John Coley

John Coley is a Professor in the College of Science at Northeastern University, with joint appointments in the Department of Psychology and Marine and Environmental Sciences. He directs the Conceptual Organization, Reasoning, and Education (CORE) Lab, which investigates knowledge structure, reasoning, and conceptual development across the lifespan.

• Cognitive Psychology
• Conceptual Development
• Reasoning and Decision Making
• Knowledge Organization
• Human Cognition
• Expertise Acquisition

His research focuses on how people organize and apply real-world knowledge (e.g., about plants, animals, food, and humans) to understand cognitive flexibility and reasoning. Recent work explores psychological connections to nature and pandemic-related misconceptions, integrating cognitive psychology with public health communication.

Contact: j.coley@northeastern.edu | Office: 617.373.3548 | Mailing Address: 125 Nightingale Hall, Boston, MA 02115