Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Outputs (33)

Approaching future rewards or waiting for them to arrive: Spatial representations of time and intertemporal choice (2024)
Journal Article
Fletcher, D., Houghton, R., & Spence, A. (2024). Approaching future rewards or waiting for them to arrive: Spatial representations of time and intertemporal choice. PLoS ONE, 19(4), Article e0301781. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301781

Our mental representation of the passage of time is structured by concepts of spatial motion, including an ego-moving perspective in which the self is perceived as approaching future events and a time-moving perspective in which future events are per... Read More about Approaching future rewards or waiting for them to arrive: Spatial representations of time and intertemporal choice.

Applied Scenarios: Embedding Psychological Literacy in Assessment (2023)
Journal Article
Einav, S., Spence, A., Blackie, L. E., Cassidy, S., & Allen, H. A. (2024). Applied Scenarios: Embedding Psychological Literacy in Assessment. Psychology Learning and Teaching, 23(2), 224 - 234. https://doi.org/10.1177/14757257231209178

Psychological literacy refers to the ability of a psychology student to use psychological knowledge, rather than merely learn it, in the context of personal, social, and organizational issues. Embedding psychological literacy in assessment is a criti... Read More about Applied Scenarios: Embedding Psychological Literacy in Assessment.

The digital workplace and its dark side: An integrative review (2021)
Journal Article
Marsh, E., Vallejos, E. P., & Spence, A. (2022). The digital workplace and its dark side: An integrative review. Computers in Human Behavior, 128, Article 107118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.107118

An intensification of digital working driven by Covid-19 has brought into sharp focus both the beneficial nature of digital workplace technologies and their potential dark side. Research has burgeoned in this area in recent years, but an integrated v... Read More about The digital workplace and its dark side: An integrative review.

Sustainability following adversity: Power outage experiences are related to greater energy saving intentions in the United Kingdom and Mexico (2021)
Journal Article
Spence, A., Leygue, C., & Ortega Andeane, P. (2021). Sustainability following adversity: Power outage experiences are related to greater energy saving intentions in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Energy Research and Social Science, 79, Article 102143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102143

Concerns about climate change and energy security, and related behaviour may be impacted by experiences such as flooding and power outages and we consider that impacts may be different for individual and social actions. Our first study, using online... Read More about Sustainability following adversity: Power outage experiences are related to greater energy saving intentions in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

Big Changes Start With Small Talk: Twitter and Climate Change in Times of Coronavirus Pandemic (2021)
Journal Article
Gaytan Camarillo, M., Ferguson, E., Ljevar, V., & Spence, A. (2021). Big Changes Start With Small Talk: Twitter and Climate Change in Times of Coronavirus Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.661395

Behavioural scientists have been studying public perceptions to understand how and why people behave the way they do towards climate change. In recent times, enormous changes to behaviour and people’s interactions have been brought about by the world... Read More about Big Changes Start With Small Talk: Twitter and Climate Change in Times of Coronavirus Pandemic.

Dumber energy at home please: Perceptions of Smart Energy Technologies are dependent on home, workplace, or policy context in the United Kingdom (2021)
Journal Article
Spence, A., Leygue, C., Wickes, L., Withers, L., Goulden, M., & Wardman, J. K. (2021). Dumber energy at home please: Perceptions of Smart Energy Technologies are dependent on home, workplace, or policy context in the United Kingdom. Energy Research and Social Science, 75, Article 102021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102021

Smart energy technologies (SETs) are being developed around the world to support using energy more efficiently and to smooth our consumption over time, helping us to meet our carbon reduction targets. Notably, SETs will only be effective with support... Read More about Dumber energy at home please: Perceptions of Smart Energy Technologies are dependent on home, workplace, or policy context in the United Kingdom.

The resilience paradox: flooding experience, coping and climate change mitigation intentions (2018)
Journal Article
Ogunbode, C. A., Böhm, G., Capstick, S. B., Demski, C., Spence, A., & Tausch, N. (2018). The resilience paradox: flooding experience, coping and climate change mitigation intentions. Climate Policy, 19(6), 703-715. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2018.1560242

Climate change is projected to increase the frequency, intensity and unpredictability of extreme weather events across the globe and these events are likely to have significant mental health implications. The mental health literature broadly characte... Read More about The resilience paradox: flooding experience, coping and climate change mitigation intentions.

