… and how we do it
Some of the questions that guide our research:
In our research, we formalize people’s mental models as computational models that yield quantitative predictions about a wide range of situations. To test these predictions, we use a combination of large-scale online experiments, interactive experiments in the lab, and eye-tracking experiments.
You can find out more about what we do, what we value, and how to join us here.
… who are doing the work
Principal Investigator
I am interested in how people hold others responsible, how these judgments are grounded in causal representations of the world, and supported by counterfactual simulations. I also like to drink tea.
-- Personal website
Postdoctoral Researcher
My research focuses on causal reasoning, moral cognition and counterfactual thinking with the occasional dip into philosophy. I like to drink strong black coffee.
-- Personal website
Postdoctoral Researcher
I’m interested in representation learning, causal inference, and theory of mind reasoning. I currently work on MARPLE: Explaining what happened through multimodal simulation. I like to drink hot chocolate.
-- Personal website
Graduate Student
I did my undergraduate study in philosophy and my graduate study in computer science. I’m interested in work that integrates the methods and questions of these disciplines to understand the mind. I like to drink water.
-- Personal website
Graduate Student
My research is mainly focused on how a teleological view of causation features in our view of composition, persistence and essence. Here is a picture of me thinking about the essence of pizza and wondering whether nacho pizza is a kind of pizza.
-- Personal website
Graduate Student
I’m interested in computational models of social cognition, including aspects of social learning, inference, and judgment. I received undergraduate degrees in brain/cognitive sciences and applied math. I like to drink boba.
-- Personal website
Research Assistant
I am interested in how people gain information about the physical and social world, the degree of accuracy and bias of this information, and how it is used to make decisions. Currently I am exploring collaborative projects involving motivated causal reasoning, early development of theory of mind, and cross-cultural differences in early abstract reasoning. I am working jointly with Dr. Hyowon Gweon’s Social Learning Lab and Dr. Michael Frank’s Language and Cognition Lab at Stanford. I enjoy rice bowls, bagels and spicy masala chai!
Research Assistant
I’m a junior at Stanford majoring in symbolic systems. I’m interested in understanding cognition through computational models. Outside of this I enjoy playing viola and taking care of my fish and corals!
Research Assistant
I am interested in how causal reasoning mechanisms in humans can inspire machine learning algorithms that are both more generalizable and interpretable. I am especially passionate about using new ML and AI technology for social good. I completed my BSc. at UBC studying Cognitive Systems with a focus in Computational Intelligence and Design. I like to drink coffee, maybe a bit too much.
-- Personal website
Research Assistant
I am a sophomore at Stanford looking to major in Computer Science on the AI track. I am interested in using computational models to explore causality in social settings. Outside of that, I enjoy dancing and amateur vegan baking.
Research Assistant
I’m a dutiful questioner and an adroit researcher. I have a background in education and second language acquisition. I’m interested in how language affects social category development as well as perceived characteristics of individual social group members. I am also interested in the psychological and sociological disciplines that interact with each other and how the information I’ve learned from both perspectives are related together. So far at Stanford, I’m working on a couple of projects on causal judgements and shape bias. Ultimately, I’m planning to become a human factors researcher or UX research scientist. I love to do high intensity workouts followed by vanilla sweet cream cold brew coffee, or maybe coffee first!
Research Assistant
I am interested in the intersection of logic, epistemology, and causality, specifically with respect to formal models of causation. I am also trying to gain more experience in experimental philosophy. I received my undergraduate degree in mathematics from UCLA. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring political documentaries, alternative metal, Sufi, and Hindustani classical music (also, watching Reels).
Research Assistant
I’m an undergraduate studying Symbolic Systems & Asian American Studies. I’m interested in how people interact and communicate with each other, and how we use the power of computational models and technology to help us answer questions in these fields. Exploring how our identities (race, gender, culture, etc) may impact such interactions is something that deeply interests me, as well. I love hiking, shopping for earrings, and stress-baking, and my top three drinks would have to be matcha, black coffee, and kombucha.
Lab Affiliate
I am currently a PhD candidate in Nick Haber’s Autonomous Agents Lab. I double-majored in cognitive neuroscience and computer sciences from Minerva School. I am interested in how causal representations form our understandings in both the physical world and the social world. In my spare time, I enjoy learning electronics and observing squirrels.
-- Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I did my undergraduate in physics and mathematics. I am interested in computational models of causal reasoning, and how they support intuitive physical predictions. I am also interested in cognitive biases that shape how we perceive real physical world. I like to play and watch soccer.
-- Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I’m a PhD student in the PDP lab. My research is on computational cognitive modeling, that is, identifying psychological constructs and understanding their mechanisms through computer models such as neural networks. In particular, I am interested in logical and mathematical reasoning which are essential cognitive faculties for inference, problem solving, and decision making.
Lab Affiliate
I study how people learn and use structural knowledge, from both neural and cognitive perspectives. I like to stay hydrated.
-- Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I’m a Computer Science PhD student focusing on Artificial Intelligence. I’m interested in allowing AI systems to have causal reasoning capabilities. I received my master of science in Symbolic Systems. I like to solve puzzles in my spare time.
-- Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am a Mechanical Engineering PhD student in the Shape Lab. My research interests are focused on exploring the role that haptic feedback plays in our perception of the world. I also like to paint.
-- Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am interested in how people interact with explainable AI agents, as well as how we can teach models to reason and explain. I am also working with Michael Bernstein’s and Ranjay Krishna’s groups. I love to eat Brazilian foods!
-- Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am a PhD student in the CoCoLab. My research involves studying how pedagogical language shapes cultural transmission of knowledge and analyzing connections between large language models and probabilistic models of cognition. I like rock climbing.
-- Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am an affective science PhD Student at the Stanford Psychophysiology Lab. I use a combination of behavioral experiments, experience-sampling, physiological measures, and computational modeling to understand how beliefs about emotions shape emotion regulation. When I am not in the lab, you can find me 3,000ft up in the sky, working towards my private pilot license!
-- Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am a PhD Student in the Stanford Social Learning Lab. My research interests focus on the representations and motivations that guide learning and play early in life. I like to eat tacos and drink coffee.
Lab Affiliate
I’m a senior at Dartmouth College studying cognitive science, with a special focus on language. My research interests include theory of mind and causal reasoning. Outside of research, I spend a lot of time outdoors, and am especially interested in rock climbing and skiing!
Preprint PDF Link Github OSF Press: MIT News Press: Seeker Press: MedicalResearch.com
Some of the people we work with