The Department of Psychology is dedicated to supporting cutting-edge research and has a number of purpose-built laboratories, housing many pieces of technical equipment. The Department also provides appropriate training for students to access these advanced research methods.

View a virtual tour of our Department

LABORATORIES

Eye-Tracking Labs

We have three eye-tracking labs each with a EyeLink 1000 desktop eye-tracker. We also have a mobile eye-tracker (Tobii Glasses) to measure eye-gaze behaviour in a range of tasks.

Example projects:

• Looking for cancer
• Gaze direction in online communication using virtual agents

BioPac Lab

Includes our Biopac physiological measurement tools, to measure physiological indicators such as heart rate, sweat responses, and electromyography (EMG).

Example projects:

• Problems of drug misuse.

 

EEG Lab

Our EEG lab housing our state-of-the-art EEG equipment

Example projects:

• Linking change in brain activity to changes in human sensory perception

NIRS Lab

Houses our Near infra-red Spectroscopy (NIRS) equipment that measures blood flow and cerebral activity.

Example projects:

• Functional-neuroimaging of anxiety-related food refusal and avoidant Eating Disorders
• Problems of drug misuse

TMS Lab

Housing our Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) & Transcranial direct electrical current stimulation (tDCS).

Example projects:

• Body and action representation
• The neural basis of action prediction and anticipation

Human Tissue Lab

A purpose-built laboratory that allows researchers to take human tissue samples in a controlled environment that is compliant with the Human Tissue Act (2004). The Department of Psychology undertakes ethically approved research involving human tissue and is coordinated by the Edge Hill University Human Tissue Act Committee.

Example projects:

• Metabolic diseases and how they can be managed through diet

Observation Lab

A custom-built observation lab, complete with observation booth and filming equipment to conduct research designed around human observation and behaviour

Example projects:

• Factors affecting team dynamics, performance and creativity
• The relationship between iconic gesture and speech in human communication.

Simulation Lab

A purpose-built “bar lab”, designed to support our Substance Use and Misuse research work, to explore contextual influences on alcohol cognitions and behaviour

Example projects:

• Social and cultural influences on substance use, health and well-being
• The impact of social influences on substance use and related beliefs

“Pain Lab”

We have recently invested in a DS8R Digitmer Consant Current Stimulator. This is used for nerve and muscle stimulation via electrical pulses, for controlled induction of pain

Example projects:

• Using VR to reduce pain attenuation

Virtual Reality (VR)

VR equipment

Example projects:

• Using VR to manipulating supra-individual factors in visual perspective taking
• Theory of mind using virtual agents

3D Printer

We have recently invested in a 3D printer which supports us to produce artifacts to be used for research and creative learning activities

Example projects

• The Learning Machine Lab‘s knowledge exchange events

Psychology Computer Suites

Dedicated PC suites which have full network access, relevant software and technical facilities available for our students to use

Research Cubicles

Quiet cubicles which are bookable for staff and students to collect research data and conduct psychological tests

Study Rooms

Rooms for staff and students for study meetings or tutorials

 

SPECIALIST SOFTWARE

Experiment Builder v2

Experiment Builder is a graphic programming software which we use to create computerised psychological experiments

Example projects

• How eye movements change as a function of expertise
• Are emoji emotional?

e-Prime

e-Prime is a software which is used to create and run computerised experiments

Example projects

• How are our interactions and perceptions of others shaped by facial social cues?

Qualtics

Qualtrics is a web-based survey tool to design and conduct sophisticated surveys

Example projects

• Personality and offending behaviour

Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC)

LIWC is a text analysis program which counts words in various psychologically-relevant categories

Example projects

• Behavioral and linguistic indicators of personality
• Exploring gamer identity expression in gaming communities