Allie Sinclair
@asinclair.bsky.social
Incoming Asst Prof at Rice (2026)
Postdoc @UPenn, Duke PhD
🧠 Cognitive neuroscientist/psychologist exploring how we recall the past & predict the future to change behavior
Interventions for health, climate change, & education
http://sinclairlab-rice.com
Postdoc @UPenn, Duke PhD
🧠 Cognitive neuroscientist/psychologist exploring how we recall the past & predict the future to change behavior
Interventions for health, climate change, & education
http://sinclairlab-rice.com
Attending #SNE2025? Come learn about how we applied insights from cognitive psych/neuro to inform policy-relevant decision making to address the current science funding crisis!
I’ll be presenting a poster this afternoon from 2:45-4 PM, board #48 in the Skyline Foyer! @socforneuroecon.bsky.social
I’ll be presenting a poster this afternoon from 2:45-4 PM, board #48 in the Skyline Foyer! @socforneuroecon.bsky.social
October 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Attending #SNE2025? Come learn about how we applied insights from cognitive psych/neuro to inform policy-relevant decision making to address the current science funding crisis!
I’ll be presenting a poster this afternoon from 2:45-4 PM, board #48 in the Skyline Foyer! @socforneuroecon.bsky.social
I’ll be presenting a poster this afternoon from 2:45-4 PM, board #48 in the Skyline Foyer! @socforneuroecon.bsky.social
Had a wonderful time ✨ exploring ✨ new ideas and meeting cool people at the Curiosity, Info Seeking, and Exploration symposium #CISE2025! Thanks to all the organizers and Brown for hosting! Hope to be back next time.
October 1, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Had a wonderful time ✨ exploring ✨ new ideas and meeting cool people at the Curiosity, Info Seeking, and Exploration symposium #CISE2025! Thanks to all the organizers and Brown for hosting! Hope to be back next time.
In new analyses, we explored intervention effects on action intentions across levels of political ideology and belief in climate change (not excluding non-believers). Leading interventions were still effective for very conservative participants, and there were no significant backfire effects.
September 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
In new analyses, we explored intervention effects on action intentions across levels of political ideology and belief in climate change (not excluding non-believers). Leading interventions were still effective for very conservative participants, and there were no significant backfire effects.
In this @pnas.org Letter, we respond to a comment on our paper about behavioral interventions to motivate action on climate change. In new analyses exploring individual differences, we find that our leading interventions were effective across the political spectrum. 🧵⤵️
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
September 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
In this @pnas.org Letter, we respond to a comment on our paper about behavioral interventions to motivate action on climate change. In new analyses exploring individual differences, we find that our leading interventions were effective across the political spectrum. 🧵⤵️
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
As this preprint is picking up some steam again, here's a note that the link is temporarily not working because of a PsyArXiv issue. You can instead directly access the preprint PDF here: www.sinclairlab-rice.com/publications...
August 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
As this preprint is picking up some steam again, here's a note that the link is temporarily not working because of a PsyArXiv issue. You can instead directly access the preprint PDF here: www.sinclairlab-rice.com/publications...
Here’s my local area, Philly. You can share direct links to specific fact sheets, and also download fact sheets as PNG files to save and share.
scienceimpacts.org/report?state...
scienceimpacts.org/report?state...
August 15, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Here’s my local area, Philly. You can share direct links to specific fact sheets, and also download fact sheets as PNG files to save and share.
scienceimpacts.org/report?state...
scienceimpacts.org/report?state...
