Research Capabilities
The Developing Belief Network is well-positioned to explore how people around the world develop belief and revise beliefs that impact global health, intergroup relations, and scientific learning.
Global Health
How do children around the world acquire religious and supernatural concepts such as god(s), reincarnation, or evil eye?
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How do they learn to perform rituals such as praying, communicating with ancestors, or meditation?
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How do they form a religious identity?
What is the relation of developing beliefs to global health?
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How are children around the world taught about health-related topics, and how does the nature of learning relate to health-related behaviors & outcomes?
Intergroup Relations
How do biases and stereotypes about social groups (associated with religion, race, ethnicity) affiliation form?
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How do stereotyping and biases influence interactions with social ‘out-group’ members globally?
Scientific Learning
What is the nature and associated outcomes of formal science learning (for example, in the classroom) and informal science learning (for example, in nature) around the world?
How are scientific beliefs shaped by, and how do they shape, children’s other beliefs (for example, their ethnic, raciolinguistic, or religious beliefs)?
