Frank Fincham's interests span social, clinical, and developmental psychological perspectives in the study of personal relationships. Research programs have been undertaken in three complementary areas.

The first focuses on understanding marriage/partnership, particularly the cognitive processes involved in conflict, and more recently, on relationship education. The second examines forgiveness and prayer, especially in family relationships. A third program of research focuses on emerging adulthood, particularly school burnout, hooking up and friends with benefits. Finally, he is integrating hemodynamics and cardiac functioning into his research.

A former Rhodes Scholar, Frank has received numerous awards for his research including the President's Award (British Psychological Society; for "distinguished contributions to psychological knowledge"), the Berscheid-Hatfield Award (International Network on Personal Relationships; for "sustained, substantial, and distinguished contributions to the field of personal relationships") and the Ernest Burgess Award for “continuous and meritorious contributions to theory and research” (National Council for Family Relationships). His work has placed him among the top 25 psychologists in the world in terms of impact (number of citations per published article).

Frank is an Eminent Scholar and Director of the FSU Family Institute. As a social psychologist he attempts to integrate basic and applied research, often bringing social psychological theory to bear on important societal problems.