Kirstin C. Appelt
Behavioral Scientist

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POSITIONS HELD
Research Director | UBC Decision Insights for Business and Society (UBC-DIBS)April 2014 - present

Academic Director & Instructor | UBC Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights
August 2020 - present

Research Director| UBC Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics
May 2022 - present

Behavioral Science Consultant, clients not covered by NDA include:
July 2011 - present
BC Public Service Agency, Behavioural Insights Group (BC BIG)
California Health Benefit Exchange (a.k.a. Covered California)
Columbia Business School, Center for Decision Sciences (CDS)
Google, People Analytics
Pacific Business Group on Health (PBGH)
Temple University
WorkSafeBC

Adjunct Professor | UBC Sauder School of Business
January 2015 - June 2020

Post-doctoral Research Scientist | Columbia Business School's Center Decision Sciences (CDS) & Columbia University's Center for Research on Environmental Decisions (CRED)
2009 - 2011

EDUCATION
Columbia UniversityPh.D.Psychology2009
Columbia UniversityM.Phil.Psychology2008
Columbia UniversityM.A.Psychology2007
Dartmouth CollegeB.A., magna cum laudeEconomics2003

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Knoll, M. A. Z., Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J., & Westfall, J. E. (2015). Time to retire: Why Americans claim benefits early and how to encourage delay. Behavioral Science and Policy, 1(1), 53-62. [Journal Article]

Handgraaf, M. J. J., van Lidth de Jeude, M. A., & Appelt, K. C. (2013). Public praise vs. private pay: Effects of rewards on energy conservation in the workplace. Ecological Economics, 86, 86-92. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.11.008 [Journal Article]

Hardisty, D. J., Appelt, K. C., & Weber, E. U. (2013). Good or bad, we want it now: Fixed-cost present bias for gains and losses explains magnitude asymmetries in intertemporal choice. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 26(4), 348-361. doi: 10.1002/bdm.1771 [Journal Article]

Payne, J. W., Sagara, N., Shu, S. B., Appelt, K. C., & Johnson, E. J. (2013). Life expectancy as a constructed belief: Evidence of a live-to or die-by framing effect. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 46(1), 27-50. doi: 10.1007/s11166-012-9158-0 [Journal Article]

Shalvi, S., Reijseger, G., Handgraaf, M. J. J., Appelt, K. C., ten Velden, F. S., Giacomantonio, M. (2013). Pay to walk away: Prevention buyers prefer to avoid negotiation. Journal of Economic Psychology, 38, 40-49. doi: 10.1016/j.joep.2012.03.002 [Journal Article]

Handgraaf, M. J. J., Milch, K. F., Appelt, K. C., Schuette, P., Yoskowitz, N. A., & Weber, E. U. (2012). Web-conferencing as a viable method for group decision research. Judgment and Decision Making, 7(5), 659-668. [Open Access Journal Article]

Appelt, K. C., Hardisty, D. J., & Weber, E. U. (2011). Asymmetric discounting of gains and losses: A Query Theory account. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 43(2), 107-126. doi: 10.1007/s11166-011-9125-1 [Pre-print] [Journal Article]

Appelt, K. C., Milch, K. F., Handgraaf, M. J. J., & Weber, E. U. (2011). The Decision Making Individual Differences Inventory and guidelines for the study of individual differences in judgment and decision making. Judgment and Decision Making, 6(3), 252-262. [Open Access Journal Article]

Appelt, K. C., & Higgins, E. T. (2010). My way: How strategic preferences vary by negotiator role and regulatory focus. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46(6), 1138-1142. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2010.05.010 [Pre-print] [Journal Article]

Appelt, K. C., Zou, X., & Higgins, E. T. (2010). Feeling right or being right: When strong assessment yields strong correction. Motivation and Emotion, 34(3), 316-324. doi: 10.1007/s11031-010-9171-z [Pre-print] [Journal Article]

Appelt, K. C., Zou, X., Arora, P., & Higgins, E. T. (2009). Regulatory fit in negotiation: Effects of "prevention-buyer" and "promotion-seller" fit. Social Cognition, 27(3), 365-384. doi: 10.1521/soco.2009.27.3.365 [Pre-print] [Journal Article]

