I am interested in communicative aspects of investigations, and what this can reveal about the psychological mechanisms that underpin the behaviour of investigators, suspects and witnesses. My research covers legal and security contexts broadly, but with a particular interest in cybercrime and intimate partner violence.
I am also interested in research synthesis, meta-analysis and improving scientific practice, and engage in pedogeological research.
Expertise
Psychology
- Deception
- Research
- Interviews
- Behavior
- Empathy
- Meta-Analysis
- Practitioners
- Systematic Literature Review
Organisations
I am interested in a number of different influences on applied decision making, especially within security and legal contexts. I embrace methodological diversity and my research uses quantitative, qualitative and research synthesis methods.
My primary research areas are police-civilian interactions (e.g. investigative interviews, human intelligence gathering and crisis negotiation), cybercrime, and intimate partner violence. I also conduct research into improving psychological research methods (e.g. via open science) and teaching, with a particular focus on promoting inclusivity.
I believe that applied research requires triangulation between the laboratory and field research and I particularly enjoy working with practitioners and the police. I am always welcome to approaches from academic and non-academic partners of diverse backgrounds to discuss whether we can help solve problems together.
Publications
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2025
Gaze behaviour and deception detection: Insights from an eye tracking analysis of interviewers and observers (2025)[Working paper › Preprint]. Slijkhuis, P. J. H., Watson, S. J., Stel, M. & Giebels, E.https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/dt7gh_v1Scoping Review of the Legitimation Strategies Used by Organizations Engaging in Unlawful Activities (2025)[Working paper › Preprint]. Weißmüller, K. S., van den Broek, T., Krawinkel, J. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/pxt5r_v1Ready, set, know: The relationship between actual and perceived knowledge of cybercrime and the intentions to engage in self-protective behaviour (2025)In Proceedings of the International Conferences IADIS Information Systems 2025 and e-Society 2025 (pp. 339-346). IADIS. Bluhm, K., Watson, S., Jansen, J. & van Sintemaartensdijk, I.Response-efficacy messages produce stronger passwords than self-efficacy messages … for now: A longitudinal experimental study of the efficacy of coping message types on password creation behaviour (2025)Computers in human behavior reports, 17. Article 100615. Simon, J., Watson, S. J. & van Sintemaartensdijk, I.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2025.100615Disclosing Evidence in Investigative Interviews: What Can the Research Tell Us and What Does it Mean for Training? (2025)Applied Police Briefings, 1(3), 41-43. Oleszkiewicz, S. & Watson, S. J.https://appliedpolicebriefings.com/index.php/APB/article/view/5147
2024
Questionnaires for Evaluating Virtual Reality: a Systematic Scoping Review (2024)Computers in human behavior reports, 16. Article 100505. Bareišytė, L., Slatman, S., Austin, J., Rosema, M., van Sintemaartensdijk, I., Watson, S. & Bode, C.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2024.100505Perceptions of the freezing response of male and female rape victims, and the moderating role of rape myth beliefs (2024)Journal of Criminal Psychology, 14(4), 374-390. Ostermann, J. C. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-01-2024-0002The influence strategies of interviewees suspected of controlling or coercive behavior (2024)Psychology, crime & law, 30(9), 1060-1086. Watson, S. J., Luther, K., Taylor, P. J., Bracksieker, A.-L. & Jackson, J.https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2022.2144853Evaluatie van de training Verhoren van Kwetsbare Verdachten (2024)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Wetenschapscongres 2024. Dekker, L., Wessels, H., Watson, S. J., Weiher, L., van Beek, M. & Rispens, I.https://evenementen.politie.nl/wetenschapscongres2024/program/Evaluating VIK: Detecting Vulnerabilities in Investigative Interview (2024)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Wetenschapscongres 2024. Bouma, D., Watson, S. J., Weiher, L., van Beek, M. & Rispens, I.https://evenementen.politie.nl/wetenschapscongres2024/program/A Grounded Theory of how Consumers Determine the Veracity of Online User Reviews (2024)[Working paper › Preprint]. PsyArXiv. Walther, M., Watson, S. J., Boden, A. & Stel, M.https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/j64yeThe power of words: The impact of police interviewer’s judgment error and apology on sexual violence victims in simulated interviews (2024)Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 1-19 (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Oostinga, M. S. D., Rispa Hoyos, M. L. F. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2024.2377587The effect of tailored reciprocity on information provision in an investigative interview (2024)Journal of Criminal Psychology (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Weiher, L., Winters, C., Taylor, P. J., Luther, K. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-01-2024-0004Examining the effects of evidence disclosure timing and strength on information inconsistencies and provision within investigative interviews (2024)Psychology, crime & law (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Polman, S., Luther, K., de Almeida, H. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2024.2378061The Face of Deception: How Your Mimicry Tells the True Story (2024)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, EAPL 2024. Slijkhuis, P. J. H., Watson, S. J., Stel, M. & Giebels, E.https://zenodo.org/records/12749976Unmasking Deception: How do Consumers Determine the Veracity of Online User Reviews? (2024)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, EAPL 2024. Walther, M., Watson, S. J., Boden, A. & Stel, M.https://zenodo.org/records/12749976The efficacy of Denial of the Victim arguments within simulated coercive control suspect interviews on attributions of victim and suspect blame (2024)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, EAPL 2024. Watson, S. J., Gallmeister, D., Mitic, N., Schmuck, A., Weiher, L. & Wüller, C. A. E.https://zenodo.org/records/12749976An exploration of the utility of virtual reality as a method of suicide negotiation training (2024)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, EAPL 2024. Watson, S. J., Sauer, J., Diken, S., Bünnemann, L., Tomlin, S. & Oostinga, M. S. D.https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12702482The Impact of Physical Attractiveness, Gender of Defendants and Type of Crime on Sentencing Decisions (2024)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, EAPL 2024. Weiher, L. & Watson, S. J.https://zenodo.org/records/12749976The Effect of Crime Type and Knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on the Judgement of Defendants with ASD (2024)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, EAPL 2024. Vermeulen, R., Weiher, L. & Watson, S. J.https://zenodo.org/records/12749976Perceptions of the Freezing Response of Male and Female Rape Victims, and an examination of the Moderating Role of Rape Myth Beliefs (2024)[Working paper › Preprint]. PsyArXiv. Ostermann, J. C. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/65jfcTheory in practice: A temporal assessment of the revised behavioral influence stairway model via simulated suicide negotiation (2024)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] International Conference on Behavioral and Social Sciences in Security, BASS 2024. Oostinga, M. S. D., Russell, L., van der Klok, N., Yansick, M. & Watson, S. J.
2023
Eye spy a lie: An eye-tracking study into gaze behaviour and receiving lies (2023)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Decepticon 2023. Slijkhuis, P. J. H., Watson, S. J., Stel, M. & Giebels, E.How do consumers determine the veracity of online consumer reviews (2023)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Decepticon 2023. Walther, M., Watson, S. J., Boden, A. & Stel, M.How multiple interviews and interview framing influence the development and maintenance of rapport (2023)Psychology, crime & law (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Weiher, L., Watson, S. J., Taylor, P. J. & Luther, K.https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2023.2265527Experts but not lay people adjust guilt beliefs after mock interviews with innocent suspects (2023)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Annual Conference of the International Intelligence Interviewing Research Group, iIIRG 2023. Hudepohl, B. & Watson, S. J.A systematic literature review about the consumers’ side of fake review detection – Which cues do consumers use to determine the veracity of online user reviews? (2023)Computers in human behavior reports, 10. Article 100278. Walther, M., Jakobi, T., Watson, S. J. & Stevens, G.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2023.100278Keeping our wits about us: introducing a bespoke informant interview model for covert human intelligence source (CHIS) interactions (2023)Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, 18(3), 333-352. Moffett, L., Oxburgh, G., Dresser, P., Gabbert, F. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1080/18335330.2022.2153614
2022
Examining the Effects of Evidence Disclosure Timing and Strength on Information Inconsistencies and Provision within Investigative Interviews (2022)[Working paper › Preprint]. PsyArXiv. Polman, S., Luther, K., de Almeida, H., Eggers, J. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/nmbr9Attention Is Not the Solution: Experiences of University Students With ADHD With Remote Learning (2022)[Working paper › Preprint]. PsyArXiv. Dobrowolski, S. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/5ecmaInside the shadows: a survey of UK human source intelligence (HUMINT) practitioners, examining their considerations when handling a covert human intelligence source (CHIS) (2022)Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 29(4), 487-505. Moffett, L., Oxburgh, G., Dresser, P., Watson, S. J. & Gabbert, F.https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2021.1926367
2021
The Influence Strategies of Interviewees Suspected of Controlling or Coercive Behavior (2021)[Working paper › Working paper]. PsyArXiv. Watson, S. J., Luther, K., Taylor, P. J., Bracksieker, A.-L. & Jackson, J.https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/936taThe influencing behaviours of suspects during investigative interviews (2021)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Onderzoek bij, voor en door de Politie 2021. Watson, S. J.The Effect of Denial of the Victim Arguments Within Simulated Suspect Interviews (2021)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] European Association of Psychology and Law Conference. Schmuck, A., Wüller, C. A. E. & Watson, S. J.The Impact of Interview Style on the Development and Maintenance of Rapport While Testing a Novel Measure for Rapport (2021)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] European Association of Psychology and Law Conference. Weiher, L., Watson, S. J. & Luther, K.Towards a desistance-focused approach to probation supervision for people who have committed Intimate Partner Violence: A digital toolkit pilot study (2021)Probation Journal, 68(2), 261-281. Morris, J., Raducu, A. A., Fuller, M., Wylie, S. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1177/02645505211002257Risk, Benefits, And The Affect Heuristic In Security Behaviours (2021)CREST Security Review. Watson, S. J.https://crestresearch.ac.uk/resources/risk-benefits-and-the-affect-heuristic-in-security-behaviours/A meta-analytic review of the timing for disclosing evidence when interviewing suspects (2021)Applied cognitive psychology, 35(2), 342-359. Oleszkiewicz, S. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3767Oral hygiene effects verbal and nonverbal displays of confidence (2021)The Journal of social psychology, 161(2), 182-196. Taylor, P., Banks, F., Jolley, D., Ellis, D., Watson, S., Weiher, L., Davidson, B. & Julku, J.https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2020.1784825No evidence for a difference in 2D:4D ratio between youth with elevated prenatal androgen exposure due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia and controls (2021)Hormones and Behavior, 128. Article 104908. Nave, G., Koppin, C., Manfredi, D., Richards, G., Watson, S. J., Geffner, M., Yong, J., Kim, R., Ross, H., Serrano-Gonzalez, M. & Kim, M.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104908
2020
Digit ratio (2D:4D) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH): Systematic literature review and meta-analysis (2020)Hormones and Behavior, 126. Article 104867. Richards, G., Browne, W., Aydin, E., Constantinescu, M., Nave, G., Kim, M. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104867Digit ratio (2D:4D) and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH): Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis (2020)[Working paper › Working paper]. bioRxiv. Richards, G., Brown, W., Aydin, E., Constantinescu, M., Nave, G., Kim, M. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.27.119115No Difference in 2D:4D Ratio between Youth with Elevated Prenatal Androgen Exposure due to Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Controls (2020)[Working paper › Working paper]. bioRxiv. Nave, G., Koppin, C., Manfredi, D., Richards, G., Watson, S. J., Geffner, M., Yong, J., Kim, R., Ross, H., Serrano-Gonzalez, M. & Kim, M.https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.07.082529
2017
Optimising medication administration to children in hospital (2017)[Contribution to conference › Poster] APSA-ASCEPT Joint Scientific Meeting. Santos, J. M. S., Williams, S., Kavanagh, D., Watson, S. J. & Hudson, A.Why do people file share unlawfully? A systematic review, meta-analysis and panel study (2017)Computers in human behavior, 72, 535-548. Fleming, P., Watson, S. J., Patouris, E., Bartholomew, K. J. & Zizzo, D. J.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.02.014Risk, Benefit, and Moderators of the Affect Heuristic in a Widespread Unlawful Activity: Evidence from a Survey of Unlawful File-Sharing Behavior (2017)Risk analysis, 37(6), 1146-1156. Watson, S. J., Zizzo, D. J. & Fleming, P.https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.12689Identifying insider attacks through language change in an immersive police operations simulation (2017)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] 27th Annual Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, EAPL 2017. Watson, S. J., Taylor, P. J., Conchie, S., Memole-Doodson, J. & Jolley, D.https://eprints.ncl.ac.uk/246000
2016
Utilising motion capture technology to identify trusted testimony in military encounters (2016)[Contribution to conference › Poster] 5th Military Psychology Conference; Defence & Security 2016. Watson, S. J., Conchie, S., Taylor, P. J. & Poppe, R. W.Systematic review of the health and societal effects of medication organisation devices (2016)BMC health services research, 16(1). Article 202. Watson, S. J., Aldus, C. F., Bond, C. & Bhattacharya, D.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1446-y
2015
Perceptions of legal risk do not predict behaviour in unlawful file sharing: an empirical analysis (2015)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] 10th Annual Conference of the European Policy for Intellectual Property Association, EPIP 2015. Watson, S. J., Fleming, P. & Zizzo, D. J.Utilising motion capture technology to identify nonverbal indicators of trust judgements (2015)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] Decepticon: International Conference on Deceptive Behavior 2015. Watson, S. J., Conchie, S., Taylor, P. J. & Poppe, R. W.Determinants of Unlawful File Sharing: A Scoping Review (2015)PLoS ONE, 10(6), e0127921. Watson, S. J., Zizzo, D. J. & Fleming, P.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127921
2014
Determinants and welfare implications of unlawful file sharing:a scoping review (2014)[Book/Report › Report]. University of East Anglia. Watson, S. J., Zizzo, D. J. & Fleming, P.Launching a report on unlawful file sharing (2014)Script-ed, 11(1), 128-131. Fleming, P., Zizzo, D. J. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.2966/scrip.110114.128Survey of potential determinants of unlawful file sharing (2014)[Contribution to conference › Abstract] 23rd Society for Risk Analysis-Europe Annual Conference, SRA-E 2014. Fleming, P., Watson, S. J. & Zizzo, D. J.
2013
Development of a novel validated tool for predicting patient adherence to prescribed medication (2013)[Thesis › PhD Thesis - Research external, graduation external]. University of East Anglia. Watson, S. J.https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/48049
2012
Capecitabine non-adherence: Exploration of magnitude, nature and contributing factors (2012)Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice, 18(3), 333-342. Bhattacharya, D., Easthall, C., Willoughby, K. A., Small, M. & Watson, S.https://doi.org/10.1177/1078155211436022The impact of motivational interviewing (MI) as an intervention to improve medication adherence: a meta-analysis (2012)[Contribution to conference › Poster] Health Services Research & Pharmacy Practice Conference 2012. Easthall, C., Watson, S. J., Wright, D. J., Wood, J. & Bhattacharya, D.The impact of treatment side-effects upon medication adherence (2012)[Contribution to conference › Poster] Health Services Research & Pharmacy Practice Conference 2012. Watson, S. J., Bhattacharya, D., Wood, J., Smith, J., Adams, M. & Song, F.
2011
Meta-analysis of the relationship between digit-ratio 2D:4D and aggression (2011)Personality and individual differences, 51(4), 381-386. Hoenekopp, J. & Watson, S.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.05.003Systematic review and meta-analysis shows stress is negatively associated with adherence to medication (2011)[Contribution to conference › Poster] Health Services Research and Pharmacy Practice Conference. Watson, S. J., Bhattacharya, D., Wood, J., Smith, J., Adams, M. & Song, F.
2010
Meta-Analysis of Digit Ratio 2D:4D Shows Greater Sex Difference in the Right Hand (2010)American Journal of Human Biology, 22(5), 619-630. Honekopp, J. & Watson, S. J.https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.21054
Research profiles
I am coordinator for the PCRS Master track.
I also coordinate the MSc course Psychology and Crime, and teach an introduction to R within the Advanced Research Methods course. The materials for this R course are available to everyone via the Open Science Framework here: https://osf.io/3bmgz/
I also use DataCamp to help teach part of this R course: https://www.datacamp.com/.
I jointly coordinate the Pre-Master Research Practical course and give lectures in the Psychology of Safety module at BSc level.
I also supervise project students during Module 7 (Research Methods), and supervise a number of BSc and MSc students each year.
I have also delivered teaching at the Dutch Police Academy on the Investigations course, and give occasional guest lectures to HBOs.
I am a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.
Affiliated study programs
Courses academic year 2025/2026
Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.
Courses academic year 2024/2025
Courses academic year 2023/2024
Address
University of Twente
Capitool 15 (building no. 78), room 119
Capitool 15
7521 PL Enschede
Netherlands
University of Twente
Capitool 15 119
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
Netherlands
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