Dr Peter Eachus
School of Health & Society
Current positions
Senior Lecturer
Biography
**Dr. Peter Eachus** is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Salford, specializing in the psychological aspects of chronic medical conditions and the application of eye-tracking technology in various research domains.
### Research on Chronic Medical Conditions
Dr. Eachus has extensively studied the psychological experiences of individuals living with chronic medical conditions, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). His research emphasizes the positive psychological experiences of some patients, highlighting the importance of psychological resilience and coping strategies in managing chronic illnesses. This work contributes to a better understanding of how patients can maintain a positive outlook and improve their quality of life despite the challenges posed by their conditions.
### Influence of Stimuli Valence, Extraversion, and Emotion Regulation
Another significant area of Dr. Eachus's research involves exploring the influence of stimuli valence, extraversion, and emotion regulation on visual search within real-world scenes. This research investigates how different emotional stimuli and personality traits affect individuals' ability to process and search for information in their environment. The findings from this work have implications for designing more effective educational and therapeutic interventions that cater to individual differences in emotional processing and personality.
### Eye Tracking Technology in e-Learning
Dr. Eachus has also conducted research on the use of eye-tracking technology in evaluating e-learning resources. In a feasibility study, he examined how students interact with virtual learning environments, such as Blackboard and Internet-based resources like Wikipedia. By recording and analyzing students' eye movements, Dr. Eachus identified search patterns and "hot spots" within the online information sources. This research provides valuable insights for designing more effective online learning materials and improving the overall learning experience for students.
### Research on Terrorism and Eye Tracking
In addition to his work on chronic medical conditions and e-learning, Dr. Eachus has explored the application of eye-tracking technology in the context of terrorism. This research aims to understand how individuals process visual information related to terrorist threats and how their eye movements can reveal underlying cognitive processes. By studying these patterns, Dr. Eachus hopes to develop better strategies for identifying and mitigating potential threats, contributing to enhanced security measures.
###Parapsychology
Investigating the extent to which telepathic communiction can be detected using EEG.
Areas of Research
I have a variety of research interests. I am interested in how eyetracking can be used various situations including consumer psychology and education.
I have worked with the security servics and the Home Office on a project aimed at detecting hostile intent. I am currently working with GCHQ looking at how AI can improve performance of security professionals.
I am interested in the development of psychometric scales and have developed Health Locus of Cotrol scales for use with nurses, physiotherapists and other paramedics. I have also developed the Computer Self-Efficacy scale and in parallel the Web User Self-Efficacy scale.
I am also interested in parapsychology and am currently collecting data to examine the possibility of detecting telepathic interference of EEG patterns.
Areas of Supervision
Eyetracking
AI in higher education
Terrorism
Self Efficacy especially in the context of technology use.
Virtual Reality and the treatment of phobias.
Parapsychology
I have taught psychology from A level up to PhD level and have contributed to teaching on most of our courses. I have extensive experience in the development of psychology programmes and have worked on all of our existing courses.
I have supervised undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and have supervised a number of PhD students to completion.
I was responsible for the collaborative psychology programme with the Open University of Hong Kong which became the first international psychology programme to be accredited by the British Psychological Society. As part of this partnership I supervised three members of staff from OUHK to successful completion of their PhD's.
My currfent interests in T&L revolve around the use of AI in higher education teaching and learning.
Qualifications
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PhD
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MSc Health Education and Promotion
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PGCE
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BSc (Hons) Psychology