Milch, K. F., Weber, E. U., Appelt, K. C., Handgraaf, M. J. J., & Krantz, D. H. (2009). From individual preference construction to group decisions: Framing effects and group processes. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 108(2), 242-255. doi:10.1016/j.obhdp.2008.11.003 [Pre-print] [Journal Article]

WORKING PAPERS
Appelt, K. C. (2009). When the role fits: Increasing demand in negotiation (Full doctoral dissertation). Columbia University, New York, NY. [Dissertation]

Appelt, K. C., Gao, J., Johnson, E. J., & von Glahn, T. (2019). Choosing how to choose: Can people choose the best choice architecture?. Manuscript in preparation.

Treuer, G. A., Weber, E. U., Appelt, K. C., Goll, A. E., Filbin, R. W., & Crookes, R. D. (2019). Weathering the storm: Opposition to public policy is predictable and transient. Manuscript submitted for publication.

PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Decision Making Individual Differences Inventory (DMIDI)
A free resource for researchers, the DMIDI categorizes and describes individual difference measures commonly used in judgment & decision research. Over 125,000 unique site visits in 18 months, before being acquired by the Society for Judgment and Decision Making; currently averages 25,000 page views per week. In collaboration with Kerry Milch, Michel Handgraaf, & Elke Weber.

Center for Research on Environmental Decisions. (2009). The psychology of climate change communication: A guide for scientists, journalists, educators, political aides, and the interested public. New York, NY.
The CRED guide applies ideas from psychology in general and CRED research in specific to the communication of climate change information. Over 30,000 unique site visits since launch. Contributed research and writing to various sections.

GRANTS & AWARDS
Grants:
UBC Grants for Catalyzing Research Clusters grant "Established research cluster: Decision Insights for Business & Society (DIBS)", co-written with Jiaying Zhao, Katherine White, Dale Griffin, and David Hardisty

2022-2024

Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSRHC) Partnership Development grant (PDG)"Sustainable behavioural insights: Developing a framework for nudging long-term behaviour change", co-written with Katherine White, David Hardisty, and Dale Griffin

2020-2023

UBC Grants for Catalyzing Research Clusters grant "Emerging research cluster: Decision Insights for Business & Society (DIBS)", co-written with Jiaying Zhao, Katherine White, Dale Griffin, and David Hardisty

2020-2022

UBC Sauder School of Business Dean's Innovation Fund grant "Developing the Advanced Professional 2020 Certificate in Behavioural Insights", co-written with Dale Griffin and David Hardisty

2020

Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council grant "A BIg difference: Using behavioural insights to address policy challenges," co-written with Dale Griffin and David Hardisty

2018

TIAA-CREF Institute grant "Customized choice architecture: Helping without nudging," co-written with Eric Johnson

2014 - 2015

Supplement to National Institute of Aging grant 5R01AG027934-04 funded by Social Security Administration, "The psychology and behavioral economics of benefit collection," co-written with Eric Johnson and Elke Weber

2010 - 2012

Alfred P. Sloan & Russell Sage Foundations' joint program on consumer finance grant "Accounting for tastes and skill: The impact of individual differences on annuity and post-mortgage decision making," written by Eric Johnson with significant contributions

2010 - 2011

National Science Foundation grant "Environmental decision Making by individuals and groups," co-written with Elke Weber, Michel Handgraaf, and Kerry Milch2007 - 2010

Awards:

Dissertation Award Honorable Mention, International Association for Conflict Management

2011

Travel Award, National Science Foundation-sponsored Advanced Training Institute on Advanced Techniques for Web Research

2009

Student Travel Award, 3rd annual Judgment & Decision Making pre-conference at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality & Social Psychology

2008

Richard Christie Memorial Fellowship, Columbia University

2007 - 2008

Research Travel Award, Columbia University Psychology Department

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Faculty Fellowship, Columbia University

