Summary

I am a Research Fellow for the Revolution Plastics Institute and the Psychology department at the 黑料正能量.

 

As a behavioural economist with a background in the creative industries, I study the psychological mechanisms and cultural drivers behind decision-making and how to influence them to achieve positive societal outcomes.

 

Through experimental research, I aim to gain an understanding of human behaviour to improve business practices and inform government policies. My research spans behavioural and experimental economics, behavioural interventions, creative and sports industries research, deviant behaviour, corporate social responsibility, environmental psychology, gender biases, moral reasoning, and social decision-making. I am currently applying these skills to design interventions aimed at influencing more sustainable behaviours.

 

My passion lies in designing experiments with real-world applications and fostering collaborations with policymakers and industry stakeholders. My research is driven by a commitment to achieving real-world impact, such as policy changes for a fairer and more sustainable society.

Biography

Before academia, I spent over a decade in the music industry, directing a marketing consultancy and later working at a trade body. As a company director, I developed skills in management, securing funding, event management, charity collaboration, project coordination, and financial administration. This experience has been invaluable in my academic career, enhancing my ability to bid for research projects, collaborate with peers, present at conferences and work with journalists. Notably, my associations with the Intellectual Property Office and various creative industry trade bodies have led to support for two successful Government funding bids. 


I hold a PhD in , where I discovered that men and women respond differently to behavioural interventions designed to reduce intellectual property crime. I also earned a MSc degree in Behavioural Decision Making Science from Kingston University and an MA in audio technology at London College of Music and Media

Research interests

  • Behavioural change
  • Decision making
  • Moral reasoning
  • Gender equality
  • Individual differences
  • Sustainable consumer behaviour
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and brand influence
  • Persuasive and dissuasive messages
  • Attitudes and behaviours towards plastics such as reuse, recycling and messaging
  • Deviant behaviour
  • Business ethics
  • Consumer ethics

Teaching responsibilities

I teach on the following undergraduate modules in Economics at the 黑料正能量:

  • Issues in Economics
  • Economics and Finance of Sport 
  • Psychology and Altruism in Economics and Finance

 

And of the following undergraduate modules for Criminology and Cyber Security degrees:

 

  • Cyberlaw, governance and human rights
  • Cyberspace, Subcultures and Online Deviance

 

Media availability

I am happy to take calls and emails from the media on my research, and am aware of the need to respond to journalists in a timely manner. Please email Kate.Whitman@port.ac.uk.


Interested journalists can contact the University's Media and Communications team for support and advice on all media engagement, including out of hours.

Research outputs

2025

Whitman, K., Cox, J.

30 Sep 2025, In: Frontiers in Behavioral Economics. 4, 12p., 1631329

Research output: Article

2024

Whitman, K., Murad, Z., Cox, J.

24 Jan 2024, In: Journal of Business Ethics, 15p.

Research output: Article

2023

Shepherd, D., Whitman, K., Button, M., Wilson, J. M.

6 Jul 2023, In: Deviant Behaviour, 15p.

Research output: Article