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Profiles

Dr Kayleigh Wyles

Honorary Fellow

School of Psychology (NC) (Faculty of Health & Human Sciences (NC))

Role

Ph.D. Student
(ESRC/NERC funded interdisciplinary project: Psychology and Marine Biology)

Demonstrator & Marker

Qualifications

2010                    M.Sc. in Research Methods in Psychology, University of Surrey, UK
2009                    B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology, University of Plymouth, UK

Professional membership

IAPS (International Association People Environment Studies)

MCS (Marine Conservation Society)

HEA (Higher Education Academy)

Research interests

My main research interests are in applied social psychology, including: environmental risk perceptions; attitude-behaviour relations; behaviour change theories, including the influence of habit on behaviour; persuasion and consumer choices. My current work, employing both quantitative and qualitative techniques, focuses on the interrelations between humans and the natural environment and environmental issues such as marine litter and overfishing.

PhD Research

My PhD is looking specifically at rocky shores, the intertidal area of seacoasts typically found in Britain where solid rock predominates. For this project, I have been examining the impacts recreational visits to this environment can have on the individuals (according to well-being, marine awareness, and pro-environmental behaviours) as well as on the habitat (e.g. specific habitat threat such as littering). This work has examined people’s perceptions and experiences of visiting this environment in a leisure context as well as part of citizen science projects by using field, laboratory and intervention studies.

Other research

As well as completing my PhD, I am currently working on a number of other projects. Related to my work on people’s uses, experiences and harmful behaviours regarding the marine environment, I have been actively involved in a multinational working group (GESAMP – WG40 ) on microplastics. This work involves examining the public’s understanding and experience of micro (and macro) marine litter. Independent from my environmental research interests, I have also been working on policy papers for the Scottish Government regarding road transport (information and links will be available once published). My previous research projects have looked at organic and sustainable fish consumption. Within these projects, a number of interventions have been explored (centred around the Elaboration Likelihood Model; the influence of habits, and the Theory of Planned Behaviour). 

Research Group

I am the organiser of the Psychology and Sustainability Research Group at Plymouth University. The group has fortnightly meetings where research, theories and ideas are discussed. For more information, visit the Research Group Website.

I am also a convenor for the international IAPS' Restorative Environments Network (REN). For more information, visit the iapsREN website.

Grants & contracts

Attrill, M., Pahl, S., Thompson, R. C. & Wyles, K. (2013). The benefits of engaging with the Marine Centre at Wembury Beach. (University of Plymouth Community Research Award: £9k) 

Articles

Wyles, K. J., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R. C. (2014). Perceived risks and benefits of recreational visits to the marine environment: Integrating impacts on the environment and impacts on the visitor. Ocean and Coastal Management, 88, 53-63

Wyles, K. J., Pahl, S., White, M., Morris, S., Cracknell, D. & Thompson, R. C. (2013). Towards a Marine Mindset: Visiting an aquarium can improve attitudes and intentions regarding marine sustainability. Visitor Studies, 16 (1), 95-110

Zahra, D., Heddge, C., Wyles, K., Bailey, C., & Sanders, B. G. (2013). The Trait Meta-Mood Scale and the Importance of Scale Norms. Social Psychological Review, 15 (1), 14-24

Wyles, K. (2012). “I do like to be beside the seaside” – the psychological benefits of coastal visits. Views (National Trust Magazine), 49, 83-84.

Wyles, K. (2012). Networking: How to get the most out of it and have fun. Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Quarterly, 84, 4-6.

Boomsma, C., Wyles, K., & Pahl, S. (2012). Introducing the Psychology & Sustainability Group at Plymouth University, UK. IAPS Newsletter, Spring

Zahra, D., & Wyles, K. (2012). Statistics: Who needs them? PsyPro: Psychological Procrasination Magazine (Magazine for Students) - http://psychology.plymouth.ac.uk/students/psypro/

Conference Presentations

Oral
Wyles, K., Carroll, L., Pahl, S., Attrill, M., & Thompson, R. C. (November 2013). Psychological research & the Wembury Marine Centre. Wembury Marine Conservation Area Advisory Group AGM, Plymouth, UK

Wyles, K. (Oct 2013). National Speed Limits in Scotland: Considering the Evidence. Road Safety Seminar, Edinburgh, UK

Wyles., K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R. C. (Sept 2013). The Impact of Marine Litter on People’s Wellbeing. Biennial Conference in Environmental Psychology, Magdeburg, Germany

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R. C. (Dec 2012). Exploring the Risks and Benefits of Visits to Rocky Shores. PlyMSEF 'Making Waves' Conference, Plymouth, UK

Pahl, S., Wyles, K., & Thompson, R.C. (July 2012). “The detrimental effects of litter: The impact of coastal litter on well-being. International Conference of Psychology, Cape Town, South Africa.

