Faculty

Qualifications:

Ph.D., Mass Communication & Cognitive Science (double-major), Indiana University-Bloomington, 2007
B.S., Journalism, China Youth University for Political Sciences, Beijing, 2001

Research Interests:

I study emotion and motivation in mediated information processing, and how they are related to cognition (e.g., attention, memory, perceived reality and risk, attitude, and decision making) and choice behavior (e.g., media use, substance use). I am most interested in developing dynamic models to explain their mutual influences. I test these models using real time laboratory data (e.g., cardiac-somatic coupling, skin conductance, eye movement) as well as real world data (e. g., experience sampling). This work helps create more effective communication messages, and also helps explain and predict how we interact with and adapt to our continuously changing information environment—in short time but also in the long run.

In addition, I am interested in applications of quantum theory to social and behavioral sciences. I explore how we can build quantum dynamic model to understand some paradoxical cognitive phenomena that have resisted explanations using classic probability theory. Currently I am serving as the Action Editor and preparing for a special issue of Topics in Cognitive Science on quantum probability models of cognition.

Quick Introduction:

Emotion and cognition during message processing and media choice behavior; reciprocal dynamics of media use behavior and media effects on emotion and cognition; psychophysiology and dynamic modeling methods; quantum information processing.

Research: