Skip to content
Menu Open Search

University of Southern California

Faculty

Gale M. Sinatra

Distinguished Professor Emerita at University of Southern California

Distinguished Professor and Stephen H. Crocker Chair

Professor of Education and Psychology

WPH 600C

+1-702-303-4328

gsinatra@usc.edu

Headshot portrait of Sinatra smiling in a maroon cardigan

Programs

Expertise

Learning Theory

Knowledge Construction

Conceptual Change Learning

Science Learning

Public Understanding of Science

Education

PhD, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

MS, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

BS, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Download CV

Dr. Gale Sinatra is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Education and the Stephen H. Crocker Professor at Rossier. Her areas of expertise include climate science education, evolution education, learning theory, knowledge construction, conceptual change learning, and the public understanding of science.

Her recent research focuses on understanding the cognitive and motivational processes that lead to successful learning in science. Specifically, Sinatra focuses on the role of motivation and emotion in teaching and learning about controversial topics, such as biological evolution and climate change. Sinatra developed a model of conceptual change learning, which describes how motivational factors contribute to the likelihood that individuals will change their thinking about a scientific topic. Her co-authored book, Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It, was published in 2021 by Oxford University Press.

Sinatra received her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Sinatra is the past Editor of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 15 journal, Educational Psychologist. She served as Vice President of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division C, Learning and Instruction and President of APA’s Division 15, Educational Psychology. She is a Fellow of both APA and AERA and a Member of the National Academy of Education.

2022 Elected Member of the National Academy of Education.

2021 Recipient of the USC Rossier School of Education Excellence in Research Award.

2020 Recipient of the American Educational Research Association, Division C Learning and Instruction Sylvia Scribner Award.

2018 Ranked in Top 20 of Women Educational Psychologists Publishing Productivity Study by Greenbaum et al. (2018)

2018 Named Stephen H. Crocker Chair, USC Rossier School of Education.

2017 Named a Finalist for the Frank Prize in Research in Public Interest Communications.

2017 Elected President of American Psychological Association Division 15, Educational Psychology.

2017 Awarded USC Mentoring Award for Faculty/Postdoctoral Mentoring.

2016 Named a Fellow of The Society for Text and Discourse.

2013 Winner of the International Award for Excellence from the International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses for article co-authored with students Abby Beck and Doug Lombardi.

2009 Elected Vice President of Division C, Learning and Instruction, of the American Educational Research Association.

2009 Named Fellow of Division C, Learning and Instruction, of the American Educational Research Association.

2009 Ranked 16th in Educational Psychology Publishing Productivity Study by Jones et al. (2009)

2008 Named Member, International Advisory Board of the Centre for Learning Research, University of Turku, Finland.

2007 Named a Fellow of Division 15, Educational Psychology, of the American Psychological

Association.

EDUC 642 Controversies in Learning and Instruction

EDUC 712 Issues in Human Motivation

Publications

Books

Journal Articles (refereed)

Book Chapters

  • Sinatra, G. M. & Mason, L. (2013). Beyond knowledge: Learner characteristics influencing conceptual change (pp. 377-394). In S. Vosniadou (Ed.). International Handbook of Research on Conceptual Change (2nd edition). Netherlands: Springer.
  • Sinatra, G. M. & Chinn, C. (2011). Thinking and reasoning in science: Promoting epistemic conceptual change. In K. Harris, C. B. McCormick, G. M. Sinatra, & J. Sweller (Eds.). Critical Theories and Models of Learning and Development Relevant to Learning and Teaching, Volume 1 (pp. 257-282). In K. Harris & S. Graham (Eds.). APA Educational Psychology Handbook Series. APA Publications.

2024 Named Distinguished Professor, University of Southern California

2022 – 2025 Associate Dean of Research, Rossier School of Education

2012 Professor, Joint Appointed in Psychology, USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

2012 Professor, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California.

2003-2006 Interim Graduate Dean, Graduate College, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Professional Organizations

American Educational Research Association, Division C, Fellow

American Psychological Association, Division 15, Fellow

Conceptual Change Special Interest Groupof EARLI

European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI)

Dr. Sinatra research agenda explores the cognitive, motivational, and emotional processes that lead to attitude change, conceptual change, and successful learning, particularly in STEM and public understanding of science

2022 National Science Foundation, DRK-12 Program. Co-PI. Scaffolding Middle and High School Students’ Scientific Evaluations of Sources and Alternative Claims in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Total Award: $1,414,091.

2018 National Science Foundation, AISL Program. Co-PI. Re-Living Paleontology: Studying How Augmented Reality Immersion and Interaction Impact Engagement and Communicating Science to the Public. Awarded $1,471,459.

2014 Mattel Children’s Foundation. Mattel Speedometry Phase II District Wide RTC, Co-PI. Awarded $784,000.00.

2014 Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Co-PI, Fostering epistemic belief change: The role of epistemic emotions and self-regulated learning. Total Award: $497,286 (CAD). Awarded $13,700 (CAD) to USC.

2014 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Scaled Models for Certificate Delivery Phase II, Awarded: $99,242.00.

2014 Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education First in the World Program, Key Personnel, Improving Access to College through Games, Technology, and Social Media. Awarded: $3,200,000.

2013 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Scaled Models for Certificate Delivery, Awarded: $9,523.81.

2012 Mattel Children’s Foundation. Using Hot Wheels to Teach Mathematics and Science Concepts. Awarded $250,000.

2011 Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Epistemic beliefs and emotions: Examining their roles in self-regulated learning and epistemic change. Awarded $167,236 (CAD).

2010 National Science Foundation, REESE Program, Co-PI. Understanding Emergence. Awarded $130,000.

Recent Articles