Her research explores how macro-inequalities may be either reproduced or overturned through behavior and emotion dynamics in interactions and small groups. Kimberly has studied behavioral and emotional responses to unfair reward distributions and to stereotyped groups, consensus in cultural sentiments within and between cultures, and opinion and sentiment change through interaction. Her recent work uses Bayesian methods to show how stable interaction patterns can emerge out of cultural disagreement and social uncertainty, and to explore the potential for gradual meaning change through social experience.