What do you work on?

I work in psychopathy, exploring the relationships between psychopathic traits and offending behaviours and developing implicit tools to index a range of personality traits associated with psychopathy.

What did you do using Gorilla and what did you find?

We used Gorilla to collect a community sample (N = 404) of aggression and psychopathy questionnaire responses. We analysed the relationships between different types of aggression and traits in psychopathy for 3‑factor and 7‑factor psychopathy models. Our research found that using the 7‑factor conceptualisation of the disorder gives a more refined view on the relationship between particular psychopathic traits and different forms of aggression than when compared to the 3‑factor model of psychopathy.

Has this study been published?

Yes! You can find it on ScienceDirect.

For you, what is the stand-out feature in Gorilla?

I am not sure where to start! The software makes collaboration so easy to do while allowing control at an individual level. It is an intuitive user interface that enables it to be swiftly mastered for questionnaire studies through to complex experimental designs. Outside of the software itself, Gorilla has one of the most responsive support teams I have ever encountered in both my prior professional career and, more recently, in academia.

How do you think online research is going to change your field?

Online research facilitates a shift away from the student-based samples, common in psychology, to community populations. It makes accessing such samples easier to achieve, and the research findings are more widely applicable.

Did you include any special features in your study to ensure good quality data?

I have included attention checks, captcha and anti-bot tasks in efforts to ensure good quality data.

HOw did Gorilla make your life or research better, easier or faster?

Through 2020, we needed to shift experiments and data collection to online quickly. Gorilla was a perfect choice for us as it was so easy to pick up and use within the same day.

On a personal level, what are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my young son, who brings a smile to my face every day and gives me the motivation to do my best.

Who or what originally inspired you to work in research?

For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in dark personality traits. Reading Robert Hare’s influential work in psychopathy spurred me to study it in more depth and undertake research in this area which may aid recidivism risk assessments with those who have this personality disorder.

What is the buggest advantage of online research methods?

The biggest advantage of online research methods is the ease of quickly collecting large samples of data.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in behavioural science/research?

I would advise anyone starting out in behavioural science/research to choose a research area they are really enthused about. Having a passion for your subject area is central to keeping motivated and doing the best work you can.

When you're not working, what do you enjoy doing?

When I am not working, I love spending time outdoors in the stunning Welsh countryside with my family.