We scaled these insights by creating a public website, where people can learn about how cuts to science funding will impact their local area. Data from website users offers converging evidence of effectiveness in terms of changing approval and motivating sharing. 7/8
scienceimpacts.org
scienceimpacts.org
August 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
We scaled these insights by creating a public website, where people can learn about how cuts to science funding will impact their local area. Data from website users offers converging evidence of effectiveness in terms of changing approval and motivating sharing. 7/8
scienceimpacts.org
scienceimpacts.org
The interventions decreased approval of the funding cuts across the political spectrum, though we also see strong main effects of political ideology. 6/8
August 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The interventions decreased approval of the funding cuts across the political spectrum, though we also see strong main effects of political ideology. 6/8
The interventions led to some striking changes in approval of the funding cuts! Among people who were initially unsure what to think of the funding cuts, nearly half disapproved post-intervention. Among people who initially approved of the cuts, 26% disapproved post-intervention. 5/8
August 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The interventions led to some striking changes in approval of the funding cuts! Among people who were initially unsure what to think of the funding cuts, nearly half disapproved post-intervention. Among people who initially approved of the cuts, 26% disapproved post-intervention. 5/8
The interventions also motivated action to oppose the cuts: Participants reported greater intentions to contact their congressional representatives, talk to others, and share information online. Interventions w/ active engagement (quizzes, dynamic maps) were more effective at motivating action. 4/8
August 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The interventions also motivated action to oppose the cuts: Participants reported greater intentions to contact their congressional representatives, talk to others, and share information online. Interventions w/ active engagement (quizzes, dynamic maps) were more effective at motivating action. 4/8
Overall, relative to a Control condition, the interventions decreased approval of NIH funding cuts, increased self-reported knowledge, and led to more negative perceived local impact. 3/8
August 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Overall, relative to a Control condition, the interventions decreased approval of NIH funding cuts, increased self-reported knowledge, and led to more negative perceived local impact. 3/8
In this letter in @pnas.org, we respond to a comment on our recent paper.
Although multiple factors shape whether we act on our intentions, intentions are valuable precursors of behavior that can guide the iterative development of behavior change interventions.
www.pnas.org/doi/epub/10....
Although multiple factors shape whether we act on our intentions, intentions are valuable precursors of behavior that can guide the iterative development of behavior change interventions.
www.pnas.org/doi/epub/10....
July 3, 2025 at 5:40 PM
In this letter in @pnas.org, we respond to a comment on our recent paper.
Although multiple factors shape whether we act on our intentions, intentions are valuable precursors of behavior that can guide the iterative development of behavior change interventions.
www.pnas.org/doi/epub/10....
Although multiple factors shape whether we act on our intentions, intentions are valuable precursors of behavior that can guide the iterative development of behavior change interventions.
www.pnas.org/doi/epub/10....
Attending #ICA25? I’m presenting twice!
Today (Sat) 10:30-11:45: imagination interventions motivate pro-environmental behaviors
Mon 12-1:15: affective framing of news headlines influences engagement, donations, and memory
@falklab.bsky.social @asc.upenn.edu @penncssm.bsky.social @appc.upenn.edu
Today (Sat) 10:30-11:45: imagination interventions motivate pro-environmental behaviors
Mon 12-1:15: affective framing of news headlines influences engagement, donations, and memory
@falklab.bsky.social @asc.upenn.edu @penncssm.bsky.social @appc.upenn.edu
June 14, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Attending #ICA25? I’m presenting twice!
Today (Sat) 10:30-11:45: imagination interventions motivate pro-environmental behaviors
Mon 12-1:15: affective framing of news headlines influences engagement, donations, and memory
@falklab.bsky.social @asc.upenn.edu @penncssm.bsky.social @appc.upenn.edu
Today (Sat) 10:30-11:45: imagination interventions motivate pro-environmental behaviors
Mon 12-1:15: affective framing of news headlines influences engagement, donations, and memory
@falklab.bsky.social @asc.upenn.edu @penncssm.bsky.social @appc.upenn.edu
We appreciate your engagement with our work. As stated in the paper, we certainly agree that actual behavior is the end goal, and that intentions are imperfect predictors of behavior. In ongoing work, we are testing leading interventions with measures of actual behavior over time. 1/2
May 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
We appreciate your engagement with our work. As stated in the paper, we certainly agree that actual behavior is the end goal, and that intentions are imperfect predictors of behavior. In ongoing work, we are testing leading interventions with measures of actual behavior over time. 1/2
📣 It's official: I'm super excited to share that I'll be joining Rice University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences!
Lab will launch in Summer 2026— I'll be recruiting over the next year, so please spread the word! Short thread ⤵️
Lab will launch in Summer 2026— I'll be recruiting over the next year, so please spread the word! Short thread ⤵️
May 16, 2025 at 11:26 PM
📣 It's official: I'm super excited to share that I'll be joining Rice University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences!
