"There is nothing as practical as a good theory"

~Kurt Lewin

"There is nothing so theoretical as a good method"

~Anthony Greenwald

​I am a scientist who works in conservation, natural resources, and sustainability contexts.

 

I use the psychological, sociological, and behavioral sciences to examine how cognitive, structural, procedural, and technological factors influence behavior and how they can be used to design behavior.  I also explore how informal rules (social norms), established laws (formal institutions), principled beliefs (values) interact to influence individuals, groups, and policy.

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I use quantitative and qualitative methods to design surveys and experiments that assess and model behavior and decision processes via psychometric and multivariate techniques like structural equation models to infer causal relationships.

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​I frame my research as problem-oriented, solution-driven, human-centered, and behavior-focused.  I intend my research to inform or facilitate the achievement of management objectives, societal goals, and public policy.  I prioritize collaborative, team-based approaches so my research questions and objectives are informed by the needs of partners, and co-developed with them.

 

Collectively, my research program serves conservation and natural resources management in attaining its practical objectives via rigorous empirical science.

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