Skip to main content
Loading
Torsten Reimer

Torsten Reimer

Professor // Communication
Faculty

Courtesy Faculty in the Department of Psychological Sciences

Curriculum vitae


Office and Contact

Room: BRNG 2154

Office hours: Spring 2024: Tuesday & Thursday; 10:30-11:30am

Email: treimer@purdue.edu

Phone: (765) 496-2765


Ph.D., Free University of Berlin (Germany)
M.A., Free University of Berlin (Germany)
B.A., University of Tuebingen (Germany)

 
 

Research Statement

Professor Reimer directs the Communication and Cognition Lab. Current projects of the lab focus on the role of AI in decision making, the adoption of new technologies, and human-machine interactions (e.g., interactions with Alexa). Research studies in the lab utilize a variety of social scientific methods, including experiments with human participants as well as computational methods and agent-based simulations. Professor Reimer's research program has the overarching goal to develop and test theories about the interplay of communication and decision making in socio-technological contexts.

Professor Reimer obtained a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the Free University of Berlin and a Habilitation degree in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Basel in Switzerland. Before moving to the US, he worked as a research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin (Germany). For his research and teaching, he received several awards including the College of Psychology's Award for Excellence in Research from the University of Basel in Switzerland, the Golden Anniversary Monograph Award from the National Communication Association, and the Dennis Gouran Award from the Group Communication Division of NCA. Professor Reimer served on the Board of Directors of INGRoup and served as chair of the Group Communication as well as the Social Cognition Division of the National Communication Association. In 2021-2023, he was selected for the Ann and Charles Redding Faculty Scholar Award of the Brian Lamb School, which is given to a tenured faculty member in recognition of research productivity and impact. In 2023, Professor Reimer was appointed associate editor of the APA journal Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice.

Funding

2023-2026: Xinwu Qian (PI), Steven Jones (Co-Investigator), Satish Ukkusuri (Co-Investigator), Torsten Reimer (Co-Investigator), & Chien-fei Chen (Co-Investigator). SAI: Large-scale planning for electric vehicle public charging infrastructure. National Science Foundation (NSF), $749,902. link

 

2018-2023: Panagiota Karava (PI), Torsten Reimer (Co-Investigator), Leigh Raymond (Co-Investigator), Ilias Bilionis (Co-Investigator), & James Braun (Co-Investigator). SCC-IRG Track 1: Sociotechnical systems to enable smart and connected energy-aware residential communities. National Science Foundation (NSF), $3,980,061. link

2019-2021: Joerg Appenzeller (PI), Helen McNally (co-PI), Zhihong Chen (co-PI), Supriyo Datta (co-PI), Jeremiah Blocki (co-PI), Peter Bermel (co-PI), Torsten Reimer (co-PI), & Kyle Haynes (co-PI): Solving problems previously reserved to quantum computing with Purdue’s P-bits and how these future computational capabilities will impact security, politics and the society as a whole. Purdue University, Purdue 2.0 Big Challenges, $300,000.

2017-2019: Leigh Raymond (PI), Ilias Bilionis (Co-Investigator), James Braun (Co-Investigator), Sabine Brunswicker (Co-Investigator), Travis Horton (Co-Investigator), Panagiota Karava (Co-Investigator), Srinivas Peeta (Co-Investigator), Torsten Reimer (Co-Investigator), & Laurel Weldon (Co-Investigator). Affordable NetZero Housing and Transportation Solutions. Purdue Grand Challenges Award, $300,000.

2017-2018: Johnson, D. (PI), Delp, E., Jahanshahi, M., Kong, N. & Reimer, T. (Co-PIs); Decision Support for Flood Risk Mitigation: Automated Data Collection and Visualization Tools; Mellon Foundation; $139,000.

2015-2017: Reimer, T. (PI); Gulich, M. (Purdue Office of Sustainability) (consultant); Overcoming Barriers to Recycling: The Role of Knowledge and Social Norms; Sponsor: Keep America Beautiful; Graduate students: Chris Roland and Devika Banerji; $74,000.

