Current studies

New Projects 2023-2024

Please find below some of our research projects for our Psychology students at universities across Scotland (and sometimes further afield). Over the summer period they are mainly Master’s and PhD students and because undergraduates are away we really struggle to get participants. We rely on participation from all walks of life and hope very much that you will take part in our research. This site is updated every few days and your participation is a really valuable part of the training for our students and will help them to be more skilled researchers in the future. Thanks!

27/08/24

The research seeks to investigate how teachers’ attitudes toward gifted and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) students are affected by their previous experience with these groups and their overall teaching experience. It will specifically examine how these attitudes vary depending on whether teachers have worked with gifted or ASD students before, the length of their teaching career, and their location within the UK. The objective is to identify key factors that influence these attitudes, offer valuable insights for teacher training and policy reforms, and ultimately enhance educational practices and support for gifted and ASD students.
 
26/08/24
 
Digital detoxification study: Fancy reducing your online time with social media? Please take part in our over-18s only study that is investigating the effects of reduced screentime over a two-week period on well-being
 

 

06/08/24

We’re looking for volunteers for a quick 5-minute survey followed by a 20-minute online experiment.

A Short Introduction: Do you find that when you continuously recall a sad event, such as a breakup, disappointing grades, or social setbacks, you feel increasingly sad and self-doubting?

Studies suggest that attention to negativity can be connected to how much individuals engage in brooding rumination (Holas et al., 2019)—that is, the tendency to persistently think about one’s negative emotions. We hope to explore whether you are experiencing brooding rumination and if it is contributing to your sadness or depressive feelings.
This fascinating new study aims to better understand the depressed population. If you’re interested in the final results, we’ll gladly share a summary once the data analysis is complete!
 
Participant Requirements:
  • Recently experienced depressive moods or currently feeling depressed.
  • Participants need to use a laptop with a camera for eye-tracking.
How to participate? The timing is super flexible. We’ll send you the questionnaire and the experiment link through email, and you can complete them at your convenience within the given timeframe.
Interested? Please email me at [email protected]. Please write ‘Volunteer’ as the subject of your email when you contact us. We will contact you in three working days. Please check your email promptly!”

We are asking participants to contact us via email because we need to issue unique experiment codes to each participant. This ensures that each participant can be accurately tracked, and their data properly recorded. Additionally, using email allows us to communicate directly with participants to provide detailed instructions and support if needed.

 

18/07/24

The Effects of Songs in a Foreign Language on Cognition

This project aims to find out the effects of songs in a foreign language on cognition, specifically exploring how Japanese Vocaloid songs influence the emotional state of depressed individuals. The goal is to identify if Vocaloid songs could be included in the repertoire of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based music (CBT-Music) and as a result become a more accessible way for people to deal with mental illnesses.
 
We are looking for individuals who meet the following criteria:
  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Has an interest in exploring new music
  • Proficient in the English language, but not Japanese
Participants will be asked to complete a survey where they would listen to nine 30-40 second songs, twice. Once with just the audio of the song, and another with the English lyrics shown. Each time a song is heard, participants are required to fill in a Geneva Emotional Music Scale (GEMS) to register their emotions. The entire process would take about 10-15 minutes.
 
The survey can be accessed via the following link:

10/07/24

The Effect of Background Music on Reading Behavior in Individuals with ADHD

This study aims to explore how different types of background music influence reading behavior and attention levels in individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The goal is to identify potential strategies that could help improve academic performance and task engagement in this population, with a particular focus on reading tasks.

We are looking for individuals who meet the following criteria:

  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Have a formal diagnosis of ADHD

Participants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire that evaluates the effects of two types of background music (soothing music with a slow tempo and soft melody, and rhythm music with a fast tempo and distinct beat) on their reading task performance and attention levels.

The questionnaire can be accessed via the following link: https://uofg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_em2sOlqXDFS7QX4

09/07/24

The aim of my study is to identify and analyze the different attachment styles prevalent among adults diagnosed with ADHD and to understand how these styles influence their emotional reactions within interpersonal relationships, especially with neurotypical others. Participants do not need to have an ADHD diagnosis to take part in this study; their responses are still valuable to our research. 
 
 This research is part of a broader effort to enhance psychological understanding and support mechanisms tailored for adults with ADHD, helping improve their relational dynamics and emotional well-being. 
 
