Research

Psychology of Climate Change

We explore how human cognition, emotions, and motivations shape our responses to the climate crisis, with the aim of fostering more sustainable behaviors and policies. Our research in this area examines how to motivate and reinforce climate action using behavioral interventions such as framing, happiness, probabilistic rewards, and feedback. We also examine the cognitive foundations and biases of climate change to help inform the development of new interventions. Together, our work reveals the psychological levers that can be used to inspire high-impact and lasting climate action.

Sustainability Interventions

Our research here focuses on designing and testing novel behavioral interventions that promote sustainable practices in everyday life. We investigate how psychological principles can be applied to encourage pro-environmental behaviors such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and making sustainable consumer choices. Our work examines the effectiveness of various intervention strategies, from nudges and incentives to educational campaigns, across diverse contexts including hospitals, botanical gardens, and community settings.

Biodiversity Conservation

We investigate the human dimensions of biodiversity conservation, examining how people perceive, value, and interact with wildlife and socio-cultural ecosystems. Our research explores the psychological factors that influence conservation attitudes and behaviors, including the role of cultural ecosystem services, human-animal relationships, and conservation messaging. We study how to effectively communicate conservation goals and mobilize public support for protecting endangered species and preserving biodiversity with diverse segments of the audience.

Cash Transfer Interventions

Our research examines how unconditional cash transfers can reduce poverty and homelessness, improving economic, social, and well-being outcomes of recipients. We investigate the behavioral and psychological effects of unconditional cash transfers and basic income, exploring how financial support influences decision-making, well-being, and life trajectories in low-income individuals in North America. We also examine the costs and benefits of cash transfers and various models of basic income, to help inform poverty-reduction policies and programs.

Financial Decision Making

We study how scarcity and financial constraints impact cognitive function and decision-making processes. Our research explores the psychological mechanisms through which scarcity influences attention, memory, and executive functioning. We investigate how these cognitive effects impact financial choices, future planning, and overall well-being, with implications for designing better financial products and policies for low-income populations.

Statistical Cognition

We investigate how people perceive, learn, and reason about statistical regularities in the environment. Our work explores the cognitive mechanisms underlying statistical learning, including how the mind automatically extracts regularities from sensory input and uses this information to guide attention, perception, and decision-making. We study how statistical knowledge influences everything from visual perception to probability judgments and belief formation.

Under Review

Radke, J., Guan, S., Dunn, E., & Zhao, J. Eat more plants vs. eat less meat: Do-more-good frames increase climate action likelihood and anticipated happiness compared to do-less-bad frames.
Radke, J., Chan, H., Francinilla-De Guzman, N., Fhur, A. F., Hothi, G., Huang, C., Jiang, R., Jordan, J., Le, A., Lin, N., Teng, S., & Zhao, J. Trash or treasure? Charitable incentives with informational prompt reduce bottle recycling contamination.
Radke, J., Argentopoulos, S., & Zhao, J. Carbon emissions and subjective well-being in Blue Zone Ikaria and Athens, Greece.
Radke, J. & Zhao, J. Cognitive foundations of climate solutions.
McNamara, H., Perez, T., Islam, M., Barnett, T.A., Ducharme, F., Fleegler, E.W., Garg, A., Lavoie, K.L., Li, P., Métras, M., Sultan, S., Tse, S.M., Zhao, J., & Drouin, O. Feasibility of measuring future discounting and executive functioning in a pediatric clinical setting and their association with unmet social needs.
Redway, S., Cheng, J., Khangura, J., Woodward, B.K.S., Rasheed, M., Chinchani, A., Zhao, J., Lavigne, K.M., Menon, M., & Woodward, T.S. Beliefs without strong supporting evidence: Associations with personality items.
O’Hara, C. C., Baez-Schon, M., Chaplin-Kramer, R., Cheng, S., Echeverri, A., Galford, G. L., Gould, R. K., Mancilla, C. L., Muldoon, M. C., Singh, G., Baltezar, P., Kuwayama, Y., Polasky, S., Rodewald, A. D., Sharp, R. P., Tennant, E., Zhao, J., & Halpern, B. S. A systematic map of methods for assessing societal benefits of earth science information.
Elzafan, N. M., Sherman, D., Vandermeulen, D., Cohen-Eick, N.,... Zhao, J., Zuk, D., & Halperin, E. How climate change politicization moderates behavioral intervention effectiveness across nations.
Lalande, A., Eppler, E., Chiang, T., Pow, L., Deng, Y., Gadhari, N., Zhao, J., & MacNeill, A.J. Developing and implementing a planetary health menu in a Canadian hospital.
Roddick, C. M., Wang, Y., Zhao, J., Whitehead, L. A., Veitch, J. A., Royer, M. P., Durmus, D., & Chen, F. S. Loneliness as a predictor of blunted heart rate variability responses during cognitive demands.

2025

Geladi, I., Zhao, J., Fessl, B., Garcia, S., & Kremen, C. (2025). The birds and the trees: Avian ecosystem (dis)service perspectives and farmers’ willingness to plant native trees in the agricultural landscape in the Galapagos Islands. People and Nature.
Stenlund, S., Theberge, D., Aastrup, M., Cominelli, S., Heather, M., Nadeau, S., Zhao, J., & Sponarski, C. C. (2025). The well-being of Homo sapiens in forests: A scoping review of frameworks and indicators. Trees, Forests and People, 21, 100968.
Lalande, A., Alexis, A., Brasher, P., Gadhari, N., Zhao, J., & MacNeill, A. (2025). Determining patient satisfaction, nutrition, and environmental impacts of inpatient food at a tertiary care hospital in Canada: A prospective cohort study. Dietetics, 4, 29.
Radke, J., Argentopoulos, S., Dunn, E., & Zhao, J. (2025). Probabilistic refunds increase beverage container recycling behaviour in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Waste Management, 204, 114954.
Chaplin-Kramer, R., Miller, C. R., Dee, L., Bennett, N. J., Echeverri, A., Gould, R. K., Gregr, E., Kinnaird, M., Leidner, A., Naidoo, R., Nicholas, K. A., & Zhao J. (2025). Wildlife’s contributions to people. Nature Reviews Biodiversity, 1, 68–81.
Sheppard, S. B., Argentopoulos, S., Ware, J., Swearingen, A., Winfield, J., Radke, J. & Zhao, J. (2025). Probabilistic rewards increase the use of reusable cups. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 212, 108001.
Park, Y. R., Hallez, K., Kaur, S., Srinivasan, M., & Zhao, J. (2025). The psychology of poverty: Current and future directions. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 34, 21-28.
Radke, J., Dunn, E., & Zhao, J. (2005). Mentioning happiness increases willingness to take climate action. SSRN.
Zhao, J. & Radke, J. (2025). How a lottery-style refund system could boost recycling. The Conversation. (Editor reviewed)

2024

Roddick, C. M., Wang, Y., Chen, F. S., Durmus, D., Royer, M. P., Veitch, J. A., Zhao, J., Seo, Y. S., Cao, W., & Whitehead, L. A. (2024). Effects of near infrared radiation in ambient lighting on cognitive performance, emotion, and heart rate variability. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 100, 102484.
Spoyalo, K., Viduka, N., Dixon, S., MacNeill, A., & Zhao, J. (2024). Using salience and availability to promote sustainable food choices in hospital cafeterias. Scientific Reports, 14, 26265.
Doell, K., Todorova, B., Vlasceanu, M., … Zhao, J., Żuk, D., & Van Bavel, J. J. (2024). The international climate psychology collaboration: Climate change-related data collected from 63 countries. Scientific Data, 11, 1066.
Lalande, A., Alexis, S., Mak, S., Zhao, J., & MacNeill, A. (in press). Improving staff wellness via an after-hours healthy sustainable meals program: A general surgery residency pilot. Healthcare Management Forum, 37, 390-394.
Lalande, A., Patterson, K., Gadhari, N., MacNeill, A., & Zhao, J. (2024). Evaluating patient experience with food in a hospital-wide survey. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 85, 122-131.
Zhao, J., Radke, J., Chen, F., Sachdeva, F., Gershman, S., & Luo, Y. (2024). How do we reinforce climate action? Sustainability Science, 19, 1503-1517.
Naito, R., Chan, K.M.A., de la Lama, R. L., & Zhao, J. (2024). An audience segmentation approach to conservation messaging for transforming the exotic pet trade. Conservation Biology, e14267
Vlasceanu, M., Doell, K. C., ... Zhao, J., Zhao, X., Żuk, D., & Van Bavel, J. J. (2024). Addressing climate change with behavioral science: A global intervention tournament in 63 countries. Science Advances, 10, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj5778
Naito, R., Chan, K.M.A., & Zhao, J. (2024). Combating the unsustainable exotic pet trade: Effects of conservation messaging on attitudes, demands, and civic intentions. Conservation Science and Practice, 6, e13078
Ong, K., Daly-Grafstein, D., & Zhao, J. (2024). Behaviourally informed cash transfers to address homelessness. Rotman Magazine BEAR+BI Org Special Issue (p.74-79).