Current Graduate Students

Nate Johnson (PhD, Chair), Brian Lamb School, 2020-; Juan Pablo Loaiza Ramirez (PhD, Chair), Brian Lamb School,  2022-; Subia Ansari (PhD, Co-Chair), Department of Computer and Information Technology, 2024-; 

Recent Graduate Students

Hayden Barber (PhD, 2022; Assistant Professor, South Dakota State University); Kirstin Dolick Sanchez (PhD, 2022; Client Insights Analyst); Jeonghyun Oh (PhD, 2022; Assistant Professor, University of Alabama); Chris Roland (PhD, 2019; Assistant Professor, University of Central Arkansas); Devika Banerji (PhD, 2018; Associate Professor, Metropolitan State University, Denver); Ryan Cummings (PhD, 2017; Evangelist, Church of Christ); Tillman Russell, (PhD, 2015; Assistant Professor, Georgia State University), Juan Pablo Loaiza Ramirez (MA, 2022); Nate Johnson (MSc, 2020); Hayden Barber (MSc, 2017); Kirstin Dolick Sanchez (MSc, 2017)

Representative Publications

Reimer, T., van Swol, L., & Florack, A. (Eds.) (in preparation). The Routledge Handbook of Communication and Social Cognition. Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Reimer, T., Oh, J., Loaiza-Ramirez, J. P., & Barber, H. (2024). Thermostat anchors: Do temperature scale characteristics affect the selection of temperature setpoints for residential homes? Sustainability, 6, 2540.

Barber, H., Reimer, T., Zhang, D., & Rayz, J. (2024). Is Alexa happy or angry? Perceptions and attributions of emotional displays of smart technologies in residential homes. Sustainability, 16, 2721.

Reimer, T., Connaughton, S., Roland, C. R., Ptacek, J. K., & Krishna, A. (2024). Predictors of armed intergroup conflicts: An overview of risk factors. In S. L. Connaughton & S. Pukallus (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Conflict and Peace Communication (pp. xxx-xxx). Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Reimer, T., Park, E., & Bonito, J. (Eds.) (2023). Group Communication: An Advanced Introduction. Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Reimer, T., Johnson, N., & Loaiza-Ramírez, J. P. (2023). Group decision making. In T. Reimer, E. Park, & J. Bonito (Eds.), Group Communication: An Advanced Introduction (pp. 200-218). Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Reimer, T., Roland, C., & Oh, J. (2023). Group communication theories: Guidelines for their application. In T. Reimer, E. Park, & J. Bonito (Eds.), Group Communication: An Advanced Introduction (pp. 23-41). Routledge/Taylor & Francis. 

Reimer, T., Park, E.S., & Bonito, J. A. (2023). Introduction: The role of communication in group scholarship. In T. Reimer, E. Park, & J. Bonito (Eds.), Group Communication: An Advanced Introduction (pp. 1-6)Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Reimer, T., & Johnson, N. (2023). When those with privacy concerns show stronger in-group favoritism:Using personal information from in-group and out-group members to identify terrorist threats. Sage Open, 3, 1-14. 

Reimer, T., & Rayz, J. (Eds.) (2023). The application of communication technology in smart residential communities. Special Issue, Sustainability.

Johnson, N., & Reimer, T. (2023). Using the social identity model of pro-environmental behavior to predict support for the adoption of solar panels. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 1-15.

Johnson N., & Reimer T. (2023). The adoption and use of smart assistants in residential homes: The matching hypothesis. Sustainability, 15(12), 9224.

Loaiza-Ramírez, J. P., Reimer, T., & Moreno-Mantilla, C. E. (2022). Who prefers renewable energy? A moderated mediation model including perceived comfort and consumers’ protected values in green energy adoption and willingness to pay a premium. Energy Research and Social Science, 91, 102753.

Kim, H., Ham, S., Promann, M., Devarapalli, H., Bihani, G., Ringenberg, T., Kwarteng, V., Bilionis, I., Braun, J.E., Taylor Rayz, J., Raymond, L., Reimer, T., & Karava, P. (2022). MySmartE - An eco-feedback and gaming platform to promote energy conserving thermostat-adjustment behaviors in multi-unit residential buildings. Building and Environment, 221, 1-18.

Reimer, T., & Johnson, N. (2022). Public support for counter-terrorism efforts using probabilistic computing technologies to decipher terrorist communication on the internet. Current Psychology, 25, 1-15.

