Associate Professor of Psychology
Denison University
Ph.D. in Psychology: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (June 2004)
Thesis: The Effect of the Cross-Classification of Items on Category Knowledge
M.A. in Psychology: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (August 2001)
Thesis: Category Learning and Sensitivity to Within-Category Correlations
Secondary Teaching Certification: University of New Mexico (May 1995)
B.A. in English: University of Vermont (May 1991)
Chair of Psychology: Denison University, 2021 to 2024
Associate Professor of Psychology: Denison University, 2010 to present
Assistant Professor of Psychology: Denison University, 2004 to 2010
Teaching Assistant: University of Illinois, 2002 to 2004
Research Assistant: Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, 1999 to 2004
Secondary Language Arts Teacher: Oliver M. Hazen H. S. (Renton, WA), 1996 to 1999
Secondary Language Arts Teacher: Rio Grande H. S. (Albuquerque, NM), 1995-1996
Chin-Parker, S., Kennedy, G., Morton, H., Phillips, S., Shen, L., Miller, D., & Hagemeister, T. (2025). Constraints on Imagination: Due to morality or weirdness? Advances in Cognitive Psychology, forthcoming.
Chin-Parker, S., Brown, E., & Gerlach, E. (2025). The role of goal constructs in conceptual acquisition. Cognition. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2024.106039
Chin-Parker, S. & Bradner, A. (2017). A contrastive account of explanation generation. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 24, 1387–1397. doi: 10.3758/s13423-017-1349-x
Chin-Parker, S. & Birdwhistell, J. (2017). Category learning by doing: How goal directed tasks constrain conceptual acquisition. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 29, 450-468. doi: 10.1080/20445911.2017.1280499
Chin‐Parker, S., & Cantelon, J. (2016). Contrastive constraints guide explanation‐based category learning. Cognitive Science, 41, 1645-1655. doi: 10.1111/cogs.12405
Chin-Parker, S. & Bradner, A. (2010). Background shifts affect explanatory style: how a pragmatic theory of explanation accounts for background effects in the generation of explanations. Cognitive Processing, 11, 227-249.
Patalano, A. L., Chin-Parker, S. & Ross, B. H. (2006). The importance of being coherent: The role of category coherence in reasoning about cross-classified entities. Journal of Memory and Language, 54, 407-424.
Ross, B. H., Chin-Parker, S., & Diaz, M. (2005). Beyond classification learning: A broader view of category learning and category use. In W. Ahn, R. L. Goldstone, B. C. Love, A. B. Markman, & P. Wolff (Eds.), Categorization inside and outside the lab: Festschrift in honor of Douglas L. Medin. Washington, DC: APA.
Erickson, J., Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (2005). Inference and classification learning of abstract coherent categories. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition, 31, 86-99.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (2004). Diagnosticity and prototypicality in category learning: A comparison of inference learning and classification learning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition, 30, 216-226.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (2002). The effect of category learning on sensitivity to within-category correlations. Memory & Cognition, 30, 353-362.
Anderson, A. L., Ross, B. H., & Chin-Parker, S. (2002). A further investigation of category learning by inference. Memory & Cognition, 30, 119-128.
Chin-Parker, S. (2025). Using Goal-Incidental Attributes to Assess the Relationship Between Selective Attention and Attribute Centrality. In D. Barner, C. Walker, A. Ruggerri, & N. Bramley (Eds.), Proceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. San Francisco, CA: Cognitive Science Society.
