Rina Miyata Harsch

harschrina[at]gmail[dot]com | ORCiD | Google Scholar

Hello! I am Rina, and I like asking questions about the cognitive psychology of comprehension and belief. I am looking for a post-doc starting in Autumn 2026.

My Work

I am interested in the cognitive and social dimensions of how people comprehend complex or uncertain situations, situations in which there are multiple hypothetical causes or states. So far, my work has examined:

comprehension of semantically discrepant information
knowledge revision
trust in informants
evidence evaluation
misinformation

Why I Care

I sometimes become dejected trying to understand even a single facet of our world. Its complexities and uncertainties can be overpowering, even when I know I want to understand. At the same time, the moments in which I realized I may have internalized enough to begin to appreciate some of the inner workings and subtleties have been among the most transformative moments of my life. Based on my conversations with others, this experience is not unique to me. Many of us are searching for ways to look the world in the face with the curiosity, humility, and conviction we need to understand and try to address its complex issues. I think these concerns are what brought me to this research.

Stuff I Like

In addition to my cerebral pursuits *adjusts monocle*, I am motivated by music and art, reading and writing, and wagashi (traditional Japanese confections). I love talking to people about these things and the stuff they like. Give me your recommendations, you nerds!