Carla Lagorio, Ph.D.
Contact Information
124 Garfield Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Mondays 9-11am
and by appointment
Biography
Dr. Carla Lagorio is an Associate Professor of Psychology. Her interests lie in experimental and theoretical behavior analysis, and she has focused on the quantitative analyses of behavior, behavioral economics, and behavioral pharmacology. Dr. Lagorio has served on the editorial board of the Journal of the Experimental Analyses of Behavior and Perspectives in Behavioral Science, is the Past-President of the Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis, is Treasurer and Board Director for the Society for the Quantitative Analysis of Behavior, and co-coordinates the Behavioral Pharmacology and Neuroscience program for the Association for Behavior Analysis International. Her research is focused on questions related to risky choice, compulsive-type behavior, and delay discounting. In addition, Dr. Lagorio is passionate about several community and environmental sustainability causes – including increasing the adoptability potential of canines at the local shelter, and researching ways to increase composting and reduce overall levels of student food waste on campus.
Education
Postdoctoral, University of Michigan (Behavioral Pharmacology)
Ph.D., University of Florida (Experimental Psychology - Behavioral Science)
M.A., University of Florida (Experimental Psychology - Behavioral Science)
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Psychology - Behavior Analysis)
Teaching and Research Interests
Principles of Learning
Behavior Analysis
Introduction to and History of Psychology
Psychology as a Career and a Profession
Experimental Behavior Analysis
Behavioral Pharmacology
Behavioral Economics
Social and Environmental Sustainability Issues
Published Research
Lagorio, C. H. (2026). Delay discounting. Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-29009-1.00137-2
Salzer, A.R., Lagorio, C.H., Gleason, J.M. (2026). Ideal Free Distribution. In: Saini, V. (eds) Quantitative Behavior Analysis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-17450-5_10
Lagorio, C.H. (2023). Learning and Behavior Lab. learningbehaviorlab.com
Lagorio, C. H. (2018-2021). Invited Blog on Addiction for the Association for Behavior Analysis International: https://science.abainternational.org/author/lagorichuwec-edu/
Bica, L. A., Jamelske, E. M., & Lagorio, C. H. (2016). Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption during Elementary School Snack Periods Using Incentives, Prompting, and Role Modeling. The Journal of Child Nutrition and Management.
Lagorio, C. H., & Yanagita, B. T. (2015). Basic Research Supporting the use of Token Economies in Applied Settings. Book chapter in Reed, D. & DiGennaro Reed, F. (Eds), Bridging the Gap between Basic and Applied Research in Autism Service Delivery (Springer Publishers).
Sukhtankar, D. D., Lagorio, C. H., & Ko, M. C. (2014). Effects of the NOP agonist SCH221510 on producing and attenuating reinforcing effects as measured by drug self-administration in rats. European Journal of Pharmacology, 745, 182-189.
Lagorio, C. H., & Winger, G. D. (2014). Random-Ratio Schedules Produce Greater Demand for I.V. Drug Administration than Fixed-Ratio Schedules in Rhesus Monkeys. Psychopharmacology. doi: 10.1007/s00213-014-3477-6
Lagorio, C. H., & Hackenberg, T. D. (2012). Risky Choice in Pigeons: A Parametric Analysis of Preference for Fixed and Variable Amounts in a Token-Reinforcement Paradigm. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 98, 139-154.
Lagorio, C. H., & Hackenberg, T. D. (2010). Risky Choice in Pigeons and Humans: A Cross-Species Comparison. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 93, 27-44.
Madden, G. J., Ewan, E. E., & Lagorio, C. H. (2007). Toward an animal model of gambling: Delay discounting and the allure of unpredictable outcomes. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23, 63-83.
Lagorio, C. H., & Madden, G. J. (2005). Delay discounting when the consequence of every choice is real. Behavioural Processes, 69, 173-187.
Madden, G. J., Raiff, B.R., Lagorio, C. H., Begotka, A. M., Mueller, A.M., Hehli, D. J., & Wegener, A. A. (2004). Delay discounting of potentially real and hypothetical rewards II: Between- and within-subject comparisons. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 12, 251-261.
Honors And Recognition
WiSystem Technology Foundation Quick Pitch Competition - Research: Improving Adoptability Potential of Shelter Dogs (students Madison Bacon, Hannah Marose, Adam Moline, Janel Balsavich, Jacqueline Gaerber)
WiSystem Technology Foundation Quick Pitch Competition - Research: Reducing Food Waste on College Campuses (student Allyson Salzer)
Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis Research Award Winner - (Best Applied Research Project) with student Allyson Salzer
Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology Model Chapter Award
Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis Research Award Winner - (Best Overall Research Project) with student Allyson Salzer
Special Projects Award from the Eau Claire County Humane Association for the Behavioral Applications Regarding Canines Program (Faculty Advisor: Lagorio)
Minnesota Association for Behavior Analysis Research Award Winner - (Best Overall Research Project) with student Bryan Yanagita
Distinguished Member in The National Society of Collegiate Scholars - (student nominated)