Loaiza-Ramirez, J.P., Moreno-Mantilla, C.E., & Reimer, T. (2022). Do consumers care about companies' green supply chain management (GSCM) efforts?  Analyzing the role of protected values and the halo effect in product evaluation. Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain, 3, 100027.

Reimer, T., Dolick, K., Barber, H., & Oh, J. (2022). What methodologies are needed to study group communication? A bounded-rationality perspective. In S. Beck, J. Keyton, & S. Poole (Eds.), The handbook of group and team communication research (pp. 545-558). Emerald Publishing.

Barber, H., & Reimer, T. (2021). The influence of speaker pitch on inferring semantic valence. Metaphor and Symbol, 36, 63-73.

Cummings, R., & Reimer, T. (2021). Cellphone relevance in face-to-face interactions: The effects of cellphone use on conversational satisfaction. Mobile Media & Communication, 8, 1-19.

Reimer, T., Barber, H., & Dolick, K.  (2020). The bounded rationality of groups and teams. In R. Viale (Ed.), Handbook on Bounded Rationality (pp. 535-547). Routledge.

Craddock Lee, S. J., Reimer, T., Garcia, S., Williams, E. L., West, M., Stuart, T., & Gerber, D. E. (2020). Definition and coordination of roles and responsibilities among cancer center clinic and research personnel. Journal of Oncology Practice, 13, 1021-1029. 

Russell, T., & Reimer, T. (2020). Attribute degree centrality and attribute tie strength as criteria of argument quality. Communication Monographs, 87, 1-23.

Banerji, D., & Reimer, T. (2019). Startup founders and their LinkedIn connections: Are well-connected entrepreneurs more successful? Computers in Human Behavior, 28, 46-68.

Russell, T., & Reimer, T. (2019). Persuasion and semantic network structure: Testing message effects of attribute centrality on decision making under uncertainty. Southern Communication Journal, 84, 30-43.

Russell, T., & Reimer, T. (2018). Using semantic networks to define the quality of arguments. Communication Theory, 28, 46-68.

Blair, J. P., Reimer, T., & Levine, T. R. (2018). The role of consistency in detecting deception: The superiority of correspondence over coherence. Communication Studies, 24, 1-16.

Reimer, T., Craddock Lee, S. J., Garcia, S., Gill, M., Duncan, T., Williams, E. L., & Gerber, D. E. (2017). Cancer center clinic and research team perceptions of identity and interactions. Journal of Oncology Practice13, 1021-1029.

Teng, Y., Kong, N., & Reimer, T. (2017). Using agent-based interpersonal influence simulation to study the formation of public opinion. In J. Li, N. Kong, & X. Xie (Eds.), Stochastic Modelling and Analytics in Healthcare Systems (pp. 253-280). Singapore: World Scientific Publishing.

Reimer, T., Roland, C., & Russell, T. (2017). Groups and teams. In L. Lewis & C. Scott (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Organizational Communication (pp. 1-21). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

Reimer, T., & Russell, B. (2017). Binomial effect size display. In M. Allen (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Research Methods. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

*Gerber, D. E., *Reimer, T., Williams, E., Gill, M., Loudat Priddy, L., Bergestuen, D., Schiller, J. H., Kirkpatrick, H., Craddock Lee, S. J. (2016). Resolving rivalries and realigning goals: Challenges of clinical and research multiteam systems. Journal of Oncology Practice, 12, 1020-1028.  *Both authors contributed equally to the article.

Reimer, T., Russell, T., & Roland, C. (2015). Decision making in medical teams. In T. R. Harrison & E. A. Williams (Eds.), Organizations, communication, and health (pp. 65-81). Routledge.

Reimer, T., Jones, C., & Skubisz, C. (2015). Numeric communication of risk. In H. Cho, T. Reimer, & K. A. McComas (Eds.), The Sage handbook of risk communication (pp. 166-179). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Russell, T., & Reimer, T. (2015). Risk communication in groups. In H. Cho, T. Reimer, & K. A. McComas (Eds.), The Sage handbook of risk communication (pp. 272-287). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Kaemmer, J., Gaissmaier, W., Reimer, T., & Schermuly, C. C. (2014). The adaptive use of recognition in group decision making, Cognitive Science, 38, 911-942.

