Research summary

My current interest is in spatial skills development amongst  post-compulsory education populations and specifically how best to assess  spatial abilities such as mental rotation. Unlike Maths and English, there are  no formal measures of spatial skill attainment within compulsory education, but  this is a skills-requirement that forms part of the selection (and elimination)  process for highly sought-after careers (such as pilots, air-traffic controllers and astronauts). Many other careers (e.g. therapeutic radiation  treatment, laparoscopic surgery, fashion design) may not employ spatial skills tasks as part of pre-selection, but nevertheless  require strong spatial skills in things like every-day task planning and  implementation.

A key question driving my PhD research relates to the effectiveness of tasks typically used to assess spatial abilities (such as 3D mental rotation). Frequently adopted tasks are often reported as 'challenging’ and 'resource limited’ (e.g. limited access to specialist tools and equipment). Much of my  current research has focussed on potential sources of the wide-ranging individual differences in spatial skill task performance using traditional measures. Primarily, I use behavioural experimental techniques and eye-tracking to study task elements in detail, and to seek evidence for current theoretical models of spatial skills strategy development and application. I also conduct studies to assess possible associations between spatial skills, working memory capacity and, for example, personality traits.

Undergraduate education

1978 – 81:  University  College London. BSc (Hons) Human Sciences

Postgraduate education

2002 – 04 (p/t):  WITS  Business School Johannesburg. MBA (Masters in Business Administration).  Dissertation – Factors affecting the uptake of  voluntary HIV/AIDS Counselling and Testing (VCT) Services in the Workplace.  Supervised by Prof David Dickinson.

2011 – 13 (p/t):  University of South Wales: Masters in Business  Psychology.
Dissertation –  The Impact of Manipulations of the Displayed Order of Events and Interruptions  on Causal Judgement. Supervised by Dr Phillip Morgan.

2013 – current (p/t): PhD research. Transferred from UWE-Bristol  to Cardiff University October 2017 following the transfer of UWE Director of  Studies Dr Phillip Morgan’s move to Cardiff University. Commencing Year 3 within  the School of Psychology at Cardiff University. Director of Postgraduate Research: Prof Tom Freeman; Second Supervisor: Dr Phillip Morgan.

Employment

1981 – 85: STC (AT&T) London. Graduate Trainee then  Operations & Methods/IT Specialist
1985 – 89: Coopers & Lybrand (PWC). Management Consultant
1989 – 97: SSL (Solid State Logic). Operations Director
1997 – 99: SSL (Solid State Logic). Sales Director USA &  Japan
2000 – 01: KEF-Celestion. Management Consultant
2004 – 10: Goldmund Switzerland. Operations & Business  Development Director
2011 – current:  Elstons  Estate Agents. Senior Negotiator (p/t)