbu Sakarya, Y. (2024). The impact of learning to code on higher-order executive functions: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 1–29.
doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2024.2381231Kisbu, Y., Özcan, M. Ş., Kuşcul, G. H., Bozok, M., Kaya, M., & Fişek, G. (2023). Fathering styles in a traditional culture and its association with marital relationship: A latent profile analysis with a nationally representative sample. Family Process, 1–23.
doi.org/10.1111/famp.12948Akcaoglu, M., Özcan, M. Ş., & Hodges, C. B. (2023). Exploring the relationship among motivational constructs and preservice teachers’ use of computational thinking in classrooms. Computers in the Schools, 1–17.
doi.org/10.1080/07380569.2023.2172987Akcaoglu, M., Ozcan, M. Ş., & Dogan, S. (2023). What keeps teachers engaged during professional development? The role of interest development. Education Sciences, 13, 188.
doi.org/10.3390/educsci13020188Özcan, M. Ş., Çetinkaya, E., Goksun, T., & Kisbu Sakarya, Y. (2021). Does learning to code influence cognitive skills of elementary school children? Findings from a randomized experiment. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 91, 1434–1455.
doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12429Gürdal, M. S., Özcan, M. Ş. (co-first author), Smith, C., & Choi, K. Media use and effortful control in young children: a meta-analytic review. Media Psychology.
Sabuncuoglu, A., Özcan, M. Ş., Kisbu, Y., & Sezgin, M. Developing an open-source middle school programming environment and its curriculum for an affordable education.
Rajadhyaksha, U., Aycan, Z., Rantanen, J., Feldt, T., Cinli, D., Özcan, M. Ş., & Baskurt, A. B. Work–family interface during COVID-19: Gender and gender role ideology perspectives. Journal of Family and Economic Issues.
Beers, C., Yu, S., Özcan, M. Ş., Smith, C. L., & Choi, K. Understanding media guilt among mothers of young children.
Özcan, M. Ş., & Choi, K. The role of digital media on young children’s executive functions: Testing potential moderating and mediating effects.
Kisbu, Y., Özcan, M. Ş., & Sunmaz, N. (2024). Findings from the Baseline Survey of the Suna’nın Kızları Program. Report prepared for Suna’nın Kızları · Koç University IEL.
Kisbu, Y., Dost-Gözkan, A., Çelik, Ç., Özcan, M. Ş., Şahinoğlu, A., & Zülfikar, A. Z. (2024). Evidence on behavioural drivers and social norms shaping adolescent and youth participation: A formative study to inform SBC and ADAP programming in Türkiye. Report prepared for UNICEF Türkiye · Koç University IEL.
Kisbu-Sakarya, Y., & Özcan, M. Ş. (2024). Ethical standards, norms, and practices for research involving adults and children in Turkey: Desk review and roadmap. Report prepared for UNICEF Türkiye · Koç University IEL.
Selected recent talks & posters at SRCD, CDS, AERA, and beyond.
Özcan, M. Ş. (2026, April 9, co-organizer). Children and Technology: Emerging Scholars, Emerging Methods, Emerging Directions [Preconference workshop]. Cognitive Development Society (CDS) Biennial Meeting, Montréal, Canada.
Özcan, M. Ş. (2026, April 9–11). Using EEG to Study Development During Digital Media Use [Flash talk & Roundtable]. CDS Biennial Meeting, Montréal, Canada.
Özcan, M. Ş., & Choi, K. (2026, April). Family Media Practices Linked to Problematic Media Use in Early Childhood [Poster]. CDS Biennial Meeting, Montréal, Canada.
Chen, J., Özcan, M. Ş., Wang, Z., & Choi, K. (2026, April). Examining Interrelations Among Temperament, Media Use, and Behavioral Problems in Early Childhood [Poster]. CDS Biennial Meeting, Montréal, Canada.
Yu, S., Özcan, M. Ş., & Choi, K. (2026, April). Predictors of media use and problematic media use in autistic children: The roles of child and parental factors [Poster]. CDS Biennial Meeting, Montréal, Canada.
Gurdal, M. S., Özcan, M. Ş., Chen, J., Colbert, M., Lee, S. W., Hornburg, C., & Choi, K. (2026, April). Who reads the story matters: The impact of AI on preschoolers’ learning during parent–child shared e-book reading [Poster]. CDS Biennial Meeting, Montréal, Canada.
