Benton Pierce, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Benton Pierce engages his students as he challenges them to contemplate the reality or illusion of truth. He is a dedicated researcher in the areas of the illusory truth effect and different aspects of memory. As an avid golfer, Benton spends time on the golf course for relaxation and fun.

A Conversation with Dr. Benton Pierce

What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending A&M-Commerce?

I would tell the student that this university is very affordable and has an excellent faculty who excel in both teaching and research.

How has A&M-Commerce influenced your life and/or career?

My time at A&M-Commerce has enabled me to interact with a wide range of students and has definitely enhanced my growth as a teacher.

Tell us about an academic project you are working on or recently completed.

I am currently working on the impact of background context on the Illusory Truth Effect or the illusion of truth.

Educational Background

• Ph.D., Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2001
• M.S., Psychology, Texas A&M University, 1998
• MBA, Finance, Texas A&M University, 1975
• B.A., Physics, Texas A&M University, 1974

Academic Positions

• Associate Professor, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2011-Present
• Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2005-2011

Honors and Awards

• Professor of the Year, Hunt/Hopkins African American Leadership Conference, 2016

Research Interests

• Retrieval-monitoring processes in memory
• Metacognition
• Testing effects in memory
• The Illusory Truth Effect

Featured Courses

• PSY 315: Physiological Psychology

Selected Publications

• Pierce, B. H., Gallo, D. A, & McCain, J. L. (2017). Reduced interference from memory testing: A post-retrieval monitoring account. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 43, 1063-1072.
• Pierce, B. H., & Hawthorne, M. J. (2016). Does the testing effect depend on presentation modality? Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 5, 52-58.
• Pierce, B. H., & Gallo, D. A. (2011). Encoding Modality Can Affect Memory Accuracy via Retrieval Orientation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 37, 516-521.