Douglas A. Hershey , PhD, 1990, University of Southern California
Associate Professor
hershey@okstate.edu
Click here to Visit the Retirement Planning Research Laboratory

Dr. Hershey's teaching interests include Research Methods, Cognitive Psychology, Decision Making, Successful Aging, Adult Psychological Development. Click the links below to visit the course web pages.

PSYC 3823 - Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 3914 - Experimental Psychology

Dr. Hershey's research interests are in the areas of adult cognitive development and developmental differences in life planning. Specific focus on the decision making processes that underlie retirement planning practices, particularly in the areas of finance and health. Below is a selected list of representative publications.

• Hershey, D. A., Jacobs-Lawson, J. M., McArdle, J. J., Hamagami, A. (in press). Psychological foundations of financial planning for retirement. Journal of Adult Development.
• Padawer, E. A., Jacobs-Lawson, J. M., Hershey, D. A., & Thomas, D. G. (2007). Demographic indicators as predictors of future time perspective. Current Psychology, 26, 102-108.
• Stawski, R. S., Hershey, D. A., & Jacobs-Lawson, J. M. (2007). Goal clarity as an indicator of financial planning for retirement. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 64, 13-32.
• Hershey, D. A., Henkens, K., & van Dalen, H. P. (2007). Mapping the minds of retirement planners: A cross-cultural perspective. Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology, 38, 361-382.
• Hershey, D. A., Jacobs-Lawson, J. M., & Wilson, T. L. (2006). Acquisition of the research methods script. In F. Leong and J. T. Austin (Eds.), Psychology Research Handbook, 2nd ed. (pp. 3-22). Newberry Park, CA: Sage Publications.
• Jacobs-Lawson, J. M., & Hershey, D. A. (2005). Influence of future time perspective, financial knowledge, and financial risk tolerance on retirement savings behaviors. Financial Services Review, 14, 331-344.
• Jacobs-Lawson, J. M., Hershey, D. A., & Neukam, K. A. (2004). Gender differences in factors that influence time spent planning for retirement. Journal of Women and Aging, 16, 55-69.
• Hershey, D. A. (2004). Psychological influences on the retirement investor. CSA: Certified Senior Advisor, 22, 31-39.
• Neukam, K. A., & Hershey, D. A. (2003). Financial inhibition, financial activation, and saving for retirement. Financial Services Review, 12, 19-37.
• Hershey, D. A., Mowen, J. C., & Jacobs-Lawson, J. M. (2003). An experimental comparison of brief retirement planning intervention seminars. Educational Gerontology, 29, 339-359.
• Hershey, D. A., Jacobs-Lawson, J. M., & Walsh, D. A. (2003). Influences of age and training on script development. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 10, 1-19.
• Jacobs-Lawson, J. M., & Hershey, D. A. (2003). Perceptions of financial stability in retirement: Do Americans really know what to expect? In S. P. Shohov (Ed.), Advances in Psychology Research, Vol. 22 (pp. 123-136). New York: NOVA Publishing Company.
• Hershey, D. A., Jacobs-Lawson, J. M., & Neukam, K. A. (2002). Influences of age and gender on workers’ goals for retirement. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 55, 163-179.
• Hershey, D. A., Brown, C. E., Jacobs, J. M., & Jackson, J. (2001). Retirees’ perceptions of important retirement decisions. The Southwestern Journal on Aging, 16, 91-100.
• Hershey, D. A. & Walsh, D. A. (2000/2001). Knowledge versus experience in financial problem solving performance. Current Psychology, 19, 261-291.
• Hershey, D. A., & Mowen, J. C. (2000). Psychomotivational determinants of retirement preparedness. The Gerontologist, 6, 687-697.
• Hershey, D. A., & Farrell, A. H. (1999). Age differences on a procedurally oriented test of practical problem solving. Journal of Adult Development, 6, 87-104.
• Hershey, D. A., Walsh, D. A., Brougham, R., Carter, S., & Farrell, A. H. (1998). Challenges of training pre-retirees to make sound financial planning decisions. Educational Gerontology, 24, 447-470.
• Hershey, D. A., & Wilson, J. A. (1997). Age differences in confidence ratings on a complex financial decision making task. Experimental Aging Research, 23, 257-273.
• Hershey, D. A. (1995). Influence of age and gender on estimates of long-term financial growth functions. Aging & Cognition, 2, 231-250.
• Walsh, D. A., & Hershey, D. A. (1993). Mental models and the maintenance of complex problem solving skills into old age. In J. Cerella, J. Rybash, W. Hoyer, and M. L. Commons (Eds.), Adult information processing: Limits on loss (pp. 553-584). New York: Academic Press.
• Hershey, D. A., Walsh, D. A., Read, S. J., and Chulef, A. S. (1990). The effects of expertise on financial problem solving: Evidence for goal directed problem solving scripts. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 46, 77-101.