Kirsten A. Lesage
ABOUT ME
I am a data-driven psychological scientist with expertise in how different messaging affects cognition and behavior. I have 10+ years of experience in research, project management, survey design, measurement, data analytics and statistics, qualitative coding, quality control, data management, and science communication. Many research projects I lead and collaborate on employ quantitative and qualitative methods.
WORK EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Developmental Psychology
University of California, Riverside
2020
M.A., Psychology
University of California, Riverside
2016
B.A., Psychology (Honors), Spanish
Northwestern College
2013
Research Project Manager
Veris Insights
05/2022 -- Present
Psychology Research Scientist
Boston University
09/2020 -- 05/2022
Doctoral Student Researcher
University of California, Riverside
09/2014 -- 08/2020
Instructor & Teaching Assistant
University of California, Riverside
06/2015 -- 08/2019
CONTACT INFORMATION
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
In my academic research, I explore how the cultural context shapes how individuals reason and explain the world around them, and how beliefs and attitudes form and change or remain stable. I take a lifespan perspective in much of this work by examining how both children and adults think.
I have employed both quantitative and qualitative methods as well as a variety of research designs and techniques to answer research questions, including: longitudinal and cross-sectional designs, experimental and observational studies, focus groups, semi-structured qualitative interviews, surveys, and cognitive tasks.
Selected Publications
Lesage, K.A., & Richert, R.A. (2021). Can God do the impossible? Anthropomorphism and children's certainty that God can make impossible things possible. Cognitive Development. (PDF)
Richert, R.A.,* Weisman, K., Lesage, K.A., Ghossainy, M.E., Reyes-Jaquez, B., & Corriveau, K.H.* (2022, In-Press). Belief, culture, & development: Insights from studying the development of religious beliefs and behaviors. Advances in Child Development and Behavior. (PDF)