The survey can be accessed through the following link:https://uofg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d5wP4RsvdctoLum
 
 

24/06/24

Investigating How Personal Characteristics and Experiences with Pets Influence University Students’ Perspectives on Animal-Assisted Interventions
 
The purpose of this study is to investigate if personal characteristics and experiences with pets have an effect on the attitudes towards animal-assisted interventions (AAI) in universities. By understanding these perspectives, the study aims to provide insights into the factors that shape attitudes towards AAI. These insights can aid the development and implementation of AAIs and mental health support services in university campuses.
 
Participants are asked to complete an online survey which will take around 10 minutes.

24/06/24

My project aims to determine whether perceived social status moderates the association between negative behaviour in relationships (IPV) and mental health in Adults (over-18 only).
 
The main objectives of this research are as follows:
  • To gain a deeper understanding of the association between negative behaviours in relationships (specifically, victimisation) and their impact on depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Explore how socioeconomic status and negative relationship behaviours interact to affect mental health. 

24/06/24

The association between people’s nature connectedness, eco-emotions, collective and individual pro-environmental actions, and mental health in the context of climate change.
 
Eligibility: 
        1. 18+ years old. 
        2. Intermediate/good level of English.
        3. Have 15 minutes available for filling out a questionnaire. 
              
      
 
More Information:
         Researcher (Muqing)- [email protected]
         Supervisor (Leyla)- [email protected]
 

06/06/24

Trust and Cooperation: Cognitive Appraisal and Self-efficacy with Personalised Artificial Intelligence

Brief Description: This study aims to explore how the process of building and interacting with personalised artificial intelligence (AI) systems, such as ChatGPT and other generative AI models, influences individuals’ trust in these technologies. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, understanding public trust is crucial. This research seeks to identify the factors that enhance or diminish trust when individuals personalise AI to suit their specific needs and preferences.

Participants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire, which will take approximately 5-10 minutes. The questionnaire will cover topics related to their experiences and perceptions of personalised AI. All responses will be kept strictly confidential and will be used solely for academic research. 

Survey Linkhttps://uofg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4YDudHj5ei33n94

Contact Information: Researcher: Gebing Wang Email: [email protected] Supervisor: Mr Samuel Bennett Email: [email protected]

21/05/24

Avatar counselling in university students: a randomised controlled feasibility trial

Hi! I am Solomon Cheung, a Trainee Counselling Psychologist at Glasgow Caledonian University. I am conducting research on avatar counselling for my doctoral dissertation.

I am looking for English-speaking university students aged 18 and above to take part in a 45-minute 1-to-1 online intervention session. By completing a session, you’ll have a chance to win a £100 Amazon gift card or have a charity donation made on your behalf. Exclusion criteria apply to individuals who may be vulnerable.

For more information, please refer to the poster or visit the booking page: https://solomonarap3.simplybook.it/

Thank you for your interest! I’d be happy to reciprocate by participating in your research. Feel free to re-post and share.

13/05/24

Participants aged 18-35 wanted for 15-minute online survey looking at the relationship between openness and depression symptoms.

Openness is a broad trait encompassing a wide range of sub-factors, which include curiosity, imagination, and novelty seeking. Some research suggests that the tendency to consider openness as a singular trait has meant that more significant relationships between narrower components of openness and depression may have been overlooked. The study aims to contribute to more nuanced understandings of the associations between openness and depression. This is important for identifying risk factors associated with depressive symptoms, and to better understand the mechanisms underlying modern therapy treatments, which recent research suggests are closely related to aspects of openness.

Participants are required to complete a consent form and answer some demographic questions. They will then be asked to complete two questionnaires on openness and depression symptoms.

Data collection completed. Thanks everyone!

10/04/24

Investigating metacognition and information-seeking in subclinical obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). 

We invite you to participate in a research project about metacognition and information seeking behaviour in subclinical OCD and BDD. Recent research has linked dysfunctional metacognition to the development of psychiatric disorders such as OCD and BDD and may explain the maladaptive decision-making and self-sabotaging behaviour associated with these disorders. This study aims to gain insight on this relationship by investigating whether degree of symptoms of these disorders are predictive of metacognitive dysfunction, and if this has a knock-on-effect on information-seeking behaviour.

Participants must be at least 18 years of age and will be required to complete a perceptual decision-making task and questionnaires relating to their mental health. All participants will be eligible to enter a prize draw to win a £20 Amazon voucher. The study will take approximately 40 minutes to complete and must be completed on a laptop or tablet. 

Please follow the link:

https://research.sc/participant/login/dynamic/E7DB21D1-4405-43C2-9083-C53E8A3D27F4