Psychology

Sarah Knight

Dr. Sarah Knight

Visiting Research Fellow

Psychology

sarah.knight@port.ac.uk

Profile

Background

I graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 1997 with a first class honours degree in Psychology. I then spent ten years in the Psychology department at Portsmouth University working both as a lecturer in various subjects and as a researcher on a range of projects in developmental, forensic, health, and social psychology. In 2003 I was granted a full-time PhD bursary from the Economic Social Research Council (ESRC), and was awarded my PhD in 2006. Supervised by Professor Aldert Vrij (Director of Studies) my thesis comprises six research studies that examine the inter-relationship between attitudes, beliefs and behaviour, entitled: 'The basis and nature of attitudes toward animal use: A psychological approach'.  From 2007-2008 I was awarded an ESRC postdoctoral Research Fellowship for a project entitled 'Human rights versus animal wrongs? It all depends....: Explaining disparate attitudes toward animals and how they are used'. I am now a Senior Social Psychologist for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory but remain affiliated with the Centre for the Study of Emotion at the University of Portsmouth.

Recent Publications

 

More recent publications

 

Publications: Journal articles

  • Knight, S., & Herzog, H. (2009). All Creatures Great and Small: New Perspectives on Human-Animal Interactions. Journal of Social Issues: New Perspectives on Human-Animal Interactions: Theory, Policy and Research (special issue).
  • Knight, S., Vrij, A., Bard, K. & Brandon, D. (2009). Science versus animal welfare: Understanding attitudes toward animal use. Journal of Social Issues: New Perspectives on Human-Animal Interactions: Theory, Policy and Research (special issue).
  • Knight, S. & Barnett, L.. (2008). Justifying attitudes toward animal use: A qualitative study of people?s views and beliefs. Anthrozoos, 21, 31-42.
  • Knight, S. & Edwards, V. (2008). In the company of wolves: The physical, social and psychological benefits of dog ownership. Journal of Aging and Health, 20, 437-455.
  • Knight, S.E., Vrij, A., Cherryman, J., & Nunkoosing, K. (2004). Attitudes Towards Animal Use and Belief in Animal Mind.  Anthrozoos, 17, 43-62. (pdf)
  • Knight, S., Vrij, A., Cherryman, J., & Nunkoosing, K. (2004). Animal use and belief in animal mind. Proceedings of the UFAW International Symposium 'Science in the Service of Animal Welfare', Edinburgh 2003. Animal Welfare, 13, 245-246.


  • Other publications
  • Knight, S. (2009). A review of Enyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships: A Global Exploration of Our Connections with Animals, by Marc Bekoff (Ed.). Anthrozoos, 22.
  • Knight, S., Vrij, A. Bard, K.A., & Brandon, D. (2008).  Psychological factors that discriminate between laypersons, supporters of medical research and opponents of animal use.  Published abstracts from The International Society for Anthrozoology: Human-Animal Bond: Theory, Research, Practice.  University of Toronto, 13-15 Aug 2008.
  • Knight, S., Vrij, A. Bard, K.A., & Brandon, D. (2008).  Understanding the basis and nature of attitudes toward animal use: A psychological approach.  Published abstracts from The International Society for Anthrozoology: Human-Animal Bond: Theory, Research, Practice.  University of Toronto, 13-15 Aug 2008.
  • Knight, S. (2007). New leash of life. Psychology Research News, University of Portsmouth, Spring, 2.
  • Knight, S. (2007). In the company of wolves: Recommendations for better management of walkers with dogs. Holfordiana. Westonbirt: Forestry Commission England. (pdf)
  • Knight, S., Vrij, A., Bard, K. & Brandon, D. (2007). Attitudes towards animal use and belief in animal mind: a study of scientists and their opponents. Proceedings of the UFAW International Symposium 'Quality of life: The heart of the matter', London 2006.
  • Edwards, V. & Knight, S. (2006). Understanding the psychology of walkers with dogs: New approaches to better management. Hampshire, UK: Hampshire County Council. (pdf)
  • Knight, S., Vrij, A., Bard, K. & Brandon, D. (2005). Factors underlying people's attitudes toward animal use: Beliefs, perceptions and cognitive processing. Proceedings of the ISAZ 14th Annual Conference, Niagara Falls NY, July 11-12th 2005.
  • Knight, S.E., Nunkoosing, K., Vrij, A., & Cherryman, J. (2004). Why do people have different attitudes towards different types of animal use?: A Grounded Theory approach. In People and Animals: A Timeless Relationship. Proceedings of 10th International Association of Human-Animal Interactions conference, Glasgow. October 6-7th 2004.
  • Knight, S., Paterson, B., George, P., & Bull, R. (2001). The effects of race and of age on children's descriptions of faces. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of Psychology and Law, Lisbon 2001.
  • Hunt, A., Irving, A., Read, M. & Knight, S. (1999). Supporting learning with a computer-based 'group decision support system' (GDSS). CTICM Update, June, 10.

Invited talks

  •  2008    'The basis and nature of attitudes toward animal use: A psychological approach'. Wellcome Trust summer school on biomedical ethics, University of Warwick, UK.   
  • 2007     'The basis and nature of attitudes toward animal use: A psychological approach'. Animals and Society Institute Summer Fellowship Program, North Carolina State University, USA.
  • 2005     'Examining attitudes toward how animals are used: A multi-method approach'. Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK.

Invited interviews

            2008    Radio interview for 'Thinking Allowed', BBC Radio 4.
            2008    Television interview for 'Kill it, Cook it, Eat it', BBC3.