Lindsay J. DePalma, PhD
I am trained as a cultural economic sociologist, with specific interests in work, organizations, and gender.
I am a qualitative researcher who uses interview and survey data to better understand the human experience. I enjoy the process of research design and value the practice of careful social science research.
I am motivated by understanding the strategies that individuals use to perceive agency (power) over various types of well-being in their lives, as well as understanding how the individual use or internalization of culture enable or thwart social change. I am particularly interested in the beliefs about work that professionals use to interpret, control, or insulate themselves in the uncertain context of contemporary work.
My dissertation research (abstract here) focuses on a particular set of beliefs about the pursuit and experience of work passion. I call this set of beliefs the passion paradigm.
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In secondary collaborative research, I study patient beliefs about illness and treatment.
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I am also deeply interested in inequalities, with particular interests in effective pedagogy and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work within organizations.
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My research has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), UC San Diego Chancellors Research Excellence Scholarship (CRES), and the UC San Diego Department of Sociology.
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You can learn more about some of my projects below:
 PROJECT: Why the Passion Paradigm Works click to read |  PROJECT: The Passion Paradigm click to read |  PROJECT: The Passion Paradigm: Why The Ideology of Work Passion Thrives in the New Economy click to read |
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 PROJECT: Patient Motivations click to read |  PROJECT: Money and Meaning click to read |  Four Questions for Lindsay DePalma click to read |
 PROJECT: Curriculum Assessment contents confidential |  PROJECT (in progress): Gendered Passion |  PROJECT: Patient narratives of hope in stem cell technologies click to read |