2004 - 2009

Phi Beta Kappa, Dartmouth College

2003

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights, UBC Sauder Continuing Business Studies:
Fundamentals of Behavioural InsightsInstructorFall 2020; Spring, Summer, Fall 2021
Problem DiscoveryInstructorFall 2020, 2021
Exploratory ResearchInstructorFall 2020, 2021
Insights Communication & ImplementationInstructorSpring 2020, 2021
Capstone ProjectAdvisor2020-2021, 2021-2022
Marketing and Behavioural Science Department, UBC Sauder School of Business:
Introduction to Marketing (BCom)InstructorSpring 2015 - Spring 2019
Market Research (BCom)InstructorSpring 2017, 2019, & 2020
Marketing (MM)InstructorFall 2016, 2017, 2018
Community Business Project (MM)AdvisorSpring 2016, 2017, 2018

Marketing and Management Departments, Columbia Business School:
The Psychology and Economics of Consumer Finance (MBA)TAFall 2010
Managerial Negotiations (MBA)TASpring 2008 & 2009

Psychology Department, Columbia University:
Thinking and Decision Making (BA)InstructorSummer 2010
Experimental Methods: Thinking and Decision Making (BA)TA & Lab InstructorFall 2006 & 2007
The Science of Psychology (BA)TAFall 2004, 2005, & 2008

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
Invited Talks:
Appelt, K.C., Bernhard, B., & Hari, J. (2018, February). Beyond informed choice: Influencing player behaviour. Plenary panel discussion conducted at the BCLC New Horizons in Responsible Gambling Conference, Vancouver, BC.

Appelt, K. C., Gao, J., Johnson, E. J.*, & von Glahn, T. (2014, April). E-ZPath: Can consumers choose how to choose? The 2nd annual Health Insurance Exchanges Conference at University of Pennsylvania's Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Philadelphia, PA. *Presenter.

Appelt, K. C. (2012, December). The latest evidence on how to help consumers choose health plans. Pacific Business Group on Health (PBGH) Board of Directors Meeting, Oakland, CA.

von Glahn, T.*, & Appelt, K. C.* (2012, December). Enabling and empowering consumer decision making: Health plan choice. America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Exchange Conference, Chicago, IL. *Presenters.

Hardisty, D. J. *, Appelt, K. C.*, & Weber, E. U. (2009, December). I want it now! And I want to get it over with now!: Impatience explains discounting anomalies for gains and losses. Department of Psychology Cognitive Lunch, Columbia University, New York, NY. *Presenters. [Abstract]

Higgins, E. T., & Appelt, K. C. (2009, May). When negotiator role fit creates demanding behavior. Program on Negotiation at Harvard University, Boston, MA.

Appelt, K. C., & Higgins, E. T. (2008, May). When the role fits: Regulatory fit in negotiations. Department of Work and Organizational Psychology Research Lunch, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. [Abstract]

Appelt, K. C., & Higgins, E. T. (2008, March). Regulatory fit in negotiations: When regulatory focus and role match. New Directions in Motivation Science Conference, Columbia University, New York, NY.

Appelt, K. C., & Higgins, E. T. (2007, February). Regulatory fit in negotiation: Regulatory focus and negotiator role. Social and Personality Psychology Four-College Conference, Columbia University, New York, NY.

Appelt, K. C., & Higgins, E. T. (2007, January). Regulatory focus, role, and regulatory fit in negotiation. Regulatory Focus and Group Processes Conference, Columbia University, New York, NY.


Conferences Organized :
Appelt, K. C., Wardrop, S., Jensen, C., & Buschel, K. (2021, November). BIG Difference BC 2021: Mobilizing Momentum in the Science and Practice of Behavioural Insights. Zoom.

Appelt, K. C., Devine, H., Buschel, K., Smythe, S., & Ram, T. (2020, November). BIG Difference BC 2020: Using Behavioural Insights to Encourage Positive Behaviour Change. Zoom.

Appelt, K. C., Devine, H., Buschel, K., Postma, T., & Smythe, S. (2019, November). BIG Difference BC 2019: Notes from Using Behavioural Insights in Practice. Vancouver, BC.

Appelt, K. C., Devine, H., Postma, T., Hardisty, D., Griffin, D., Zhao, J., & White, K. (2018a, December). BIG Difference BC 2018: Using Behavioural Insights to Solve Policy Challenges Together. Vancouver, BC.

