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Social Science Research Park (SPARK)

Behavioural Lab

The SPARK Behavioural Lab investigates the complexities of human cognition and behaviour in social and organisational contexts.

Our mission

The SPARK Behavioural Lab aims to:

  • enable world-class behavioural research across the social sciences
  • enhance teaching and learning at undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research levels
  • support data collection for behavioural studies by providing a range of services to Cardiff University academics and external partners
  • foster interdisciplinary collaboration, both within Cardiff University and with national and international research partners

Strategic partnerships

Cardiff University is a funded partner in major behavioural research initiatives, including:

  • Behavioural Research UK (BR-UK), a £17M ESRC-funded leadership hub led by the University of Edinburgh and UCL
  • CENTRE-UB, a Centre for Doctoral Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviours, led by the University of Birmingham

Facilities overview

The SPARK Behavioural Lab includes the following facilities:

  • Workstation Lab with 24-screened cubicles equipped with laptops, ideal for medium- to large-scale behavioural experiments, telephone surveys, and training sessions
  • Focus Group Lab accommodating up to 12 participants, equipped with high-quality audio-visual recording and video conferencing tools. This boardroom-style space is suitable for focus groups, decision-making studies, and other collaborative research formats
  • Eye Tracking Lab featuring two workstations with eye-tracking hardware, this lab is designed to assess individual attentional responses to visual stimuli such as websites, consumer products, and video content
  • Control room for real-time monitoring of activities across all lab spaces
  • Comfortable waiting area for research participants to relax before their sessions

Access and collaboration

The SPARK Behavioural Lab is open to researchers across Cardiff University and welcomes enquiries from external collaborators and prospective partners. The facility is also available for commercial hire.

For more information, please contact SPARK@cardiff.ac.uk.