Scholarly Interests

  • Mental model development for expert performance

  • Leadership development in organizational settings

  • Team cognition and shared mental models

  • Enterprise learning technology for skill development

Select Publications

Martinez, S.A., Ali, S., Mangusheva, K., Archer, L. (2025). How can designers support strong leadership qualities? Chapter in West, R. E., Kopcha, T. J., Stefaniak, J. E., & Dennen, V. P. (Eds.), Psychology of Design (1st ed.). EdTech Books.

Ali, S. & Martinez, S.A. (2025). How do we learn cognitive skills from experts? Chapter in West, R. E., Kopcha, T. J., Stefaniak, J. E., & Dennen, V. P. (Eds.), Psychology of Design (1st ed.). EdTech Books. 

Archer, L. & Martinez, S.A. (2025). How can designers use feedback to improve performance? Chapter in West, R. E., Kopcha, T. J., Stefaniak, J. E., & Dennen, V. P. (Eds.), Psychology of Design (1st ed.). EdTech Books. 

Mangusheva, K. & Martinez, S.A. (2024). How can we design to positively impact individual decision making? Chapter in West, R. E., Kopcha, T. J., Stefaniak, J. E., & Dennen, V. P. (Eds.), Psychology of Design (1st ed.). EdTech Books. 

Martinez, S. A., Harrington, S., Achilles, C., Mohammed, H., & Tjan, P. (2023). Applying Gibbons’ architectural instructional design approach to evaluate non-profit training. Performance Improvement Journal, 62(6), 205-212.

Martinez, S.A. & Leija, N. (2023). Distinguishing servant leadership from transactional and transformational leadership. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 25(3).

Martinez, S.A. & Kim, E. (2023). Careers in corporate learning and development. In R.E. West & H. Leary (Eds.), Becoming an LIDT Professional (2nd ed.). EdTech Books.

Bharwaney, R., Martinez, S.A., Panathula, M., Dalto, J., Maya, A., & Kopasz, L. (2022). Virtual reality in workplace learning: Affordances, limitations, and future directions. The Journal of Applied Instructional Design, 11(4).

Martinez, S.A. (2022). Developing servant leaders in non-profit settings.  Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, 2(2).

Martinez, S.A. & Whiting, J. (2020). Designing informal learning environments. In J. K. McDonald & R. E. West (Eds.), Design for Learning: Principles, Processes, and Praxis. EdTech Books.

Martinez, S.A. (2016). From novice to expert: The development of a servant leader (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University). (PDF 1.9MB)

Martinez, S.A. (2010). The faith-intellect relationship in higher education: Spiritually strengthening learning environments (Master’s thesis, Brigham Young University).

My Scholarly Focus

The development of expertise plays a critical role in enhancing individual and organizational performance. In my work, I seek to understand how expertise is developed through the lens of leadership. Specifically, my goal is to discover the conditions that both promote and undermine the mental model development of leaders. I also seek to understand the technologies that enhance or accelerate the learning process from novice to expert in organizations. To accomplish these aims, I draw on the literatures of adult learning, expertise, leadership development, and performance improvement. In this manner, my work is interdisciplinary.

In the Spring of 2022 I launched my research lab with an overarching focus on expertise development. Specifically, my research centers on exploring the cognitive, behavioral, and socio-emotional dimensions of expertise development. In my lab we are currently pursuing three specific research threads with associated projects for each: (1) mental model development behind expert performance; (2) servant leader development; and (3) learning technology.