Lab will launch in Summer 2026— I'll be recruiting over the next year, so please spread the word! Short thread ⤵️
Lab will launch in Summer 2026— I'll be recruiting over the next year, so please spread the word! Short thread ⤵️
Interventions that related climate change to yourself and close others were most effective for motivating people to share news headlines and petitions about climate change. 6/9
May 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Interventions that related climate change to yourself and close others were most effective for motivating people to share news headlines and petitions about climate change. 6/9
Future thinking interventions motivated action—like imagining yourself in a preventable negative future scenario, or writing a letter to a young person about the world they will inherit. Interventions that emphasized environmental, personal, or social impact increased perceived impact. 5/9
May 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Future thinking interventions motivated action—like imagining yourself in a preventable negative future scenario, or writing a letter to a young person about the world they will inherit. Interventions that emphasized environmental, personal, or social impact increased perceived impact. 5/9
We randomly assigned 7,624 participants to an intervention or the Control group, then tested everyone on 3 key outcomes: intentions to engage in actions that can help mitigate climate change, the perceived impact of these actions, and intentions to share news and petitions about climate change. 4/9
May 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM
We randomly assigned 7,624 participants to an intervention or the Control group, then tested everyone on 3 key outcomes: intentions to engage in actions that can help mitigate climate change, the perceived impact of these actions, and intentions to share news and petitions about climate change. 4/9
To address these barriers, we developed 17 intervention strategies that targeted one or more psychological mechanisms: future thinking, self- and social-relevance, and response efficacy. Some interventions hit multiple themes! 3/9
May 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM
To address these barriers, we developed 17 intervention strategies that targeted one or more psychological mechanisms: future thinking, self- and social-relevance, and response efficacy. Some interventions hit multiple themes! 3/9
Most people believe that climate change is happening, but few are taking action. Why? Barriers can include perceiving climate change as a distant future threat, not thinking of effects for you and people you care about, believing your actions don't matter, or not knowing how to take action. 2/9
May 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Most people believe that climate change is happening, but few are taking action. Why? Barriers can include perceiving climate change as a distant future threat, not thinking of effects for you and people you care about, believing your actions don't matter, or not knowing how to take action. 2/9
Attending #CNS2025? Come visit my poster Mon morning from 8-10 AM to hear about how affect shapes information seeking and sharing, charitable donations, and subsequent memory! @cogneuronews.bsky.social
Preprint here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Preprint here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
March 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Attending #CNS2025? Come visit my poster Mon morning from 8-10 AM to hear about how affect shapes information seeking and sharing, charitable donations, and subsequent memory! @cogneuronews.bsky.social
Preprint here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Preprint here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
How can we motivate action to address climate change? We tested 17 psych interventions at once in a tournament! @falklab.bsky.social
If you’re attending #psynom24, come to my talk from 11:40-12 TOMORROW (11/22) to find out the winning strategies! Marquis B-C!
@psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
If you’re attending #psynom24, come to my talk from 11:40-12 TOMORROW (11/22) to find out the winning strategies! Marquis B-C!
@psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
November 21, 2024 at 3:17 PM
How can we motivate action to address climate change? We tested 17 psych interventions at once in a tournament! @falklab.bsky.social
If you’re attending #psynom24, come to my talk from 11:40-12 TOMORROW (11/22) to find out the winning strategies! Marquis B-C!
@psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
If you’re attending #psynom24, come to my talk from 11:40-12 TOMORROW (11/22) to find out the winning strategies! Marquis B-C!
@psychonomicsociety.bsky.social
We propose that when people evaluate an experience immediately, first impressions drive preferences. This bias can be useful when we are able to explore other options. Overnight, memory consolidation summarizes experiences in memory, guiding adaptive future choices.
November 16, 2024 at 3:39 PM
We propose that when people evaluate an experience immediately, first impressions drive preferences. This bias can be useful when we are able to explore other options. Overnight, memory consolidation summarizes experiences in memory, guiding adaptive future choices.
What if we ask about preferences immediately AND the next day? Surprise: The primacy bias sticks. People favor boxes with early rewards now AND later, even if they were tested on different boxes each time!
November 16, 2024 at 3:39 PM
What if we ask about preferences immediately AND the next day? Surprise: The primacy bias sticks. People favor boxes with early rewards now AND later, even if they were tested on different boxes each time!
But wait! Preferences also depend on when you ask. After "sleeping on it" overnight, participants didn't care whether rewards were clustered at the beginning, middle, or end of an experience. Dense clusters of reward—at any time—were preferred over spread-out rewards.
November 16, 2024 at 3:39 PM
But wait! Preferences also depend on when you ask. After "sleeping on it" overnight, participants didn't care whether rewards were clustered at the beginning, middle, or end of an experience. Dense clusters of reward—at any time—were preferred over spread-out rewards.