معرفی
Kathryn Kestner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at West Virginia University (WVU), where she has been a faculty member since 2015. She was initially appointed as a Visiting Assistant Professor and was promoted to Assistant Professor effective January 1, 2018. Her work bridges experimental and applied behavior analysis, with a strong emphasis on translational research.
Dr. Kestner’s research focuses on understanding and preventing relapse of maladaptive behaviors, the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior, and the development of effective alternative responses. She investigates behavioral mechanisms through human-operant and animal models, particularly studying resurgence and choice behavior under concurrent schedules. Her work has direct applications in clinical and community settings, especially in promoting sustainable changes in health-related behaviors.
Her research integrates principles from behavior analysis, decision-making science, and behavioral economics. She applies operant conditioning frameworks to real-world problems, aiming to improve behavioral interventions through evidence-based models. While no specific publications are listed in the provided text, her research trajectory emphasizes experimental rigor and practical applicability across populations.
Scientific Awards
Dr. Kestner advises and mentors students in behavior analysis and teaches a range of courses including Psychology 302 (Behavior Principles), Psychology 379 (Community Psychology), Psychology 474/533 (Applied Behavior Analysis), Psychology 424 (Learning and Behavior Theory), and Psychology 790 (Teaching Practicum). There is no mention of external grants in the provided text.
She leads a research lab at WVU focused on translational models of relapse and behavioral decision-making, fostering an environment for empirical investigation and student involvement in behavior analytic science.