Pahl, S., Wyles, K., & Thompson, R.C. (July 2012). Exploring the Risks and Benefits of Visits to Marine Environments. World Congress on Risk 2012, Sydney, Australia

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., Thompson, R.C., & K. Schenke (June 2012). "I do like to be beside the seaside": A field study on the psychological benefits of visiting rocky shores. 22nd IAPS Conference, Glasgow, UK.

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R.C. (June 2012). “Beauty dies where litter lies”: the detrimental effects of coastal litter. School Conferece, Plymouth University 2012, Plymouth, UK.

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R.C. (September 2011). Integrating impacts on the environment and visitors: an interdisciplinary analysis of activities on rocky shores. 9th Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R.C. (July 2011). Integrating impacts on the environment and visitors: an interdisciplinary analysis of activities on rocky shores. PsyPAG 2011, Bangor, UK.

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R.C. (June 2011). Integrating impacts on the environment and visitors: an interdisciplinary analysis of activities on rocky shores. School Conference, University of Plymouth 2011, Plymouth, UK.

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R.C. (February 2011). Trade-offs between human and habitat wellbeing. Blue Gym Mini-Conference, Plymouth, UK.

Poster
Wyles., K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R. C. (Sept 2013). Beach Cleans: Good for the Environment, but What About the Volunteers? Biennial Conference in Environmental Psychology, Magdeburg, Germany

Wyles., K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R. C. (Sept 2013). Sustainable Activities for Both the Environment and the Individual: Investigating the Impact of Activities on the Coast. Biennial Conference in Environmental Psychology, Magdeburg, Germany

Wyles., K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R. C. (Sept 2013). Citizen Science Programmes: Comparing the psychological impacts of different coastal activities. European Marine Science Educators Association Conference, Plymouth, UK

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., Thompson, R.C., & Schenke, K. (June  2012). "I do like to be beside the seaside": A field study on the psychological benefits of visiting rocky shores. School Conference, Plymouth University 2012, Plymouth, UK

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., Thompson, R.C., & Schenke, K. (September 2011). "I do like to be beside the seaside": A field study on the psychological benefits of visiting rocky shores. 9th Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Wyles, K., Pahl, S., & Thompson, R.C. (June 2011). Rocky shores: exploring the perceived impacts on the environment and on the visitor. 9th International Temperate Reefs Symposium, Plymouth, UK.

Zahra, D., Bailey, C., Hedge, C., Wyles, K. & Sanders, B.G. (June 2011) Trait Meta-Mood in a Student Population. School Conference, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

Other academic activities

Additional Qualifications and Awards

Jonathan Sime Award - for best UK Undergraduate Dissertation in People/Environment Studies (2009)

Environmental Science Award - from Peter Symonds College (2006)

Attended Conferences & Seminars

2nd Summer School on Theories in Environmental and Economic Psychology (Aarhus - 2012)

22nd IAPS Conference (Glasgow - 2012) - presented an oral presentations

22nd IAPS Young Researchers' Workshop (Glasgow - 2012)

ISSR Event Day (Plymouth - 2012) - helped run an exhibition

ISSR (Institute of Sustainable Solutions Research) launch (Plymouth - 2012) - helped run an exhibition

9th Biennial Conference in Environmental Psychology (Eindhoven - 2011) - presented an oral and poster presentation

9th International Temperate Reefs Symposium (Plymouth - 2011) - presented a poster

PsyPAG Conference (Bangor - 2011) - presented an oral presentation

BPS Seminar - The Psychology of Sustainability: Identity and Communication (Exeter - 2011)

Blue Gym Mini-Conference (Plymouth - 2011) - presented an oral presentation

BPS Seminar - The Psychology of Sustainability: The Attitude-Behaviour Gap or Value-Action Gap. (Guildford - 2011)

Coastal Futures Conference (London - 2011)

Socio-Economics in the Marine Environment (London - 2010)

BPS Seminar - Psychological Distance & Sustainability (Cardiff - 2010)

Human Behaviour & Climate Change Conference (Cardiff - 2010)

BPS South-West Undergraduate Conference (Exeter - 2009)