2023

Luo, Y., Li, A., Soman, D., & Zhao, J. (2023). A meta-analytic cognitive framework of nudge and sludge. Royal Society Open Science, 10, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230053
Luo, Y., Hanson-Wright, B., Dowlatabadi, H., & Zhao, J. (2023). How does personalized feedback on carbon emissions impact intended climate action? Environment, Development and Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-04031-0
Dwyer, R., Palepu, A., Williams, C., Daly-Grafstein, D., & Zhao, J. (2023). Unconditional cash transfers reduce homelessness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120, e2222103120.
Dwyer, R., Stewart K., & Zhao, J. (2023). A comparison of cash transfer programs in the Global North and South. Cash Transfers for Inclusive Societies: A Behavioral Lens. University of Toronto Press.
Zhao, J., Datta, S., & Soman, D. (2023). Cash Transfers for Inclusive Societies: A Behavioral Lens. University of Toronto Press.
Bochon, L., Dean, J., Rosteck, T., & Zhao, J. (2023). Nudging policymakers on gendered impacts of policy. PLoS ONE 18: e0293036.
Yu, R. & Zhao, J. (2023). Serial and joint processing of conjunctive predictions. Visual Cognition, 31, 277-290.
Naito, R., Zhao, J., Naidoo, R., & Chan, K.M.A. (2023). Private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet trade. People and Nature, 5, 1526-1538.
Zhao, J. & Chen, F. (2023). I-frame interventions enhance s-frame interventions (commentary). Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 46, e180.
Cheng, J., Lavigne, K., Khangura,J., Chinchani, A., Rasheed, M., Woodward, B., Zahid, H., Zhao, J., Balzan, R., Ryder, A., Menon, M., & Woodward, T. (2023). Dimensions of beliefs without strong supporting evidence and reasons for holding them. Heliyon, 9, e19833.
Larsen, V. J.*, Carriaga, R.*, Wething, H., Zhao, J.* & Hall, C. C.* (2023). Behavioral consequences of income and expense shocks. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 106, 102067. (joint first or senior authors)
Shah, A., K., Zhao, J., Mullainathan, S., & Shafir, E. (2023). A scarcity literature mischaracterized with an empirical audit. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120, e2206054120
Luo, Y. & Zhao, J. (2023). Using behavioral interventions to reduce single-use produce bags. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 193, 106942
Wu, J., Kremen, C., & Zhao, J. (2023). How does framing influence preference for multiple solutions to societal problems? PLOS ONE, 18(5): e0285793
Drouin, O., Perez, T., Barnett, T.A., Ducharme, F., Fleegler, E.W., Garg, A., Lavoie, K.L., Li, P., Métras, M., Sultan, S., Tse, S.M., & Zhao, J. (2023). Impact of unmet social needs, scarcity and future discounting on adherence to treatment in children with asthma: Protocol for a prospective cohort study. JMIR Research Protocols, 12, e37318
Zhao, J. (2023). Climate news is often depressing. But as a behavioural scientist, I know I can't wallow. CBC First Person. (Editor reviewed)
Zhao, J., Palepu, A., & Daly-Grafstein, D. (2023). We gave $7,500 to people experiencing homelessness — here’s what happened next. The Conversation. (Editor reviewed)
Hay, H., Dyce, A., & Zhao, J.(2023). Giving money to unhoused people is good, actually. The Georgia Straight. (Editor reviewed)
Zhao, J., Woo, Y. P. & Whitehead, L. (2023). Artificial intelligence + Basic income = Canadian innovation. Policy Options. (Editor reviewed)
Tomm, B., Shafir, E., & Zhao, J. (2023). Scarcity captures attention and induces neglect: Eyetracking and behavioral evidence. PsyArXiv.

