Cristine and the Center for Applied Cognitive Science team harness insights about how the mind works to advance the global science of learning and to design more effective behavioral and social change interventions. They conduct interdisciplinary and comparative research using mixed-methodologies emphasizing community engagement, equity, and international development.

She and her colleagues study cultural ecologies of health to better understand the complex sociocultural systems that shape health-related beliefs and behaviors. Topics of study include beliefs and behaviors about noncommunicable disease, communicable disease (including HIV), and global pandemics (including COVID-19). They are also interested in digital healthcare delivery, primary health care systems, and the global health workforce (including frontline workers).

They also study perceptions of climate change, “infodemics”, and vaccine hesitancy. They currently have active social scientific research programs on maternal and child health, reproductive health, women’s health, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change. For example, they have studied community health workers and perinatal health in Bihar, India; traditional medicine in Belo Horizonte, Brazil; and HIV/AIDS in Gauteng, South Africa.

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She and her colleagues specialize in studying the sociocultural context of learning and development. Topics of study include cognitive and social development and academic achievement. They are particularly interested in teaching and learning in the context of family, teacher, and peer interaction.

They have active international research programs examining the impacts of education on individual and community outcomes. For example, they have studied cultural variation in teaching practices and social learning in twelve countries ranging from Ghana to Colombia to Malaysia. They are currently studying the impact of education on beliefs and behaviors surrounding topics of pressing global concerns, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and resource conservation.

They have active international research programs examining the impacts of education on individual and community outcomes. For example, they have studied cultural variation in teaching practices and social learning in twelve countries ranging from Ghana to Colombia to Malaysia. They are currently studying the impact of education on beliefs and behaviors surrounding topics of pressing global concerns, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and resource conservation.

Learn about Cristine’s projects on education »
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She and her colleagues specialize in studying the sociocultural context of learning and development. Topics of study include cognitive and social development and early childhood education.

They currently have active research programs examining early STEM learning in informal learning environments such as children’s science museums. For example, they have studied exploration, explanation, and early scientific reasoning in the context of parent-child interaction in children’s museums in three regions of the U.S. They recently built a Research Hub as part of our partnership with Thinkery (Austin Children’s Museum) that includes a laboratory, exhibit prototyping zone, and community resource center. They design museum exhibits to foster scientific thinking and support school readiness through a museum-university-community research partnership.

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She and her colleagues are particularly interested in studying cumulative culture — the capacity to build upon the innovations and insights of previous generations. They conduct comparisons across species, cultures, and ages to understand cognitive and cultural evolution.

Topics of study include cultural learning, science, religion, ritual, innovation, creativity, and globalization. For example, they have studied the early-developing capacities to acquire and transmit rituals and are currently studying how formal education impacts scientific and religious beliefs and behaviors across cultures.

Learn about Cristine’s projects on cognitive science »
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