Differentiating ‘the user’ in DSR: developing demand side response in advanced economies (2018)
Journal Article
Goulden, M., Spence, A., Wardman, J., & Leygue, C. (2018). Differentiating ‘the user’ in DSR: developing demand side response in advanced economies. Energy Policy, 122, 176-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.07.013

This paper reports on the current state of Demand Side Response (DSR) in the UK – an early adoptor amongst advanced economies – and the role of the end user in determining its future. Through 21 expert interviews we establish the current state of DSR... Read More about Differentiating ‘the user’ in DSR: developing demand side response in advanced economies.

Digital energy visualisations in the workplace: the e-Genie tool (2017)
Journal Article
Spence, A., Goulden, M., Leygue, C., Banks, N., Bedwell, B. D., Jewell, M., …Ferguson, E. (in press). Digital energy visualisations in the workplace: the e-Genie tool. Building Research and Information, https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2018.1409569

Building management systems are designed for energy managers; there are few energy feedback systems designed to engage staff. A tool, known as e-Genie, was developed to engage workplace occupants with energy data and support them to take action to re... Read More about Digital energy visualisations in the workplace: the e-Genie tool.

Public prioritisation of energy affordability in the UK (2017)
Journal Article
Demski, C., Evensen, D., Pidgeon, N., & Spence, A. (2017). Public prioritisation of energy affordability in the UK. Energy Policy, 110, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2017.08.044

Much research has focused on the so-called ‘energy trilemma’ – i.e., three leading energy policy issues: energy security, affordability, and climate change mitigation. Whilst substantial understanding exists of why people support climate-friendly ene... Read More about Public prioritisation of energy affordability in the UK.

Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool (2017)
Journal Article
Demski, C., Spence, A., & Pidgeon, N. (2017). Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool. Nature Energy, 2, https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.27

Understanding which energy future configurations provide publicly acceptable levels of energy security, affordability, and environmental protection is critical for institutional decision-making. However, little is known about how scenarios influence... Read More about Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool.

Caught in the middle: the role of the facilities manager in organisational energy use (2015)
Journal Article
Goulden, M., & Spence, A. (2015). Caught in the middle: the role of the facilities manager in organisational energy use. Energy Policy, 85, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2015.06.014

This study analyses the role of the Facilities Manager [FM] as a key actor in organisational energy management. This builds on the idea that ‘middle’ agents in networks can be an important lever for socio-technical change. The study demonstrates the... Read More about Caught in the middle: the role of the facilities manager in organisational energy use.

Public perceptions of demand side management and a smarter energy future (2015)
Journal Article
Spence, A., Demski, C., Butler, C., Parkhill, K., & Pidgeon, N. (2015). Public perceptions of demand side management and a smarter energy future. Nature Climate Change, 5, 550–554. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2610

Demand side management (DSM) is a key aspect of many future energy system scenarios1,2. DSM refers to a range of technologies and interventions designed to create greater efficiency and flexibility on the demand side of the energy system3. Examples i... Read More about Public perceptions of demand side management and a smarter energy future.

Creating a national citizen engagement process for energy policy (2014)
Journal Article
Parkhill, K., Butler, C., Demski, C., Pidgeon, N., Pidgeon, N., Demski, C., …Spence, A. (2014). Creating a national citizen engagement process for energy policy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(Supplement_4), 13606-13613. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1317512111

This paper examines some of the science communication challenges involved when designing and conducting public deliberation processes on issues of national importance. We take as our illustrative case study a recent research project investigating pub... Read More about Creating a national citizen engagement process for energy policy.

Smart grids, smart users? The role of the user in demand side management (2014)
Journal Article
Goulden, M., Bedwell, B., RODDEN, T., Rennick-Egglestone, S., & Spence, A. (2014). Smart grids, smart users? The role of the user in demand side management. Energy Research and Social Science, 2, 21-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2014.04.008

Smart grids are a key feature of future energy scenarios, with the overarching goal of better aligning energy generation and demand. The work presented here considers the role of the user in such systems, and the contexts in which such roles might em... Read More about Smart grids, smart users? The role of the user in demand side management.

Engaging with energy reduction: Does a climate change frame have the potential for achieving broader sustainable behaviour? (2013)
Journal Article

Reducing energy use is key in meeting ambitious climate change targets being set around the world. This research considers the psychological impact, and potential for behavioural spillover, resulting from receiving energy information framed in terms... Read More about Engaging with energy reduction: Does a climate change frame have the potential for achieving broader sustainable behaviour?.

The psychological distance of climate change (2012)
Journal Article
Spence, A., Poortinga, W., & Pidgeon, N. (2012). The psychological distance of climate change. Risk Analysis, 32(6), https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-%C2%AD%E2%80%906924.2011.01695.x

Avoiding dangerous climate change is one of the most urgent social risk issues we face today and understanding related public perceptions is critical to engaging the public with the major societal transformations required in order to combat climate c... Read More about The psychological distance of climate change.

Perceptions of climate change and willingness to save energy related to flood experience (2011)
Journal Article
Spence, A., Poortinga, W., Butler, C., & Pidgeon, N. (2011). Perceptions of climate change and willingness to save energy related to flood experience. Nature Climate Change, 1(1),

One of the reasons that people may not take action to mitigate climate change is that they lack first-hand experience of its potential consequences. From this perspective, individuals who have direct experience of phenomena that may be linked to clim... Read More about Perceptions of climate change and willingness to save energy related to flood experience.

Public perceptions of energy choices: the influence of beliefs about climate change and the environment (2010)
Journal Article
Spence, A., Poortinga, W., Pidgeon, N., & Lorenzoni, I. (2010). Public perceptions of energy choices: the influence of beliefs about climate change and the environment. Energy and Environment, 21(5), https://doi.org/10.1260/0958-305X.21.5.385

Past research has documented high levels of public concern for risks relating to nuclear power, with opposition to nuclear energy particularly being linked with general environmental concern. However recent UK energy policy, and other debates worldwi... Read More about Public perceptions of energy choices: the influence of beliefs about climate change and the environment.

Framing and communicating climate change: the effects of distance and outcome frame manipulations (2010)
Journal Article
Spence, A., & Pidgeon, N. (2010). Framing and communicating climate change: the effects of distance and outcome frame manipulations. Global Environmental Change, 20(4), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2010.07.002

Communications regarding climate change are increasingly being utilised in order to encourage sustainable behaviour and the way that these are framed can significantly alter the impact that they have on the recipient. This experimental study seeks t... Read More about Framing and communicating climate change: the effects of distance and outcome frame manipulations.

Climate change – psychology’s contribution (2009)
Journal Article
Spence, A., Pidgeon, N., & Uzzell, D. (2009). Climate change – psychology’s contribution. Psychologist, 21,

Climate change is a word on everybody’s lips at the moment. But, what role can we, as psychologists, both individually and within our sub-disciplinary groups play in reducing and adapting to the impacts of society’s ‘carbon footprint’? This article... Read More about Climate change – psychology’s contribution.

Acceptability of blood and blood substitutes (2008)
Journal Article
Ferguson, E., Prowse, C., Townsend, E., Spence, A., van Hilten, J., & Lowe, K. (2008). Acceptability of blood and blood substitutes. Journal of Internal Medicine, 263(3), 244-255. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2007.01897.x

Alternatives to donor blood have been developed in part to meet increasing demand. However, new biotechnologies are often associated with increased perceptions of risk and low acceptance. This paper reviews developments of alternatives and presents d... Read More about Acceptability of blood and blood substitutes.

Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain (2006)
Journal Article
Spence, A., & Townsend, E. (2006). Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain. Risk Analysis, 26(3), https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00777.x

This study examined behaviour towards genetically modified (GM) food in a British community-based sample. We used an equivalent gain task in which participants actually received the options they chose to encourage truthful responding. In conjunction... Read More about Examining consumer behaviour toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain.

Implicit attitudes towards Genetically Modified (GM) foods: a comparison of context-free and context-dependent evaluations (2006)
Journal Article
Spence, A., & Townsend, E. (2006). Implicit attitudes towards Genetically Modified (GM) foods: a comparison of context-free and context-dependent evaluations. Appetite, 46(2), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2005.09.003

Past research on attitudes towards GM food has focused on measuring explicit attitudes. Here we compared implicit attitudes towards GM foods with explicit attitudes towards GM foods. We used the Go No-Go task to investigate context-free implicit eval... Read More about Implicit attitudes towards Genetically Modified (GM) foods: a comparison of context-free and context-dependent evaluations.

Spontaneous evaluations: similarities and differences between the affect heuristic and implicit attitudes
Journal Article
Spence, A., & Townsend, E. Spontaneous evaluations: similarities and differences between the affect heuristic and implicit attitudes. Cognition and Emotion, 22(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930701298432

The affect heuristic and implicit attitudes are two separate concepts that have arisen within different literatures but that have a number of similarities. This paper compares these two constructs with the aim of clarifying exactly what they are and... Read More about Spontaneous evaluations: similarities and differences between the affect heuristic and implicit attitudes.