"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 operating in conservation, natural resource, and environmental sustainability contexts.

 

I use psychology, sociology, and closely related social and behavioral sciences to examine how informal rules (social norms), established laws (formal institutions), and principled beliefs (values) interact to influence individuals, groups, and policy. I also explore how cognitive, structural, technological, and procedural factors influence behavior and changes in behavior.

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I use quantitative and qualitative methods, surveys and experiments, to 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, with the intent to inform or facilitate the achievement of management objectives, societal goals, and public policy. I prioritize collaborative, team-based approaches such that my research questions and objectives are informed by the needs of partner agencies, organizations, or initiatives, 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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