Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
East Hall 203L
860.768.5168
christens@hartford.edu

Degrees:
Ph.D. Ohio University, 1986, Experimental Psychology
M.A. Ohio University,1984, Experimental Psychology
B.A. St. Lawrence University, 1981, Psychology

Courses Taught:
Cognitive Psychology 
Research Methodology
Motivation
Judgment and Decision Making Expert-Novice Differences in Cognition.

Research Interests:
My research focuses on the psychology of decision making in applied settings (primarily in clinical or medical settings). For instance, research shows that, because of psychological reactions to risk, physicians and patients are more likely to decide to undergo surgery when it is presented as having a specific survival rate (95% chance of survival) rather than an equivalent mortality rate (5% chance of mortality). Hence it is important to understand psychological factors that influence decisions and develop methods of avoiding errors in decision making such as the utilization of decision aids.

In addition to my work in individual decision making, I am interested in how groups discuss information and how individual characteristics (gender, leadership style, etc.) influence group processes.

Finally, I enjoy hearing about research ideas in areas beyond my own realm of work, particularly in applied areas (clinical, school, IO psychology). I welcome the opportunity to provide any research consultation or guidance that may be helpful.

Department of Psychology University of Hartford 200 Bloomfield Ave. West Hartford, CT 06117
East Hall 203 / 860.768.4544 / 860.768. 5292 FAX

PUBLICATIONS