Chin-Parker, S., & Brown, E. (2019). Task goals structure conceptual acquisition. In A. Goel, C. Seifert, & C. Freksa (Eds.), Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Chin-Parker, S., Cowling, S., & Mei, M. (2019). The explanatory value of mathematical information in everyday explanations. In A. Goel, C. Seifert, & C. Freksa (Eds.), Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Chin-Parker, S. (2011). What varying the learning task and category structure reveals about inference learning. In L. Carlson, C. Hölscher, & T. Shipley (Eds.), Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Chin-Parker, S. (2010). (Category) Learning by doing: How goal directed tasks constrain conceptual acquisition. In S. Ohlsson & R. Catrambone (Eds.), Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Chin-Parker, S. & Bradner, A. (2008). The pragmatics of explanation. In V. Sloutsky, B. Love, & K. McRae (Eds.), Proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Chin-Parker, S., Hernandez, O., & Matens, M. (2006). Explanation in category learning. In R. Sun & N. Miyake (Eds.), Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (2003). When As and Bs are Cs and Ds: The effect of the cross-classification of items on learned concepts. In R. Alterman & D. Kirsh (Eds.), Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Patalano, A. L., Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (2003). The role of coherence in category-based explanation. In R. Alterman & D. Kirsh (Eds.), Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (2002). Diagnosticity in category learning by classification and inference. In W. D. Gray & C. D. Schunn (Eds.), Proceedings of the 24th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
Chin-Parker, S. (July 2025). Using Goal-Incidental Attributes to Assess the Relationship Between Selective Attention and Attribute Centrality. Paper to be presented at the 47th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. San Francisco, CA.
Chin-Parker, S. (Nov 2023). The Alignment of Category Ratings and Eye Gaze Patterns for Stimuli Used in a Goal-Directed Task. Poster presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society, San Francisco, CA.
Kennedy, G., Miller, D., Morton, H., Phillips, S., & Shen, L., & Chin-Parker, S. (Apr 2022). Empirical Assessment of Imaginative Resistance. Poster presented at the Psi Chi Research Session at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Morton, H., & Chin-Parker, S. (Apr 2022). Remembering Imaginative Experiences: Imagining Events and Their Relationship to Memory. Poster presented at the Psi Chi Research Session at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Cowling, S., & Chin-Parker, S. (January 2022). Commentary on “The Four-Case Argument and the Existential/Universal Effect”. Meeting of the Eastern American Philosophical Association. Baltimore, MD (virtual).
Cowling, S., Chin-Parker, S., & Nichols, S. (June 2021). Me, You, and You as Me: Understanding Conceivability Arguments for Haecceitism. Poster accepted for presentation at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Society of Philosophy and Psychology. Princeton, NJ (virtual).
Cowling, S., & Chin-Parker, S. (June 2021). Haecceitism by the Numbers. Talk presented as part of the Workshop on Identity and Individuation of Particulars and Universals hosted by University of St Andrews’ Arché Philosophical Research Centre for Logic, Language, Metaphysics, and Epistemology (virtual).
Chin-Parker, S., & Gerlach, E. (Apr 2021). Goal-Directed Tasks Shape Gaze Allocation. Paper presented at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association (virtual).
Chin-Parker, S., & Gerlach, E. (Nov 2020). Tracking Gaze Patterns to Novel Stimuli Used in a Goal-Directed Task. Poster presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society (virtual).
Chin-Parker, S., & Brown, E. (July 2019). Task goals structure conceptual acquisition. Paper presented at the 41st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Montreal, QC.
Chin-Parker, S., Cowling, S., & Mei, M. (July 2019). The explanatory value of mathematical information in everyday explanations. Poster presented at the 41st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Montreal, QC.
Chin-Parker, S., & Brown, E. (Apr 2019). Evaluating the Goal Structure Hypothesis. Paper presented at the 91st Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Chin-Parker, S. (Nov 2018). Contrastive Constraints on Downstream Effects of Self-Explanation. Poster presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society. New Orleans, LA.
Cowling, S., Chin-Parker, S., & Mei, M. (Sept 2018). What Makes Platonists Tick? Explanatory Preferences in Mathematical Matters. Talk presented at the AALAC Collaborative Workshop: Explanation Across the Disciplines. Middlebury, VT.
Chin-Parker, S. (Apr 2018). Explaining Explanation: Implications for Learning. Invited talk, UIUC Cognitive Brownbag Series, Champaign, IL.
