Research

My research interests include cross-cultural developmental topics such as perceptions of aging in global context, and scholarship of teaching area. Currently I'm working with Dr. Awatef Ergai (Systems Engineering) and Dr. Shane Peterson (Foreign Languages and Cultures) on a research project to improve engineering students' intercultural communication skills. This project is supported by a NSF Research Initiative Grant (2025-2027).

A few examples of other recent research products:

Selected publications

Zhan, G. Q., & Moodie, D. R. (2025). An analysis of academic performance in undergraduate psychology courses at a comprehensive university by teaching modalities from 2015-2019. Distance Learning, 21(4).

Ergai, A., Peterson, S., S. Smith, & Zhan, G. Q. (2023). Advancing intercultural communication skills in diverse teams: An intervention program for project-based engineering courses. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 23(10), 120-136. https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v23i10.6187

Ergai, A., Spiva, L. A., Li, L., Breshears, R., & Zhan, G. Q. (2022). Perceptions of risk, work, and lifestyle changes of mental health of healthcare workers amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5420. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095420

Zhan, G. Q., Pearcey, S. M., & Tomioka, H. (2021). A cross-cultural examination of college students' knowledge of aging and their experiences with older adults: China, Japan, and the United States. Educational Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2021.1993540 

Selected conference presentations

Zhan, G. Q. (2025, July). Impact of the COVID Pandemic: College students’ reflections on challenges and personal growth. Paper presented at the 13th European Conference on Education, London, United Kingdom.

Zhan, G. Q. (2025, March). Exploring Using AI in College Psychology Class. Paper session presented at the 9th International Conference on Future of Teaching and Education, Vienna, Austria.

Zhan, G. Q., & Pearcey, S. M. (2024, March). Comparing aging anxiety among American and Chinese young people. Paper session presented at the 16th International Conference on Humanities, Psychology, and Social Sciences (HPSCONF), Berlin, Germany.

Zhan, G. Q. (2023, May). Comparing student performance in face-to face, hybrid, and online modalities in psychology courses. Paper presented at the 25th Annual International Conference on Education, Athens, Greece.

Zhan, G. Q., Pearcey, S. M. & Tomioka, H. (2023, February). Examining desire to workwith older adults and its relationship with aging attitudes and anxiety in Chinese, Japanese, and American college students. Paper presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of Society for Cross-Cultural Research, San Juan, PR.

Zhan, G. Q., Pearcey, S. M. & Tomioka, H. (2022, February). Comparing college students’ knowledge of aging and desire to work with older adults: China, Japan, and the United States. Paper presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of Society for Cross-Cultural Research, San Diego, CA.