Appelt, K. C., Devine, H., Postma, T., Hardisty, D., Griffin, D., Zhao, J., & White, K. (2018b, September). BIG Difference BC 2018: Using Behavioural Insights to Solve Policy Challenges Together. Victoria, BC.


Symposia Chaired & Moderated :
Appelt, K. C. (2017, February). Customized nudges: Choice architecture for a heterogeneous world. Special session organized at the Society for Consumer Psychology Winter Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Appelt, K. C. (2016, October). Customized nudges: Choice architecture for a heterogeneous world. Special session organized at the Association for Consumer Research Annual North American Conference, Berlin, Germany.

Appelt, K. C. (2013, April). Choice architecture and exchanges. Session moderated at the 1st annual Health Insurance Exchanges Conference at University of Pennsylvania's Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Philadelphia, PA.

Appelt, K. C. (2011, October). Adding and subtracting: Decision making during accumulation and decumulation of retirement savings. Special session organized at the Association for Consumer Research Annual North American Conference, St. Louis, MO.


Conference Presentations:
Reeck, C., Appelt, K. C., Gamma, K., Gardner, E. A., Johnson, E. J., & Weber, E. U. (2018, February). Decision modes predict consumer decisions about environmentally-friendly electrical utilities. Paper presented at the Society for Consumer Psychology Winter Conference, Dallas, TX.

Reeck, C., Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J., Olkhov, Y. M., & Weber, E. U. (2017, October). Learning to love ducks: How decision modes and choice architectures influence customer satisfaction with TOU rates. Paper presented at the annual Behavior, Energy, & Climate Change Conference, Sacramento, CA. *Presented by Jamie Fine, EDF, project sponsor.

Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J., Knoll, M. A. Z., & Westfall, J. E. (2017, February). Effective, selective choice architecture: Checklists as a more precise tool. Paper presented in K. C. Appelt (Chair), Customized nudges: Choice architecture for a heterogeneous world. Special session conducted at the Society for Consumer Psychology Winter Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J., Knoll, M. A. Z.*, & Westfall, J. E. (2016, November). Preference checklists: Effective and selective choice architecture for retirement decisions. Paper presented at the 37th annual meeting of the Society for Judgment and Decision Making, Boston, MA. *Presenter.

Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J., Knoll, M. A. Z., & Westfall, J. E. (2016, October). Effective, selective choice architecture: Checklists as a more precise tool. Paper presented in K. C. Appelt (Chair), Customized nudges: Choice architecture for a heterogeneous world. Special session conducted at the Association for Consumer Research Annual North American Conference, Berlin, Germany.

Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J.*, Knoll, M. A. Z., & Westfall, J. E. (2016, June). Checklists as selective choice architecture. Paper presented at the 15th biennial Behavioral Decision Research in Management Conference, Toronto, ON. *Presenter.

Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J., Knoll, M. A. Z.*, & Westfall, J. E. (2016, May). Checklists as selective choice architecture. Paper presented at the 7th annual Boulder Summer Conference on Consumer Financial Decision Making, Boulder, CO. *Presenter.

Castelo, N., Reeck, C., Jachimowicz, J., Appelt, K.C., Weber, E. U., & Johnson, E. J., (2015, May). Do the effects of defaults and their disclosure depend on pre-existing preferences? Paper presented at the 27th APS Annual Convention, New York, NY.

Appelt, K. C., Gao, J., Johnson, E. J., & von Glahn, T. (2014, October). Choosing how to choose: Can people choose the best choice architecture? Paper presented at the Association for Consumer Research Annual North American Conference, Baltimore, MD.[Abstract]

Hardisty, D. J., Appelt, K. C., & Weber, E. U. (2012, October). Good or bad, we want it now: Resolution theory explains magnitude reversal in intertemporal choice. Paper presented at the Association for Consumer Research Annual North American Conference, Vancouver, BC. [Abstract]

Appelt, K. C., Hardisty, D. J.*, & Weber, E. U. (2012, June). Asymmetric discounting of gains and losses: A Query Theory account. Paper presented at the 13th biennial Behavioral Decision Research in Management Conference, Boulder, CO. *Presenter.

Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J., Knoll, M. A. Z.*, & Westfall, J. E. (2012, June). Time to retire: Why Americans claim benefits early and how to encourage delay. Paper presented at the 13th biennial Behavioral Decision Research in Management Conference, Boulder, CO. *Presenter.

Li, Y., Johnson, E. J., & Appelt, K. C. (2012, June). Overcoming the annuity paradox. Paper presented at the 13th biennial Behavioral Decision Research in Management Conference, Boulder, CO.

Appelt, K. C., Hardisty, D. J.*, & Weber, E. U. (2011, October). I want it now! Query Theory explains discounting anomalies for gains and losses. Paper presented at the Association for Consumer Research Annual North American Conference, St. Louis, MO. *Presenter. [Abstract]

Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J.*, Knoll, M. A. Z., & Westfall, J. E. (2011, October). Time to retire: Why Americans claim benefits early and how to encourage them to delay. Paper presented in K. C. Appelt (Chair), Adding and subtracting: Decision making during accumulation and decumulation of retirement savings. Special session conducted at the Association for Consumer Research Annual North American Conference, St. Louis, MO. *Presenter.

Sagara, N., Payne, J. W., Shu, S. B., Appelt, K. C., & Johnson, E. J. (2011, October). Live to or die by: Framing effects on life expectations and life annuity choice. Paper presented in K. C. Appelt (Chair), Adding and subtracting: Decision making during accumulation and decumulation of retirement savings. Special session conducted at the Association for Consumer Research Annual North American Conference, St. Louis, MO. [Abstract]

Handgraaf, M. J. J., van Lidth de Jeude, M., & Appelt, K. C. (2011, September). Private payment versus public praise: Effects of reward type on energy conservation. Paper presented at Environment 2.0, the 9th biennial conference on Environmental Psychology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Appelt, K. C., Johnson, E. J.*, Knoll, M. A. Z., & Westfall, J. E. (2011, June). Time to retire: Why Americans claim benefits early and how to encourage them to delay. Paper presented at the 2nd annual Boulder Summer Conference on Consumer Financial Decision Making, Boulder, CO. *Presenter. [Abstract]

Payne, J. W., Sagara, N., Shu, S. B., Appelt, K. C., & Johnson, E. J. (2011, June). Live to or die by: Framing effects on life expectations. Paper presented at the 2nd annual Boulder Summer Conference on Consumer Financial Decision Making, Boulder, CO.

Handgraaf, M. J. J., van Lidth de Jeude, M., & Appelt, K. C. (2010, September). Private payment versus public praise: Effects of reward type on energy conservation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Association for Research in Economic Psychology, Cologne, Germany.

Appelt, K. C., & Higgins, E. T. (2010, June). My way: Strategic preferences vary by negotiator role and regulatory focus. Paper presented at the 23rd annual meeting of the International Association for Conflict Management, Boston, MA. [Abstract]

Arora, P., Appelt, K. C., & Higgins, E. T. (2010, June). Role of status in strategic choices and outcomes in negotiations. Paper presented at the 23rd annual meeting of the International Association for Conflict Management, Boston, MA. [Abstract]

Appelt, K. C., Hardisty, D. J., & Weber, E. U. (2010, February). I want it now and I want to get it over with now: Impatience explains discounting anomalies for gains and losses. Paper presented at the 2nd annual Princeton Graduate Student Conference on Psychology and Policymaking, Princeton, NJ. [Abstract]

Hardisty, D. J.*, Appelt, K. C.*, & Weber, E. U. (2009, November). I want it now! Why discount rates for losses show reverse frame and reverse magnitude effects. Paper presented at the 30th annual meeting of the Society for Judgment and Decision Making, Boston, MA. *Presenters. [Abstract]

Zou, X., Appelt, K. C., & Higgins E. T. (2008, August). The effect of assessment orientation on decision processes. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management Conference, Anaheim, California.

Hardisty, D. J., Milch, K. F., Appelt, K. C., Handgraaf, M. J. J., Arora, P., Krantz, D. H., et al. (2007, November). Discounting of environmental goods and discounting in social contexts. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the 28th Society for Judgment and Decision Making, Long Beach, CA. [Abstract]


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2024