University of Kent

Visually simulated altered gravity modulates perceived object weight

Gravity is a fundamental force acting on all objects on Earth. It is therefore unsurprising that the brain has internalized regularities associated with terrestrial gravity. An internal model of gravity is thought to arise from the integration of vestibular, visual, proprioceptiv...

Inter-organisational Capabilities and the Transformation of Trust in Blockchain-based Smart Contracts: A Framework for SME Ecosystems

Blockchain-based smart contracts embed agreement enforcement within executable code, constraining the partner discretion that inter-organisational relationships (IORs) have traditionally coordinated through trust, communication, and relational governance. This raises a question t...

Producing a Red List of Ecosystems for the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract Land clearance is a key driver of biodiversity loss. This is a particular challenge in the Brazilian Cerrado, the world's most biodiverse savanna biome and a region experiencing a rapid expansion of agriculture. To inform habitat conservation and restoration actions, we...

Political emotions shape preferences for leaders’ facial traits: anger favours dominance, fear favours trustworthiness

Political emotions may shape not only which issues citizens prioritise, but also which social traits they value in leaders. Here we tested whether anger and fear elicited by real political issues differentially influence preferences for political leaders’ facial traits. A balance...

Co-designing VR chemistry labs: Pre–post learning changes, reshaped classroom dynamics & deployment lessons for real-world rollout in post-primary schools

Experiential learning is central to chemistry education, yet post-primary schools face persistent constraints related to cost, safety, and infrastructure that limit hands-on laboratory access. While immersive VR has demonstrated potential for conceptual and procedural learning, c...

Exploring Blastocystis: hidden complexity in a common intestinal microbe

Graphical Abstract Graphical overview of the present Blastocystis review: historical perspective, clinical presentation, microbial characteristics, putative pathogenic strategies, epidemiology, diagnosis and biosafety, treatment and resistance and key open questions.

Claws, consequences and coexistence: Local community attitudes toward large carnivores in mountain landscapes

Abstract Human attitudes toward large carnivores are shaped by multiple interrelated socio-psychological factors, yet conservation interventions often focus on reducing material impacts while paying less attention to underlying attitude drivers. We investigated attitudes towards...

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the ASCOT-SCT4 in Hong Kong: a validation study using classical test theory and Rasch analysis

Abstract Background Hong Kong’s rapid population ageing increases demand for long-term care (LTC) and places pressure on public expenditure. The Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit Four-level Self-Completion Tool (ASCOT-SCT4) is a preference-based instrument specifically developed...

Development and evaluation of the Animal Welfare Pilot Programme

Purpose This study aims to address the lack of research and intervention development specific to animal neglect offences, which are often conflated with intentional animal abuse in the literature. This study seeks to understand the psychological and behavioural factors underpinni...

Mitigating Climate Change Risks by Adopting Emerging Technologies: A Contextual Comparative Exploration of Fast Fashion Supply Chains

Abstract Empirical research suggests that the fast fashion (FF) industry is a major contributor to global climate change. Fast-fashion supply chains (FFSCs) are inherently complex due to the multiplicity of processes, locations, and stakeholders involved. This research explores t...

Social welfare implications of policy reform for dog shelters in the United Kingdom

Statistics suggest that the policies currently in place to manage free-roaming dog numbers in the United Kingdom have met with limited success, and more innovative alternatives should be considered. This paper explores potential policy reform options that could reduce welfare los...

REDISCOVERING THE DEAD: REANALYSIS OF A LOST IRON AGE CEMETERY AT HIGHSTED, KENT

Summary Highsted, near Sittingbourne in Kent, was the location of a large cemetery, thought to date to the Late Iron Age. The site was excavated under rescue conditions in 1955, but due to the apparent theft of the archive and finds, was never published. As part of a wider projec...

Bridging the gap: Evaluating the divide between legal obligations, policy and practice in adult prison education in England

Abstract With legal rights to prison education for adults well-established under domestic and international standards, this narrative review explores the historical and contemporary policy frameworks and legal obligations guiding provision in public prisons in England. Addressing...

Evaluating the Effects of Skill-Based Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Single-Case Studies

PURPOSE: The skill-based treatment for challenging behaviour (SBT) is an intervention package that combines functional communication training with contingency-based delay and denial tolerance training. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to (a) investigate the applicat...

Business clusters and SMEs' sustainable performance in emerging markets: examining the roles of open innovation and digital capacity

Purpose This study aims to develop a framework for the sustainable performance (SP) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that will benefit emerging markets by emphasizing the roles of open innovation (OI) and digital capacity (DC) within a business cluster. Thus, the research i...

Deleuze and Critical Criminology: Actual Engagements and Virtual Encounters

Abstract Gilles Deleuze is not on (Anglophone) criminologists’ map, if not very peripherally. The challenges posed by Deleuze’s counterintuitive claims, unconventional terminology and transdisciplinarity have arguably contributed to his underutilisation. However, Deleuze’s concep...

The Blastocystis-colorectal cancer hypothesis: correlation is not causation

Introduction Emotional empathy is a key component of medical professionalism, enhancing doctor–patient communication, trust, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes. However, research suggests that emotional empathy tends to decline during medical education, with potential neg...

Social media age-gating: does it reduce harm? UK Online Safety Act, EU Digital Services Act and Australia’s social media ban

This paper evaluates whether social-media age-gating – Australia’s under-16 ban – can reduce harm relative to the UK Online Safety Act and the EU Digital Services Act. Bringing clinical, developmental, and behavioural evidence into a legal analysis, it shows that risk is heavy-ta...

The EU 's Indo‐Pacific Strategy: Perspectives From Australia

ABSTRACT This article examines perceptions in Australia of the European Union's Indo‐Pacific Strategy, drawing on interviews conducted with government officials, experts and civil society actors. The EU is regarded positively as a friend and partner of Australia and equally commi...

Sustained academic effort in short-duration online learning environments

Academic success in Online Learning Environments (OLEs) depends on sustained effort, yet little is known about how initial motivation translates into engagement over time. In this paper we examine motivation, effort, and performance in a five-week online programme, focusing on th...