Dr Sue Watt
Senior Lecturer (Convenor, Psychology) , School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences
Qualifications
B.Sc. (Honours) University of Western Australia; B.A. (Honours) University of Western Australia; Ph.D. University of Western Australia
Contact
| Email: | sue.watt@une.edu.au |
| Room: | Psychology (S6) Room 53 |
| Phone: | 02 6773 2153 (or +61 2 6773 2153 overseas) |
| Fax: | 02 6773 3820 |
Areas of Teaching
PSYC 200 Social Psychology
PSYC 4th year Reading course: Topics in Applied Social Psychology
Research interests
I conduct research into several different topics in social psychology. My main interests are in stereotypes and prejudice, and immigrants' adjustment.
In stereotypes and prejudice, I have studied how stereotypes form and how they can be changed, and am particularly interested in the underlying reasons for prejudiced attitudes. A practical application of this research is in interventions to reduce prejudice. I have recently focused on the false consensus effect in prejudice, where we have found that prejudiced people experience an exaggerated sense that others agree with their views. In migrant adjustment I am currently exploring the effects of acceptance or rejection in the host community on immigrants' adjustment. In particular, I am interested in how immigrants establish new social networks in their new community, and effects of this on their adjustment. I have also investigated group dynamics on the Internet, and maintain an interest in this field of research.
Recent Publications
Anderson, D., Watt., S, Noble, W., & Shanley, D. (in press). Knowledge of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and attitudes toward teaching children with ADHD: The role of teaching experience." Psychology in the Schools.
Rubin, M., Watt, S. E., & Ramelli, M. (in press). Immigrants’ social integration as a function of approach-avoidance orientation and problem-solving style. International Journal of Intercultural Relations.
Watt, S. E., Ramelli, M., & Rubin, M. (2010). The interplay of social context and personal attributes in immigrants’ adaptation and satisfaction with the move to Australia. In Hayes, Anna and Mason, Robert, eds. (2010) Migrant security 2010: refereed proceedings of the national symposium titled Migrant Security 2010: Citizenship and Social Inclusion in a Transnational Era. University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Arts, Public Memory Research Centre, Toowoomba, Australia.
Watt, S. E., & Larkin, C. (2010). Prejudiced people perceive more community support for their views: The role of own, media and peer attitudes in perceived consensus. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 40(3), 710–731.
Watt, S. E., & Badger, A. (2009). Effects of social belonging on homesickness: An exploration of the belongingness hypothesis. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35(4), 516-530.
Pedersen, A., Griffiths, B., & Watt, S. E. (2008). Attitudes towards outgroups and the perception of consensus: All feet do not wear one shoe. Journal of Community and Applied Psychology, 18(6), 543-557.
Maio, G. R, Haddock, G., Watt, S. E., & Hewstone, M. (2008). Implicit measures in applied contexts: An illustrative example of antiracism advertising. In R. Petty, R. Fazio & P. Brinol (Eds.) Attitudes: Insights from the Implicit Measures (pp. 327-357). Psychology Press: New York.
Watt, S. E., Maio, G. R., Haddock, G. & Johnson, B. T. (2008). Attitude functions in persuasion: Matching, involvement, self-affirmation, and hierarchy. In Attitudes and attitude change (pp. 189-211). Prislin, R. & W. Crano (Eds.). Frontiers of Social Psychology Series. Psychology Press.
Lea, M., Spears, R., & Watt, S. E. (2007). Visibility and anonymity effects on attraction and group cohesiveness. European Journal of Social Psychology, 37, 761-773.
Watt, S. E., Maio, G. R., Rees, K., & Hewstone, M. (2007). Functions of Attitudes Towards Ethnic Groups: Effects of Level of Abstraction. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43, 441-449.
Pedersen, A., Watt, S., & Griffiths, B. (2007). Prejudice against asylum seekers and the fear of terrorism: The importance of context. In V.Colic-Peisker & F.Tilbury (Eds)., Settling in Australia: The social inclusion of refugees (pp.38-55). Centre for Social and Community Research, Murdoch University, Perth.
Pedersen, A., Dudgeon, P., Watt, S. E., & Griffiths, B. (2006). Attitudes toward indigenous Australians: The issue of "special treatment". Australian Psychologist, 41(2), 85-94.
Pedersen, A., Watt, S., Hansen, S. (2006). The role of false beliefs in the community’s and the federal government’s attitudes toward Australian asylum seekers. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 41(1), 105-124
Watt, S.E., Lea, M., Spears, R., & Rogers, P. (2002). How social is internet communication? Anonymity effects in computer-mediated groups. In S. Woolgar (Ed.) Virtual Society? Technology, cyberbole, reality (pp. 61-77). Oxford University Press: Oxford.
Watt, S.E. & Maio, G. (2001). Why people donate to charity: A social psychological perspective. Report to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations: London.
Spears, R., Postmes, T., Lea, M. & Watt, S.E. (2001). A SIDE view of social influence. In J.P. Forgas & K.D. Williams (Eds.). Social influence: Direct and indirect processes. Philadelphia: Psychology Press.
Lea, M., Spears, R., Watt, S. & Rogers, P. (2000). The inSIDE story: Anonymity effects on social identity processes within on-line groups. In T. Postmes, R. Spears, M. Lea, & S.D. Reicher (eds.) SIDE-issues centre-stage: Recent developments in studies of de-individuation in groups. Amsterdam: North Holland.
Supervision Areas
Stereotype formation and change
Effects of advertisements on attitudes
Measures of implicit attitudes/personality
Migrant adjustment