Personal profile
Research interests
My research is primarily based within cognitive psychology and parapsychology, with an interest in belief-cognition interaction.
Overview
My research centres primarily on paranormal beliefs and experiences, investigating their relationship with aspects of cognition and wellbeing. This has been the focus of much of my research to date, with my doctoral thesis investigating the relationship between paranormal beliefs and executive functions. This resulted in a publication on the measurement of paranormal beliefs (scale development and validation), as well as a large-scale systematic review of over 30 years of research into paranormal beliefs and cognitive function. Alongside this, I supervise student projects at both undegraduate and masters level in similar areas of paranormal beliefs and experiences. Much of the statistical analyses I conduct as part of my research are run using R.
I also have recent interests in other aspects of cognition and neuropsychology, relating to interoception and the Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI).
Teaching specialisms
Since 2022, I have been engaged with lecturing at the University of Hertfordshire. My teaching currently focuses on quantitative and qualitative research methods, psychological testing, statistics, and social psychology. I have also previously taught in other areas, including developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, and cognitive neuropsychology. I have been Module Lead for 10 modules across 4 of our psychology degree programmes (both BSc and MSc) since joining the faculty.
Education/Academic qualification
Psychology, PhD, Exploring the Association between Paranormal Beliefs and Cognitive Deficits, University of Hertfordshire
2019 → 2023
Award Date: 17 May 2023
Psychology, BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Roehampton, London
2015 → 2018
Award Date: 22 Jun 2018
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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The relationship between self-reported interoception and depression: A systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis
Jenkinson, P., Leuzzi, R., Dean, C. E., Clarke, A., Mash, J. & Laws, K., 30 Jun 2026, In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 205, 19 p., 112632.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Strange face illusions: A systematic review and quality analysis
Mash, J., Jenkinson, P., Dean, C. & Laws, K., 8 Feb 2023, In: Consciousness and cognition. 109, p. 1-21 21 p., 103480.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)42 Downloads (Pure) -
Paranormal beliefs and cognitive function: A systematic review and assessment of study quality across four decades of research
Dean, C. E., Akhtar, S., Gale, T. M., Irvine, K., Grohmann, D. & Laws, K. R., 4 May 2022, In: PLoS ONE. 17, 5, 31 p., e0267360.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile30 Citations (Scopus)84 Downloads (Pure) -
Development of the Paranormal and Supernatural Beliefs Scale using classical and modern test theory
Dean, C. E., Akhtar, S., Gale, T. M., Irvine, K., Wiseman, R. & Laws, K. R., 23 Jun 2021, In: BMC Psychology. 9, 1, 98.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile19 Citations (Scopus)85 Downloads (Pure)