Research
One of my dissertation chapters consists of a first-of-its-kind climate change and behavior change curriculum that was designed, tested, implemented, and experimentally evaluated in the San Francisco Bay Area. The resulting academic article was published in the journal Energy Efficiency. Curriculum materials can be downloaded from the Precourt Energy Efficiency Center website. This study demonstrated the efficacy of social cognitive theory and intrinsic motivation in increasing energy-saving behaviors and realizing health co-benefits. Another study looked at low-cost, feasible options for deep energy savings in the residential sector; the paper is forthcoming. A third study examined the importance of global identity in motivating sustainability behaviors.
Environmental Health Perceptions and Behavior Research
Through Alchemus Prime, I collaborated with Dr. Farzana Gounder, currently at the University of Waikato and Professor Rukmani Gounder, at Massey University in New Zealand to investigate media representations of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), the environmental and health perceptions and practices of indigenous communities in the broader Pacific region, and the implications relating to public health, environmental protection, climate change, economic well being, and social justice.
Evaluating Cultural Education Programs
In collaboration with WestEd, I was one of two researchers that conducted an evaluation of 125 cultural education programs for the Native Hawaiian Education Council (NHEC). The findings, including 130 unique evaluative measures, were compiled in a comprehensive report that was submitted to the NHEC.
With four other students and researchers, I co-founded a program at Stanford University called Research as Design, which focuses on applying design thinking to the research design processes of interdisciplinary scholars. We developed a workshop curriculum that was iteratively refined by teaching twelve workshops, and later developed into a course. We also conducted research via interviews with successful interdisciplinary professors and exit surveys our workshop participants, with two published papers to date:
- Cravens, A.E., Ulibarri, N., Cornelius, M., Royalty, A & Nabergoj, A.S. (2014). Reflecting, iterating, and tolerating ambiguity: Highlighting the creative process of scientific and scholarly research for doctoral education.International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 9, pp 229-247. (Link to PDF)
- Ulibarri , N., Cravens, A.E., Cornelius, M., Royalty, A., & Nabergoj, A.S. (2014). Research as design: Developing creative confidence in doctoral students through design thinking. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 9, pp 249-270. (Link to PDF)
Working with the West Comprehensive Center at WestEd, I helped conduct interviews with sixteen teachers in Navajo Nation to better understand the importance of cultural and heritage practices in education and well being at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Findings will be forthcoming as part of WCC’s website.