Chin-Parker, S. (Nov 2017). Goal Directed Conceptual Acquisition: Examining the Goal Framework Hypothesis. Poster presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society. Vancouver, BC.
Chin-Parker, S., Jaramillo, M., & Krumholtz, V. (May 2016). Preliminary Evidence for the Goal Structure Hypothesis. Paper presented at the 88th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Krumholtz, V., Jaramillo, M., & Chin-Parker, S. (May 2016). A Novel Paradigm for Studying Conceptual Acquisition Using Goal Directed Behavior. Paper presented at the 88th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Chin-Parker, S. (Nov 2013). Contrast Class Constraints on Explanation in Category Learning. Poster presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society. Toronto, ON.
Chin-Parker, S. (Mar 2013). Why contrast matters: To understand what something is, we have to understand what it is not. Denison Psychology Brown Bag Colloquium, Granville, OH.
Chin-Parker, S. (Sep 2012). Understanding creativity by making it boring (And why that is exciting). Denison Tuesday Faculty Lunch Series. Granville, OH.
Bradner, A., Weekes Schroer, J., & Chin-Parker, S. (Dec 2011). When the violinist is your half-sibling: An experimental study of Thomson’s classic thought experiment. Poster presented at the 2011 Eastern Conference of the American Philosophical Association, Boston, MA.
Chin-Parker, S. (Jul 2011). What varying the learning task and category structure reveals about inference learning. Poster presented at the 33rd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Boston, MA.
Chin-Parker, S. (Aug 2010). (Category) Learning by doing: How goal directed tasks constrain conceptual acquisition. Poster presented at the 32nd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Portland, OR.
Chin-Parker, S. (May 2010). Use-relevant features constrain category learning. Paper presented at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Chin-Parker, S. & Bradner, A. (Sep 2009). A philosopher and a psychologist walk into a lab…: An interdisciplinary study of explanation. Talk presented to the Denison Scientific Association. Granville, OH.
Birdwhistell, J. & Chin-Parker, S. (Nov 2008). Beyond the solution: Problem solving as category learning. Poster presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society. Chicago, IL.
Chin-Parker, S. & Bradner, A. (Aug 2008). The pragmatics of explanation. Paper presented at the 30th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Washington, D.C.
Bradner, A. & Chin-Parker, S. (Jul 2008). An empirical constraint on the pragmatic theory of explanation. Poster presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for Philosophy and Psychology, Philadelphia, PA.
Chin-Parker, S., Hernandez, O., & Matens, M. (Nov 2006). Explanation as category learning. Poster presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society. Houston, TX.
Chin-Parker, S., Hernandez, O., & Matens, M. (Aug 2006). Explanation in category learning. Poster presented at the 28th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Chin-Parker, S. (Oct 2005). An explanation (and exploration) of category learning. Denison University Department of Psychology Colloquium. Granville, OH.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (May 2005). Category learning (not) made simple: The effect of learning two category sets on classification performance. Paper presented at the 77th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Effland, K. J., Lancaster, K., Polovick, M. A., Welker, K. G., & Chin-Parker, S. (May 2005). The effect of abstract knowledge on a category construction task. Paper presented at the 77th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Chin-Parker, S. (Dec 2004). When category learning meets knowledge. Talk presented to the Denison Scientific Association. Granville, OH.
Chin-Parker, S. (Nov 2004). The effect of the cross-classification of items on category knowledge. Poster presented at the 45thAnnual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society. Minneapolis, MN.
Ross, B. H., Patalano, A. L., & Chin-Parker, S. (Nov 2004). The influence of category coherence on generalization and explanation. Paper presented at the 45thAnnual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society. Minneapolis, MN.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (Nov 2003). Cross-classification and category learning. Poster presented at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society. Vancouver, B. C.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (Aug 2003). When As and Bs are Cs and Ds: The effect of the cross-classification of items on learned concepts. Paper presented at the 25th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Boston, MA.
Patalano, A. L., Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (Aug 2003). The role of coherence in category based explanation. Paper presented at the 25th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Boston, MA.