2022

Luo, Y., Douglas, J., Pahl, S., & Zhao, J. (2022). Reducing plastic waste by visualizing marine consequences. Environment & Behavior, 54, 809-832.
Naito, R., Zhao, J., & Chan, K. (2022). An integrative framework for transformative social change: A case in global wildlife trade. Sustainability Science, 17, 171–189.
Adachi, K., Dowlatabadi, H., & Zhao, J. (2022). On the acceptance of intergenerational climate legacies: A comparison of Canada and Japan. PLOS Climate, 1(7), e0000048.
Sörqvist, P., Volna, I., Zhao, J., & Marsh, J. (2022). Irregular stimulus distribution increases the negative footprint illusion. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 63, 530-535.
Hardisty, D., White, K., Habib, R., & Zhao, J. (2022). Sustainable nudges for the wild: Recommendations from SHIFT. Behavioral Science in the Wild, (pp.153-169), University of Toronto Press. Toronto, ON.
Wu, J., Hauert, C., Kremen, C., & Zhao, J. (2022). A framework on polarization, cognitive inflexibility, and rigid cognitive specialization. Frontiers in Psychology, 13:776891.
Moon A., Zhao J., Peters, M. A. K., & Wu, R. (2022). Interaction of prior category knowledge and novel statistical patterns during visual search for real-world objects. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 7:21.
McCunn, L., Gifford, R., & Zhao, J. (2022). Relating the Canadian Psychological Association’s position on the importance of psychological science in addressing climate change to cities and health. Cities and Health.
Blau, W., Bond, H., Crete, E., Khung, D., Kuester, A., O'Riordan, T., Torres, G., & Zhao, J. (2022). Lessons from COVID-19 for climate change. A white paper at Springer Nature.
Zhao, J. & Whitehead, L. (2022). A guaranteed basic income could end poverty, so why isn’t it happening? The Conversation. (Editor reviewed)

2021

Sachdeva, S., Wu, J., & Zhao, J. (2021). The impact of scarcity on pro-environmental behavior in the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3:767501.
Zhao, J., Woo, Y. P. & Whitehead, L. (2021). A research agenda to get more people out of poverty. Issues in Science and Technology. (Editor reviewed)
Zhao, J., Naito, R., Luo, Y., & Deans, N. (2021). Getting everyone to act on climate change. SDG Action. (Editor reviewed)
Deans, N., Naito, R., Luo, Y., & Zhao, J. (2021). The science behind collective climate action. Impakter. (Editor reviewed)
Zhao, J. & Luo, Y. (2021). A framework to address cognitive biases of climate change. Neuron, 109, 3548-3551.
Habib, R., White, K., Hardisty, D., Zhao, J. (2021). Shifting consumer behavior to address climate change. Current Opinion in Psychology, 42, 108-113.
Luo, Y. & Zhao, J. (2021). Attentional and perceptual biases of climate change. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 42, 22-26.
Callahan, M. M., Satterfield, T., & Zhao, J. (2021). Into the animal mind: Perceptions of emotive and cognitive traits in animals. Anthrozoös, DOI: 10.1080/08927936.2021.1914439
McCunn, L., Gifford, R., Veitch, J. A., Arbuthnott, K., Zhao, J., Arnold-Schutta, P., Young, C., Jardine, N. (2021). Addressing climate change in Canada: The importance of psychological science. A Position Paper of the Canadian Psychological Association.
Sachdeva, S. & Zhao, J. (2021). Distinct impacts of financial scarcity and natural resource scarcity on sustainable choices and motivations. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 20, 203-217.
Yu, R. & Zhao, J. (2021). Association knowledge guides conjunctive predictions in novel situations. Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp.1684-1690). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Wu, R., Zhao, J., Cheung, C., Natsuaki, M. N., Rebok, G., & Strickland-Hughes, C. M. (2021). Learning as an important privilege: A lifespan perspective with implications for successful aging. Human Development, 42, 22-26.