Özcan, M. Ş., & Choi, K. (2025, May). Exploring the role of child temperament, parenting stress, and parental disruptive phone use in preschoolers’ problematic media use [Poster]. SRCD Biennial Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
Smith, C. L., Ozcan, M. S., Gurdal, M. S., Shin, E., & Choi, K. (2025, May). Children’s regulation starts with the parents: A latent profile analysis of parent emotion regulation strategies [Poster]. SRCD Biennial Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
Özcan, M. Ş., & Akcaoglu, M. (2025, April). Development and validation of the multidimensional interest survey (MIS) [Paper]. AERA Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Özcan, M. Ş., & Kisbu, Y. (2024, March). Exposure to interactive media, but at low levels, is associated with better executive functioning in children: A meta-analysis [Poster]. CDS Biennial Conference, Pasadena, CA.
Oksuz, I., Özcan, M. Ş., Sunmaz, N., & Kisbu, Y. (2023, September). Health risk behaviors among European adolescents: A latent profile analysis. II. International Adolescence and Youth Research Congress, Kapadokya, Türkiye.
Turunç, G., & Özcan, M. Ş. (2023, September). Bullying and adolescent well-being: Insights from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory. II. International Adolescence and Youth Research Congress, Kapadokya, Türkiye.
Özcan, M. Ş., Turunç, G., Çetinkaya, E., & Kisbu, Y. (2022, September). Cognitive functions and academic skills in children living under conflict: Investigation of mediation mechanisms using UNICEF MICS Palestine data [Poster]. Third Development Symposium in Türkiye, Istanbul.
Özcan, M. Ş., Çetinkaya, E., Goksun, T., & Kisbu Sakarya, Y. (2021, April). Does learning to code improve cognitive skills of elementary school children? [Poster]. SRCD Biennial Meeting, virtual.
Zayim, M. Ş., & Kisbu-Sakarya, Y. (2019, March). Fathering styles in Turkey: A latent profile analysis based on a representative sample [Poster]. SRCD Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
From lecture halls in Ïstanbul to invited lectures at Virginia Tech — teaching has been central to my training.
HD 3024: Community Analytics
Virginia Tech · Lecture on pivot tables (March 2026)
PSYC 206: Life Span Development
Koç University · Taught entirely in English (Hybrid)
PSYC 206: Life Span Development
Koç University · Taught entirely in English (Online)
Structural Equation Modelling (MPlus)
Koç University · Four half-day graduate-level workshop
PSYC 301: Research Methods in Psychology
Koç University · Supervised student research groups end-to-end
PSYC 201: Scientific Methods in Behavioral & Social Sciences
Koç University · SPSS-based statistical analysis
PSYC 301: Research Methods in Psychology
Koç University · Lab component, full research cycle supervision
PSYC 206 (Life Span Dev.) · PSYC 302 (Psychological Testing) · PSYC 501 (Research Methods I, Grad.) · PSYC 502 (Research Methods II, Grad.)
Engaged 50–100 undergraduates each semester through course organization, exam grading, and teaching select components.
National Institutes of Health (R03) · $150,803
Hired as postdoctoral fellow · Koeun Choi (PI); Martha Ann Bell, Sang Won Lee (Co-PIs)
Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood · $58,320
Hired as graduate research assistant · Koeun Choi (PI); Caroline Hornburg, Sang Won Lee (Co-PIs)
ICAT SEAD Mini-Grant · $6,000
Hired as graduate research assistant · Koeun Choi (PI); Caroline Hornburg, Sang Won Lee (Co-PIs)
Children and Screens Institute · $150,000 (requested)
Designated trainee · Koeun Choi (PI); Martha Ann Bell, Sang Won Lee, Alex Bonus (Co-PIs)
Spencer Foundation · $50,000 (requested)
Designated trainee · Koeun Choi (PI); Sang Won Lee (Co-PI)
Ad hoc reviewer for the following journals:
I’m always glad to hear from prospective collaborators, students, parents, educators, and journalists interested in children, media, and cognitive development.
Department of Human Development and Family Science · Virginia Tech · Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA