Personal statement

I am an applied social psychologist in the School of Psychological Sciences and Health. My research focuses on discipline specific issues in order to understand and ameliorate major global challenges. In particular:

• Identifying the socio-cognitive determinants of behaviour (e.g., attitudes)
• Understanding the influence of automaticity/habits on behavioural decision-making
• Understanding the effects of ageing and disability on task performance
• Developing and testing cognition- (e.g., attitude) and behaviour-change interventions

I have addressed these theoretical topics using a range of psychological models including the theories of reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) and planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1985), the prototype willingness model (Gibbons & Gerrard, 1995), the MODE model (Fazio, 1990), identity theory (Stryker, 1987), social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1986), Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Festinger, 1957) and the model of action phases (Gollwitzer, 1990).

I have researched the above cited topics in relation to driver risk-taking behaviour and a range of other health behaviours including binge-drinking, smoking, heathy eating and self-harm. I have also conducted research into the determinants of inclusive teaching practices in secondary education, the use of mobility aids in disabled populations, the effects of ageing on cognitive decline, the effects of early-stage dementia on driving performance, the influence of the environment and road engineering on driver behaviour, and the use of mobile phone technology to provide real-time warnings of driving hazards.  

My research in road user behaviour has informed government policy and practice in the deliery of road safety since 1998. Most recently, research led by me within my Driving Research Laboratory has informed the development an online toolkit to reduce distracted driving. The toolkit, Drive in the Moment, has been developed by the Australian Automobile Association to educate drivers on the dangers of mobile phone use while driving and help them form bespoke plans to drive more safety. The "Plan Builder" forms a major component of the toolkit and is based on research led by me in my Driving Research Laboratory. This research is currently published or in submission in leading academic journals and supported by recently funded research grants. I have also been acting as an international expert consultant for the Australian Automobile Association in the translation of the research into practice as part of the development of the Plan Builder, which is now a nationwide resource in Australia and New Zealand (click here), Greece (click here), Kosovo (click here), Ecuador (click here), Sri Lanka (click here), the Philippines, Czech Republic, Spain, Macedonia, and France.

Publications 

Click HERE for publications and citation data

Research Grants

2022: IF-THEN behaviour-change app – proof of concept (Principal Investigator). KE Grant funded by the Strathclyde University Stage Gate Process. £2,000.

2020-2022: MVP Lead Implementation Interviews (Co-Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Scottish Police Authority. £5,150.

2019-2020: Improving Parents' Driving Behaviour (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by Road Safety Scotland, the Scottish Government. £46,720.

2017-2018: Development and Evaluation of a Child-Parent Road Safety Educational Intervention to Influence Parental Driving Habits (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by Road Safety Scotland, the Scottish Government. £53,292.

2016-2020: Push and Show: Nudging for mode change in urban areas with road markings, intrinsic motivation and external rewards (Co-Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Norwegian Research Council. £850,000.

2014-2017: Challenging Hidden Barriers in the Workplace (Co-investigator). Research Grant funded by the Big Lottery Fund. £496,947.

2014-2015: Crowdsourcing Driving Sensonomies: Low-Cost Driving Hazard Awareness and Detection (Co-investigator). Research Grant funded by the University of Strathclyde, Bridging the Gap Initiative. £7,000.

2007-2010: Monitoring Speed Awareness Courses: Baseline Data Collection (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Road Safety Strategy Division of the UK Department for Transport. £138,400.

2006-2008: Development of Pass Plus Scheme for Newly Qualified Drivers (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Road Safety Strategy Division of the UK Department for Transport. £220,626.

2005-2006: Changing Drivers' Attitudes and Speeding Behaviour (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Transport Research Foundation. £9,997.

2004-2006: Understanding Why Objects are Thrown at Traffic (Co-Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Highways Agency. £49,971.

2003-2004: How methods and levels of policing affect road casualty rates (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by Transport for London. £12,000.

2002-2005: Psychological Traffic Calming (Co-investigator). Research Grant funded by the Charging and Local Transport Division of the Department for Transport. £399,000.

2002-2007: Elderly and Disabled Motorists Requirements - Part II (Co-Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Mobility and Inclusion Unit of the Department for Transport. £199,692.

2002-2003: Driver Behaviour II (2002) (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Transport Research Foundation. £32,000.

2001-2007: The Cohort II Study of Learner and Novice Drivers (Co-investigator). Research Grant funded by the Road Safety Strategy Division of the Department for Transport. £1,451,000.

2001-2004: Multivariate Analysis of Factors Affecting the Accident Risk of Motorcyclists (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Road Safety Strategy Division of the Department for Transport. £154,000.

2001-2004: Child Development and Road Safety Education Research Programme - Phase III: Road Safety in Early Adolescence (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Road Safety Strategy Division of the Department for Transport. £194,935.

2001-2002: Driver Behaviour I (2001) (Principal Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Transport Research Foundation. £34,000.

1999-2000: Motorcycle Safety: A Scoping Study (Co-Investigator). Research Grant funded by the Road Safety Strategy Division of the Department for Transport. £19,999.