Andrew M. Parker

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Behavioral Scientist
Pittsburgh Office

Education

Ph.D. in behavioral decision theory, Carnegie Mellon University; M.S. in statistics, Carnegie Mellon University; B.A. in psychology and statistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Overview

Biography

Andrew M. Parker is a behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. His research applies core concepts in behavioral decision research to the understanding of decisionmakers' behavior in complex, real-world situations. He has led or contributed to multiple RAND projects on group decisionmaking, involving such content domains as public health emergency preparedness, corporate ethics, and analytic teams. Past projects focusing on individual decision quality and risk perception have addressed decisionmaking in low-income consumption, adolescent sexual and contraceptive behavior, drug and alcohol use, and expectations for major life events. Parker was principal investigator on a National Science Foundation–funded project validating an adult measure of decisionmaking competence, which has been used to predict major life outcomes. Parker received a B.A. in psychology and statistics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; an M.S. in statistics and an M.S. in behavioral decision theory, both from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU); and a Ph.D. in behavioral decision theory, also from CMU.

Research Focus

Concurrent Non-RAND Positions

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Recent Projects

  • Assessing crisis decisionmaking
  • H1N1 risk perception
  • Promoting psychological resilience in the U.S. military
  • Adolescents' perceived risk of dying
  • Evaluation of the Cities Readiness Initiative

Selected Publications

Bruine de Bruin, W., Parker, A. M., & Fischhoff, B., "Can teens predict significant life events?" Journal of Adolescent Health, 41:208-210, 2007

Bruine de Bruin, W., Parker, A. M., & Fischhoff, B., "Individual differences in Adult Decision-Making Competence," Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92:938-956, 2007

Parker, A.M., Bruine de Bruin, W., & Fischhoff, B., "Maximizers versus satisficers: Decision-making styles, competence, and outcomes," Judgment and Decision Making, 2:342-350, 2007

Parker, A. M., & Fischhoff, B., "Decision-making competence: External validation through an individual-differences approach," Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 18:1-27, 2005

Giancola, P. R., & Parker, A. M., "A six year prospective study of pathways toward drug use in adolescent boys with and without a family history of a substance use disorder," Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 62:166-178, 2001

Stone, E.R., Yates, J.F., & Parker, A.M., "Effects of numerical and graphical displays on professed risk-taking behavior," Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 3:243-256, 1997

Stone, E.R., Yates, J.F., & Parker, A.M., "Risk communication: Absolute versus relative expressions of low-probability risks.," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 60:387-408, 1994

Publications

Promoting Psychological Resilience in the U.S. Military - 2011

The Group Matters: A Review of Processes and Outcomes in Intelligence Analysis - 2011

Who Knew? Awareness of Being Recommended for Influenza Vaccination Among US Adults - 2011

Adolescents' Perceived Risk of Dying - 2010

Explaining Adult Age Differences in Decision-Making Competence - 2010

Federal Initiative Increases Community Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies - 2010

Identifying the Effects of Unjustified Confidence versus Overconfidence: Lessons Learned from Two Analytic Methods - 2010

A Workshop Template to Assess and Improve SNS Planning - 2009

Analysis of Risk Communication Strategies and Approaches with At-Risk Populations to Enhance Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: Final Report - 2009

Are Communities Ready to Conduct Rapid and Large-Scale Dispensing of Medications During a Public Health Emergency? - 2009

Decision-Making Modules for the RSS-POD Supply Management Game: A Game-Based Assessment of Crisis Decision Making During Inventory Management and Distribution of Medical Countermeasures - 2009

Defining and Measuring Financial Literacy - 2009

Does Receipt of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Predict Intention to Receive Novel H1N1 Vaccine: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Survey of U.S. Adults - 2009

Initial Evaluation of the Cities Readiness Initiative - 2009

Measuring Crisis Decision Making for Public Health Emergencies - 2009

New Tools for Assessing State and Local Capabilities for Countermeasure Delivery - 2009

The Group Matters: A Review of the Effects of Group Interaction on Processes and Outcomes in Analytic Teams - 2009

Toward a Cognitive Analysis of Insider Threats: An Examination of User Password Choice - 2009

Educating Military Personnel and Their Families About Post-Deployment Stress - 2008

Enhancing Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Management for Vulnerable Populations: Task 4: Compendium of Risk Communications - 2008

Enhancing Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Management for Vulnerable Populations: Task 3: Literature Review - 2008

Can Adolescents Predict Significant Life Events? - 2007

Individual Differences in Adult Decision-Making Competence - 2007

Maximizers Versus Satisficers: Decision-Making Styles, Competence, and Outcomes - 2007

The Effects of Price Discount and Product Complementarity on Consumer Evaluations of Bundle Components - 2007