2020

Echeverri, A., Karp, D. S., Frishkoff, L. O., Krishnan, J., Naidoo, R., Zhao, J., Zook, J., & Chan, K. M. A. (2020). Avian cultural services peak in tropical wet forests. Conservation Letters, e12763, https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12763
Wynes, S., Zhao, J., & Donner, S. (2020). How well do people understand the climate impact of individual actions? Climatic Change, 162, 1521-1534.
Mani, A., Mullainathan, S., Shafir, E., & Zhao, J. (2020). Scarcity and cognitive function around payday: A conceptual and empirical analysis. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 5, 365-376.
Yu, R. & Zhao, J. (2020). The presence of joint predictors generates conjunctive predictions. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 27, 1279-1290.
Zhao, J., Azad, M. B., Burton, C., Crooks, V. A., Dawson, J., Ford, A. T., Kaida, A., Krishnaswamy, A., Kuok, C., Mah, C. L., McTaggart, M., Moehring, A., Robert, D., Schulte-Hostedde, A., Sparling, H., De Vera, M. A., & Patel, T. R. (2020). Canadian Science Meets Parliament: Building relationships between scientists and policymakers. Science and Public Policy, scz062, doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scz062
Echeverri, A., Karp, D. S., Naidoo, R., Tobias, J. A., Zhao, J., & Chan, K. M. A. (2020). Can avian functional traits predict cultural ecosystem services? People and Nature, 2, 138-151.

2019

Yu, R. Q., Cooke, M., Zhao, J., & Snyder, J. (2019). Adult neurogenesis promotes efficient, nonspecific search strategies in a spatial alternation water maze task. Behavioural Brain Research, 376: 112151.
Callahan, M. M., Echeverri, A., Ng, D., Zhao, J., & Satterfield, T. (2019). Using the Phylo Card Game to advance biodiversity conservation in an era of Pokémon. Palgrave Communications, 5:79.
Luo, Y. & Zhao, J. (2019). Motivated attention in climate change perception and action. Frontiers in Psychology, 10:1541.
Echeverri, A., Naidoo, R., Karp, D. S., Chan, K. M. A., & Zhao, J. (2019). Iconic manakins and despicable grackles: Comparing cultural ecosystem services and disservices across stakeholders in Costa Rica. Ecological Indicators, 106, 105454.
Yu, R., Luo, Y., Osherson, D., & Zhao, J. (2019). Perception of multi-dimensional regularities is driven by salience. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 81, 1564-1578.
Lempert, R., Zhao, J., & Dowlatabadi, H. (2019). Convenience, savings, or lifestyle? Distinct motivations and travel patterns of one-way and two-way carsharing members in Vancouver, Canada. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 71, 141-152.
Luo, Y., Zelenika, I., & Zhao, J. (2019). Providing immediate feedback improves recycling and composting accuracy. Journal of Environmental Management, 232, 445-454.
Yu, R. & Zhao, J. (2019). Statistical learning generates implicit conjunctive predictions.Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 1247-1253). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Luo, Y. & Zhao, J. (2019). Statistical learning creates implicit subadditive predictions.Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 2221-2227). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.

