Newcastle University

Qualifications

2003: D.Phil. in human visual perception: Newcastle University. Supervisor: Dr Julie M Harris.

1999: BA (Honours) Psychology, First Class. Newcastle University.

Memberships

Chartered member of the British Psychological Society

Undergraduate Teaching

PSY1008 Personality and Abnormal Psychology: Stage 1 Introductory Psychology Module, including the popular 'Kevin the Whippet' dog personality observation study

PSY2003 Social Psychology: Stage 2, following on from PSY1008 and exploring the way the social environment influences our identity

PSY3024 Personality Disorders: Stage 3 skills based module particularly intended for students aiming to work in a clinical setting after graduation.

PSY3025 Forensic Psychology: Stage 3 skills based module focussing on material from forensic psychology but helping students to develop skills of literature searching, critical analysis of theoretical arguments and research evidence, and the ability to plan, organise, mange their time and work independently.  

Senior Tutor Workshops: Especially for final year students scoring around the borderlines of 2:1/ first  class and 2:2/2:1 grades. These workshops are designed to help students to improve their performance and bring them up to the next grade. Also concentrates on transferrable skills development and improving their overall confidence in their ability to achieve their aims.

Exam feedback session: for final year students to help them to learn from their experiences in the semester 1 examinations and to improve their revision, study and exam skills before their final examinations in semester 2.  

Research Interests

Human Binocular Vision:

For my PhD thesis I conducted several experiments using real world motion in depth to investigate human depth perception. Comparisons were made between thresholds for real world and computer generated motion in depth. It was found that observers were less sensitive to computer generated motion in depth when it was viewed through stereogoggles than when it was viewed through a mirror stereoscope. Thresholds for the mirror stereoscope were in line with those for real world stimuli.

Current Work

EQUATE project focussing on the evaluation of small group teaching and the use of peer mentoring to improve the transition from school to university and to begin the process of transferrable skills development.

Just one Thing project - gathering and implementing student feedback on student feedback.  

Comparative Studies:

In recent years researchers have begun to investigate animal personality, and personality traits have now been identified in many animal species. We have known for many years that owning a pet can contribute to wellbeing but what happens when the temperament of the pet and the temperament of the owner are in conflict. Is this detrimental to wellbeing? One of my current research projects explores this question in dog owners.

Forensic Psychology:

With a rapidly increasing older prison population, many new problems are arising. Old age presents difficulties for all of us but these difficulties become even more pronounced when in long term imprisonment. In collaboration with Age Concern Uk, we are investigating some of the problems associated with ageing in prison and applying psychological insight into improving conditions for older long term prisoners. Individuals are imprisoned for crimes against humanity but they should not endure extra punishment simply because they are growing older.

• Welchman AE, Tuck VL, Harris JM. Human observers are biased in judging the angular approach of a projectile. Vision Research 2004,44 17 2027-2042.
• Dean PJ, Tuck VL, Harris JM. Perceived direction of binocular 3-D motion when tracking a moving object. Journal of Vision 2003, 3(9), 859.
• Harris JM, Tuck VL. Comparing real world and computer generated motion in depth. Journal of Vision 2002, 2(7), 397.
• Tuck VL, Welchman AE, Harris JM. Detection of motion in depth: poor motion thresholds using LCD stereogoggles. Perception 2002, 31(supplement), 121.
• Tuck VL, Harris JM. Does disparity aid motion in depth judgements in the real world?. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2001, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.