Dr Carol Jasper

As Stirling alumni myself I am proud now to teach at all levels of our Psychology programme.

My research explores inequality, identity, and social inclusion, with a particular interest in how social and cultural structures shape the experiences, opportunities, and identities of both human and non-human animals.

My work spans several interconnected areas. I have explored the social and psychological factors that underpin dietary practices and resistance to plant-based diets, including research examining why vegetarians continue to eat cheese, why pescetarians eat fish, and how nostalgia can act as a barrier to dietary change.

I also have a longstanding interest in gender, identity, and educational inequalities. Recent work examines how gendered expectations and social interactions shape young people's experiences of STEM subjects, including the ways in which competence, recognition, and authority become gendered within educational settings.

Working with PhD students and research collaborators, I investigate the experiences of autistic and neurodivergent people, particularly in education and wider society. This includes research using creative and arts-based methods, such as photovoice and zine-making, to explore identity, stigma, marginalisation, and opportunities for self-representation.

Alongside my research, I undertake scholarship of teaching and learning, exploring how we can create more inclusive and meaningful higher education experiences. This includes work on first-generation students, student learning, and the changing relationship between students, assessment, and generative AI. I am particularly interested in how we can support students to develop ownership, understanding, and responsibility in their learning.

Across these areas, I have a particular interest in qualitative research and creative methodologies, and in using psychological research to understand and challenge inequalities.

I teach across much of the social psychology curriculum, with particular interests in intergroup relations, intergroup conflict, social identity, and the psychology of online communities and subcultures. My teaching explores how group identities, beliefs, and social norms shape attitudes and behaviour, including the psychology of online subcultures such as incel communities, conspiracy theorists, and other 'anti' movements, including anti-psychiatry, anti-immigration, and anti-vaccination communities.

I aim to connect psychological theory with contemporary social issues, encouraging students to question assumptions, critically examine evidence, and engage with perspectives that may be unfamiliar or challenging. Much of my teaching is informed by my research interests, particularly around identity, inequality, stigma, and social inclusion.

I am also passionate about inclusive higher education and reducing inequity in the classroom. My teaching and scholarship focus on identifying and dismantling barriers to learning, recognising the diversity of students' experiences, and creating learning environments in which all students have opportunities to participate, develop confidence, autonomy, and succeed. I am particularly interested in how we can make higher education more accessible without compromising academic challenge or expectations.