Luan, S., Katsikopoulos, K., & Reimer, T. (2012). When does diversity trump ability (and vice versa) in group decision making? A simulation study. PLoS ONE, 7(2), 1-9, e31043.

Blair, J.P., Levine, T.R., Reimer, T., & McCluskey, J.D. (2012). The gap between reality and research: Another look at detecting deception in field settings. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 35, 723-740.

Reimer, T., Hertwig, R., & Sipek, S. (2012). Probabilistic persuasion: A Brunswikian theory of argumentation. In R. Hertwig, U. Hoffrage, & the ABC Research Group (Eds.), Simple heuristics in a social world (pp. 33-55). New York: Oxford University Press.

Reimer, T., & Hoffrage, U. (2012). Ecological rationality for teams and committees: Heuristics in group decision making. In P. M. Todd, G. Gigerenzer, & the ABC Research Group (Eds.), Ecological rationality: Intelligence in the world (pp. 266-286). New York: Oxford University Press.

Reimer, T., Reimer, A., & Hinsz, V. (2010). Naïve groups can solve the hidden-profile problem. Human Communication Research, 36, 443-467.

Reimer, T., Reimer, A., & Czienskowski, U. (2010). Decision-making groups attenuate the discussion bias in favor of shared information: A meta-analysis. Communication Monographs, 77, 122-143.

Skubisz, C., Reimer, T., & Hoffrage, U. (2009). Communicating quantitative risk information. In C. Beck (Ed.), Communication Yearbook 33 (pp. 176-211). New York: Routledge.

Hertwig, R., Herzog, S., Schooler, L., & Reimer, T. (2008). Fluency heuristic: A model of how the mind exploits a by-product of information retrieval. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 34, 1191-1206.

Reimer, T., Kuendig, S., Hoffrage, U., Park, E., & Hinsz, V. (2007). Effects of the information environment on group discussions and decisions in the hidden-profile paradigm. Communication Monographs, 74, 1-28.

Reimer, T., Park, E., & Hinsz, V. (2006). Shared and coordinated cognition in competitive and dynamic task environments: An information-processing perspective for team sports. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 4, 376-400.

Reimer, T., & Hoffrage, U. (2006). The ecological rationality of simple group heuristics: Effects of group member strategies on decision accuracy. Theory and Decision, 60, 403-438.

Adamowicz, W. A., Hanemann, M., Swait, J., Johnson, R., Layton, D., Regenwetter, M., Reimer, T., & Sorkin, R. (2005). Decision Strategy and Structure in Households: A "groups" perspective. Marketing Letters, 16 (3-4), 387-399.

Reimer, T., & Hoffrage, U. (2005). Can simple group heuristics detect hidden profiles in randomly generated environments? Swiss Journal of Psychology, 64 (1), 21-37.

Reimer, T., Mata, R., Katsikopoulos, K., & Opwis, K. (2005). On the interplay between heuristic and systematic processes in persuasion. In B.G. Bara, L. Barsalou, & M. Bucciarelli (Eds.), Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 1833-1838). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Reimer, T., Bornstein, A.-L., & Opwis, K. (2005). Positive and negative transfer effects in groups. In T. Betsch & S. Haberstroh (Eds.), The routine of decision making (pp. 175-192). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Reimer, T., & Katsikopoulos, K. (2004). The use of recognition in group decision-making. Cognitive Science, 28 (6), 1009-1029.

Hoffrage, U., & Reimer, T. (2004). Models of bounded rationality: The approach of fast and frugal heuristics. Management Revue, 15 (4), 437-459.

Reimer, T., Mata, R., & Stoecklin, M. (2004). The use of heuristics in persuasion: Deriving cues on source expertise from argument quality. Current Research in Social Psychology, 10 (6), 69-83.

Reimer, T. (2001). Attributions for poor group performance as a predictor of perspective-taking and subsequent group achievement: A process model. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 4 (1), 31-47.

Reimer, T., & Auhagen, A. (2001). Identifying Boolean networks in multivariate time series: The prediction of contact behavior in friendship dyads. Psychologische Beiträge, 43, 101-121.

Dutke, S., & Reimer, T. (2000). Evaluation of two types of online help for application software. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 16, 307-315.


 


Website