Ross, B. H., Chin-Parker, S., & Diaz, M. (Jun 2003). Beyond classification: A broader view of category learning and category use. Invited talk at a Festschrift in honor of Douglas L. Medin, Chicago, IL.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (May 2003). Learning categories through problem solving. Paper presented at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (Aug 2002). Diagnosticity in category learning by classification and inference. Paper presented at the 24th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Fairfax, VA.
Ross, B. H., & Chin-Parker, S. (Aug 2002). Category use: Learning and understanding categories. Paper presented at the 24th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Fairfax, VA.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (Jun 2002). Inference learning leads to greater knowledge of within-category correlations than classification learning. Poster presented at the 14th Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Society, New Orleans, LA.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (May 2002). Classification, inference, and the cue validity connection. Paper presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (May 2002). Beyond the solution: Problem solving and categorization. Paper presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Chin-Parker, S. (Mar 2002). Fun with categories: The effect of use on category knowledge. Cognitive Brown Bag Colloquium, Champaign, IL.
Chin-Parker, S., & Ross, B. H. (May 2001). Within-category correlations and the effects of learning. Paper presented at the 73rd Annual Meeting of Midwest Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Community and Departmental Service
University Council: 2025-2026
Chair of Psychology: 2021-2024
Denison Teaching Reflection Seminar: Co-Facilitator, 2021-2024
Center for Learning and Teaching Advisory Board, 2020-2024
Anderson Scholarship for Excellence in Science selection committee, 2020
Development Through Sport, Denison University: faculty contributor, 2019 to present
President's Senior Faculty Advisory Board: 2018-2021
Early Career Faculty Learning Community: Co-Facilitator, 2018- 2021
Psychology Department Mentor Coordinator: 2018- 2020
Big Red Runners (formerly the Denison Trail Runners): Faculty advisor, 2018 to present
WDUB: Faculty advisor, 2010-2016
Denison University Search Committee Member:
2020 Director of Center for Learning and Teaching
2017 Instructional Technologist for Denison ITS
2016 Director of Center for Learning and Teaching
Academic Affairs Council: 2014-2017
Academic Affairs Council: Chair, 2015-2016
Student Research Grant Committee (SRGC): 2012-2015
Psychology Department Assessment Committee: 2007-2009, 2013-2017, 2020-2024
Psychology Department IRB: 2006-2008, 2010-2012, 2020-2021 (chair), 2024 to present
Psi Chi Chapter advisor: 2006-2010, 2023 to present
Library Advisory Committee: 2008- 2010
WDUB: Faculty Representative to the SFAR Board, 2006-2010
QUEST: Programming Committee and Faculty Mentor, 2007-2008
Granville Studio of Visual Art: Board of Directors, 2011-2014
Granville Studio of Visual Art: Assessment Coordinator, 2008-2013
Professional Activities and Memberships
Ad-hoc reviewer: Acta Psychologica; Applied Cognitive Psychology; Brain Research; Cognition; Cognitive Science; Cognitive Science Society Conference; European Cognitive Science Society Conference; Journal of Experimental Psychology: General; Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition; Memory & Cognition; National Science Foundation – Perception, Action, and Cognition; Psychological Research; Psychological Science; Psychonomic Bulletin & Review; Scandinavian Journal of Psychology; Science & Education
Meta-Reviewer for Cognitive Science Society Conference, 2025
External evaluator for pre-tenure review, 2023
External evaluator for tenure review, 2023
Session Moderator for Midwest Psychological Association Conference, 2018 and 2022
Review panelist, National Science Federation, 2017
Doctoral Committee Member for Benjamin Jee, University of Chicago, 2007
The Psychonomic Society (associate member), 2004 to present
The Cognitive Science Society, 2004 to present
The Association of Psychological Science, 2004 to present
The American Psychological Society (student member), 2001-2003
Midwest Psychological Association, 2004 to present
Midwest Psychological Association (graduate member), 1999-2003
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), 1996-1999