2018

Wynes, S., Nicholas, K., Zhao, J., & Donner, S. (2018). Measuring what works: Quantifying greenhouse gas emission reductions of behavioural interventions to reduce driving, meat consumption, and household energy use. Environmental Research Letters, 13, 113002.
Zelenika, I., Moreau, T., Lane, O., & Zhao, J. (2018). Sustainability education in a botanical garden promotes environmental knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to act. Environmental Education Research, 24, 1581-1596.
Yu, R. & Zhao, J. (2018). Implicit updating of object representation via temporal associations. Cognition, 181, 127-134.
Luo, Y. & Zhao, J. (2018). Statistical learning creates novel object associations via transitive relations. Psychological Science, 29, 1207-1220.
Luo, A. & Zhao, J. (2018). Capacity limit of ensemble perception of multiple spatially intermixed sets. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 80, 2033-2047.
Wu, D., Lenkic, P., DiGiacomo, A., Cech, P., Zhao, J., & Kingstone, A. (2018). How does the design of waste disposal signage influence waste disposal behavior? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 58, 77-85.
Echeverri, A., Karp, D. S., Naidoo, R., Zhao, J., & Chan, K. M. A. (2018). Approaching human-animal relationships from multiple angles: A synthetic perspective. Biological Conservation, 224, 50-62.
Zelenika, I., Moreau, T., & Zhao, J. (2018). Toward zero waste events: Reducing contamination in waste streams with volunteer assistance. Waste Management, 76, 39-45.
Whitman, J., Zhao, J., Roberts, K., & Todd, R. M. (2018). Political orientation and climate concern shape visual attention to climate change. Climatic Change, 147, 383-394.
Yu, R. & Zhao, J. (2018). Object representations are biased toward each other through statistical learning. Visual Cognition, 26, 253-267.
Yu, R., Osherson, D., & Zhao, J. (2018). Alternation blindness in the representation of binary sequences. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 44, 493-502.
Zhao, J. & Tomm, B. (2018). Psychological responses to scarcity. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Yu, R., Gunn, J., Osherson, D., & Zhao, J. (2018). The consistency of the subjective concept of randomness. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 7, 906-916.
Shah, A. K., Zhao, J., Mullainathan, S., & Shafir, E. (2018). Money in the mental lives of the poor. Social Cognition, 36, Special Issue: The Status of Status: Vistas from Social Cognition, 4-19.
DiGiacomo, A., Wu, D., Lenkic, P., Fraser, B., Zhao, J., & Kingstone, A. (2018). Convenience improves composting and recycling rates in high-density residential buildings. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 61, 309-331.
Namazu, M., Zhao, J., & Dowlatabadi, H. (2018). Nudging for responsible carsharing: Using behavioral economics to change transportation behavior. Transportation, 45, 105-119.

2017

Zhao, J. (2017). Influencing policymakers. Nature Climate Change, 7, 173-174.
Zhao, J. & Tomm, B. (2017). Attentional trade-offs under resource scarcity. Augmented Cognition: Enhancing Cognition and Behavior in Complex Human Environments, Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, 10285, 78-97.
Echeverri, A., Chan, K. M. A., & Zhao, J. (2017). How messaging shapes attitudes toward sea otters as a species at risk. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 22, 142-156.
Echeverri, A., Callahan, M. M., Chan, K. M. A., Satterfield, T., & Zhao, J. (2017). Explicit not implicit preferences predict conservation intentions toward endangered species and biomes. Public Library of Science (PLoS ONE), 12(1), e0170973.
Zhao, J. & Luo, Y. (2017). Statistical regularities guide the spatial scale of attention. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 79, 24-30.
Wu, R. & Zhao, J. (2017). Prior knowledge of object associations shapes attentional templates and information acquisition. Frontiers in Psychology, 8:843. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00843
Wu, R. & Zhao, J. (2017). The “item” as a window into how prior knowledge guides visual search (commentary). Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 40, e162, p.49.
Whitman, J., Zhao, J., & Todd, R. M. (2017). Alternation between different types of evidence attenuates judgments of severity. Public Library of Science (PLoS ONE), 12(7): e0180585.
Luo, Y. & Zhao, J. (2017). Learning induced illusions: Statistical learning creates false memories. In G. Gunzelmann, A. Howes, T. Tenbrink, & E. J. Davelaar (Eds.), Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, (pp. 774-779). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Yu, R., Osherson, D., & Zhao, J. (2017). Alternation blindness in the perception of binary sequences. In G. Gunzelmann, A. Howes, T. Tenbrink, & E. J. Davelaar (Eds.), Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, (pp. 3609-3614). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Tomm, B. & Zhao, J. (2017). Scarcity impairs online detection and prospective memory. In G. Gunzelmann, A. Howes, T. Tenbrink, & E. J. Davelaar (Eds.), Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, (pp. 3350-3355). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.

2016

Zhao, J. & Yu, R. (2016). Statistical regularities reduce perceived numerosity. Cognition, 146, 217-222. (Exp1 data, Exp2 data, Exp3 data)
Mole, C. & Zhao, J. (2016). Vision and abstraction: An empirical refutation of Nico Orlandi’s non-cognitivism. Philosophical Psychology, 29, 365-373.
Tomm, B. & Zhao, J. (2016). Scarcity captures attention and induces neglect: Eyetracking and behavioral evidence. In A. Papafragou, D. Grodner, D. Mirman, & J.C. Trueswell (Eds.), Proceedings of the 38th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 1199-1204). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Luo, Y. & Zhao, J. (2016). Statistical learning creates novel object associations via transitive relations. In A. Papafragou, D. Grodner, D. Mirman, & J.C. Trueswell (Eds.), Proceedings of the 38th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 984-989). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.

