معرفی
Professor John Towse is a distinguished academic in the Department of Psychology at Lancaster University, with expertise spanning cognitive psychology, cybercognition, and metascience. His research investigates the intricate relationships between working memory, executive functions, and real-world cognitive performance, as well as the psychological aspects of cybersecurity and software development.
His research interests include:
- Working memory and executive functions - examining how active maintenance of transient information influences cognitive development and skills
- Cybercognition - studying how cognitive systems interact with online environments and digital interfaces
- Metascience - exploring ways to enhance research credibility and optimize research processes
- Psychology of computer security - investigating human factors in secure software development
Professor Towse's recent publications reveal a strong focus on the intersection of cognitive psychology and cybersecurity, with particular attention to working memory mechanisms, data sharing practices in psychological research, and cognitive factors influencing susceptibility to email fraud. His work bridges theoretical cognitive science with practical applications in digital security and research methodology.
Notable contributions include investigations into theoretical foundations of working memory systems, psychological predictors of vulnerability to cyber fraud, security perceptions among software developers, and ethical frameworks for digital behavioral data research.
Professor Towse actively supervises postgraduate research, currently guiding PhD student Matthew Ivory in research related to protecting ordinary people from deepfakes. He has led significant research projects including 'Why Johnny doesn't write secure software? Secure Software development by the masses' (2017-2021), funded by EPSRC with £518,783.44, where he served as Co-Investigator.
His professional activities include membership in the Experimental Psychology Society, editorial roles for journals including the Journal of Numerical Cognition and Psychologia, and participation in the ESRC Peer College Review. He also serves on the Expert Group on Open Science (EGOS).
