Cynthia Mcpherson Frantz
Biographic Data
| ID | 768243 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Cynthia Mcpherson Frantz |
| GIVEN NAMES | Cynthia Mcpherson |
| FAMILY NAME | Frantz |
| SIGNATURE | FRANTZ C M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Oberlin College |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2544-9245 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 9 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 31 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 9 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2003 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
How Do We Measure and Increase Systems Thinking? Comparing Self‐Reported and Performative Metrics in Response to Building Causal Loop Models
Systems thinking is a mindset and skill essential to understanding and addressing complex challenges. However, increasing and measuring systems thinking is difficult. In this research, we compared multiple approaches to measuring systems thinking, including self‐reported measures of a systems thinking mindset and performative measures of systems thinking skills (i.e., participants' reasoning about a system and metrics derived from participants' c…
Evaluating the usefulness of Protection Motivation Theory for predicting climate change mitigation behavioral intentions among a US sample of climate change deniers and acknowledgers
PMT effectively predicts climate change mitigation behavioral intentions among US adults, whether they deny climate change or acknowledge it. Threat appraisals may be more impactful for deniers, while efficacy appraisals may be more impactful for acknowledgers. Including collective-level measures of threat and efficacy modestly improves model fit. Contrary to PMT research in other domains, threat and efficacy appraisals were not easily shifted un…
Promoting systems thinking through perspective taking when using an online modeling tool
Introduction Disagreements between people on different sides of popular issues in STEM are often rooted in differences in “mental models,” which include both rational and emotional cognitive associations about the issue; especially given these issues are systemic in nature. Methods In the research described here, we employ the fuzzy cognitive mapping software MentalModeler (developed by one of the authors) 1 as a tool for articulating implicit an…
The mind is an ecosystem
Is income inequality more of a blemish or a failing organ in our economy? Both metaphors capture something about wealth disparities, but only failing organ seems to emphasize the fact that our economy is a complex system, where activity in one region may lead to a cascade of problems in other parts of the system. In the present study, we introduce a novel method for classifying such ‘systemic’ metaphors, which reveals that people can reliably ide…
The importance of connection to nature in assessing environmental education programs
Why Is Nature Beneficial?
Three studies examine the effects of exposure to nature on positive affect and ability to reflect on a life problem. Participants spent 15 min walking in a natural setting (Studies 1, 2, & 3), an urban setting (Study 1), or watching videos of natural and urban settings (Studies 2 & 3). In all three studies, exposure to nature increased connectedness to nature, attentional capacity, positive emotions, and ability to reflect on a life problem; thes…
The connectedness to nature scale
Better late than early
Are Argumentative People Better or Worse at Seeing Both Sides
This study investigated the relationship between argumentativeness and perspective taking in interpersonal conflicts. Previous research suggests that those high in argumentativeness may be more open-minded and able to see both sides of an argument than those low in argumentativeness. However, their chronic motivation to argue may lead them to respond less evenhandedly to arguments in which they possess a strong personal preference. Participants h…
Better late than early
Are Argumentative People Better or Worse at Seeing Both Sides
This study investigated the relationship between argumentativeness and perspective taking in interpersonal conflicts. Previous research suggests that those high in argumentativeness may be more open-minded and able to see both sides of an argument than those low in argumentativeness. However, their chronic motivation to argue may lead them to respond less evenhandedly to arguments in which they possess a strong personal preference. Participants h…
Are Argumentative People Better or Worse at Seeing Both Sides
This study investigated the relationship between argumentativeness and perspective taking in interpersonal conflicts. Previous research suggests that those high in argumentativeness may be more open-minded and able to see both sides of an argument than those low in argumentativeness. However, their chronic motivation to argue may lead them to respond less evenhandedly to arguments in which they possess a strong personal preference. Participants h…
The connectedness to nature scale
Better late than early
Why Is Nature Beneficial?
Three studies examine the effects of exposure to nature on positive affect and ability to reflect on a life problem. Participants spent 15 min walking in a natural setting (Studies 1, 2, & 3), an urban setting (Study 1), or watching videos of natural and urban settings (Studies 2 & 3). In all three studies, exposure to nature increased connectedness to nature, attentional capacity, positive emotions, and ability to reflect on a life problem; thes…
The importance of connection to nature in assessing environmental education programs
The mind is an ecosystem
Is income inequality more of a blemish or a failing organ in our economy? Both metaphors capture something about wealth disparities, but only failing organ seems to emphasize the fact that our economy is a complex system, where activity in one region may lead to a cascade of problems in other parts of the system. In the present study, we introduce a novel method for classifying such ‘systemic’ metaphors, which reveals that people can reliably ide…
Promoting systems thinking through perspective taking when using an online modeling tool
Introduction Disagreements between people on different sides of popular issues in STEM are often rooted in differences in “mental models,” which include both rational and emotional cognitive associations about the issue; especially given these issues are systemic in nature. Methods In the research described here, we employ the fuzzy cognitive mapping software MentalModeler (developed by one of the authors) 1 as a tool for articulating implicit an…
Evaluating the usefulness of Protection Motivation Theory for predicting climate change mitigation behavioral intentions among a US sample of climate change deniers and acknowledgers
PMT effectively predicts climate change mitigation behavioral intentions among US adults, whether they deny climate change or acknowledge it. Threat appraisals may be more impactful for deniers, while efficacy appraisals may be more impactful for acknowledgers. Including collective-level measures of threat and efficacy modestly improves model fit. Contrary to PMT research in other domains, threat and efficacy appraisals were not easily shifted un…
How Do We Measure and Increase Systems Thinking? Comparing Self‐Reported and Performative Metrics in Response to Building Causal Loop Models
Systems thinking is a mindset and skill essential to understanding and addressing complex challenges. However, increasing and measuring systems thinking is difficult. In this research, we compared multiple approaches to measuring systems thinking, including self‐reported measures of a systems thinking mindset and performative measures of systems thinking skills (i.e., participants' reasoning about a system and metrics derived from participants' c…
Psychology (8 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Cognitive psychology (4 works) · Environmental Education and Sustainability (4 works) · Behavioral Health and Interventions (3 works) · Feeling (3 works) · Social connectedness (3 works) · Social Psychology (3 works) · Systems thinking (3 works) · Artificial Intelligence (2 works)