2015

Yu, R. & Zhao, J. (2015). The persistence of attentional bias to regularities in a changing environment. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 77, 2217-2228.
Moreau, T., Lane, O., Zhao, J., Geselbracht, D., & Lewis, P. (2015). Sustainable Communities Field School: Innovative environmental education for businesses. In Z. Irwin, C. Hobson, R. P. Selvam, L. Derewnicka (Eds.), Proceedings of the BGCI 9th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens (pp. 147-149). Surrey, UK: Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

2014

Zhao, J., Hahn, U., & Osherson, D. (2014). Perception and identification of random events. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 40, 1358-1371.
Zhao, J., Karbowicz, D., & Osherson, D. (2014). Implicit learning of stimulus regularities increases cognitive control. Public Library of Science (PLoS ONE), 9(4), e93874.
Hall, C. C.*, Zhao, J.*, & Shafir, E.* (2014). Self-affirmation among the poor: Cognitive and behavioral implications. Psychological Science, 25, 619–625. (*equal author contribution)
Zhao, J. & Osherson, D. (2014). Category-based updating. Thinking & Reasoning, 20, 1-15.

2013

Mani, A., Mullainathan, S., Shafir, E., & Zhao, J. (2013). Response to Comment on "Poverty impedes cognitive function". Science, 342, 1169.
Mani, A.*, Mullainathan, S.*, Shafir, E.*, & Zhao, J.* (2013). Poverty impedes cognitive function. Science, 341, 976-980. (*equal author contribution)
Zhao, J., Al-Aidroos, N., & Turk-Browne, N. B. (2013). Attention is spontaneously biased toward regularities. Psychological Science, 24, 667-677.

2012

Zhao, J., Crupi, V., Tentori, K., Fitelson, B., & Osherson, D. (2012). Updating: Learning versus supposing. Cognition, 124, 373-378.
Zhao, J., Crupi, V., Tentori, K., Fitelson, B., & Osherson, D. (2012). Updating: Learning versus supposing. In N. Miyake, D. Peebles, & R. P. Cooper (Eds.), Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 1233-1237). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.

2011

Zhao, J., Ngo, N., McKendrick, R., & Turk-Browne, N. B. (2011). Mutual interference between statistical summary perception and statistical learning. Psychological Science, 22, 1212-1219.
Zhao, J. & Turk-Browne, N. B. (2011). Incidental encoding of numerosity in visual long-term memory. Visual Cognition, 19, 928-955.
Zhao, J. & Osherson, D. (2011). Detecting deviations from randomness. L. Carlson, C. Hölscher, & T. Shipley (Eds.), Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 1019-1024). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.

2010

Zhao, J. & Osherson, D. (2010). Updating beliefs in light of uncertain evidence: Descriptive assessment of Jeffrey’s rule. Thinking & Reasoning, 16, 288-307.
Zhao, J. & Osherson, D. (2010). Descriptive assessment of Jeffrey's rule. In S. Ohlsson & R. Catrambone (Eds.), Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 2530-2535). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Zhao, J. & Turk-Browne, N. B. (2010). The perception of number from long-term memory. In S. Ohlsson & R. Catrambone (Eds.), Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 1240-1245). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.

2009

Zhao, J., Shah, A. K., & Osherson, D. (2009). On the provenance of judgments of conditional probability. Cognition, 113, 26-36.
Zhao, J., Shah, A. K., & Osherson, D. (2009). On the provenance of judgments of conditional probability. In N.A. Taatgen & H. van Rijn (Eds.), Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 298-302). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.

Before 2009

Zhao, J. & Costello, F. J. (2008). Computational modelling of switching behaviour in repeated gambles. Artificial Intelligence Review, 27, 209-222.
Xia, F., Wang, H., Fu, X., & Zhao, J. (2005). An XML-based implementation of multimodal affective annotation. Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction, 3784, 535-541.