Claire Jones

Claire Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton within the Faculty of Education, Health, and Wellbeing. She specializes in Educational and Developmental Psychology with a focus on cognitive processes involved in belief formation and maintenance. Jones began her career at Wolverhampton as a Demonstrator in Psychology in 2010, progressed to Lecturer in 2016, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2019 where she currently serves as module leader for Advanced Research Methods in Psychology and Core Debates in Psychology.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Wolverhampton
• BSc (Hons) Psychology from the University of Wolverhampton
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (2013)

Dr. Jones's research primarily focuses on cognitive mechanisms underlying belief formation, with particular emphasis on conspiracy theories and misinformation. She co-leads the 'Applied Cognition and Individual Differences' research cluster and leads the 'Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation' special interest group. Her work examines how thinking styles, reasoning abilities, and cognitive processes influence susceptibility to misinformation and conspiracy theories, particularly among adolescents and young adults. She has also conducted significant research on bereavement processes and cognitive aspects of video gaming.

Her publication record demonstrates a strong trajectory in understanding belief systems, with recent systematic reviews on conspiracy theories in adolescent populations and continuing bonds following bereavement showing methodological rigor and comprehensive evidence synthesis. Her work spans cognitive, social, and clinical psychology domains with practical applications for addressing misinformation in educational settings.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2013)

Dr. Jones actively supervises multiple PhD and Professional Doctorate students across diverse topics including magical ideation, reconciliation in polarized environments, prebunking strategies against misinformation, and bereavement processes. She has secured research funding including a Lord Paul Fellowship for studying conspiracy theory beliefs and a University of Wolverhampton Doctoral College grant for research on terrorism perceptions. Her professional activities include serving on the Psychology Ethics Committee and presenting research at numerous national and international conferences.

She co-leads the 'Applied Cognition and Individual Differences' research cluster and heads the 'Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation' special interest group, fostering collaborative research on cognitive processes related to belief formation and maintenance.