Research

The School of Psychology is a leading centre of research and teaching in theoretical and applied psychology. We are committed to excellence in scientific research with a concern for problems of contemporary relevance.

In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 80% of publications were rated as world leading or internationally excellent, with the proportion of world leading publications increasing from 20% to 42%, placing us 16th in the UK.

All of our students also conduct research. Undergraduates and postgraduates are able to work on staff research via experience schemes, and all carry out their own research. To help develop their research skills, they are also able to attend school-wide and research group seminars to learn about the latest cutting-edge research across all areas of psychology.

Ajdovska deklica - a natural rock formation on Mount Prisojnik in Slovenia that looks like the face of a young woman

Ajdovska deklica - viewed from Erjavčeva koča. Photographer: Dancing Philosopher. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Cropped from original

How do humans detect faces?

Professor Markus Bindemann is investigating a process neglected by psychologists for over 30 years

Research centres

Audience of men and women smiling and clapping

Centre for the Study of Group Processes

Conducts research into the social psychological processes affecting group and intergroup relations.

Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology

Conducts high-impact psychological research to further our understanding of key forensic issues of social significance.

Research groups

Young man with short brown hair and glasses leaning against a window and looking out of it.

Cognition and Neuroscience Group

Conducts research into cognition and cognitive neuroscience in the areas of visual cognition, attention and memory; and language and communication.

Two children playing outside on the grass. Young girl giving young boy a piggyback.

Developmental Psychology

Promotes research and scholarship in key areas of developmental psychology.

Man standing behind a wire fence, clutching the fence with both hands.

Forensic Psychology Group

Conducts research into the effects of psychological processes on crime and law and the psychological effects of criminal justice systems.

Social Psychology Group

Conducts research into all areas of social psychology, with some work overlapping into organisational psychology and cognitive science.

Firefighters tackling a burning building

Investigating the psychology of firesetting

Study finds firesetters have particular psychological characteristics and require unique treatment

Our research: making a difference

The School of Psychology at Kent has a strong international profile for its research. As well as a long-established international reputation in social psychology, we have also established strengths in cognitive, developmental and forensic psychology.

Our academic community consistently attracts substantial research and innovation funding from UK research councils, European research programmes, charities, learned societies and businesses.

As well as generating theoretical innovations, the outcomes of our projects help health professionals, educators, charities, the public sector, government and commercial partners understand how people think, behave and interact to meet a range of personal, social and economic challenges.

Our areas of expertise include:

autism spectrum disorder
child development
cognitive neuroscience in health and disease
culture and emotions
memory, sensation and perception
offending behaviour and rehabilitation
personality and psychometrics
prejudice and prejudice reduction
psychological processes in politics
social and cognitive aspects of ageing
social interaction and group behaviours.

Visit our people page to discover more about our academic staff, their interests and activities, and how to contact them.

In the news

Why we need the social sciences to help us combat COVID-19

Read Professor Dominic Abrams' Guardian article.

Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic

How insights from Kent psychologists can help to shape the public response.

Research collaboration with U3A Canterbury

Results of a citizen science project with the University of the Third age published in the journal 'Memory'.

Elderly couple riding bicycles on brick road

Moderate exercise improves memory

Study shows moderate exercise to be most effective in enhancing memory performance.