Environmental Psychology Laboratory
Dept. of Psychology, University of Melbourne  
Research director:  Assoc. Prof. Bernd ROHRMANN


Location:

Redmond Barry Building,
Dept. of Psychology,

8th floor, Room 823		 EnvPsyLabPic

   Contact:

   Telephone  (03) 83444302
       or 8344 6349 (Rohrmann)
   Email:
   mail@rohrmannspace.net  

Research issues:

The main research themes in this laboratory are: How do humans perceive and evaluate built and natural environments? How do they deal with environmental hazards? How can information and communication about environmental risks be improved? In addition, methodological issues are pursued.

Projects (Rohrmann):

The research agenda includes the following projects (some in collaboration with colleagues):

SPP   Soundscapes in public places <including cross-cultural studies in Austria, Germany, Holland>
AFI    Appraisal of audio-visual fire information & preparedness means <focus on websites>
PIB   The potential of the internet for enhancing residents' bushfire preparedness  <project within the Bushfire CRC>
ASR   Assessment of simulated and real environments <with Prof I. Bishop>
VEP   Virtual environment presentations: perception and appraisal <with Dr L. Toet & Drs J. Houtkamp, Utrecht University>
RPX   Risk perception in 'western' and 'eastern' cultures <Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Singapore>
RAC   Risk attitudes - a cross-cultural psychometric study <phase I completed; phase II underway in HongKong/China>
VEQ   Verbal qualifiers for rating scales used in environmental studies <conducted in Australia and HongKong, with Prof W. Au>

For project descriptions cf. the links provided on the frontpage.

Research assistants:

Erika Anear, Nicole Besley, Maja Graham, Poonam Sharma. Temporarily:  Denise Fernando, Echo Leung, Anne Makin, Maria Vassos, Fu Nojima, Yu Zhao.

Adjunct professor:

The Environmental Psychology Laboratory has an Adjunct Professor, Terry Daniel (Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tuscon/AR, USA), who is an environmental psychologist and has worked in the laboratory for one month each in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

Student projects:

Since 1995, Honours, Masters and PhD students have contributed empirical studies on Environmental Psychology issues, e.g., M. Blanchet, T. Clifopoulos, N. Houchin, E. Hun, S. Pedell, A. Ryan, A. Saunders, N. Wilson.
NOTE: Students who are interested in conducting a project (Honours / Masters / Doctorate / PhD thesis) within the context of the Environmental Psychology Laboratory are welcome; contact rohrmann@unimelb.edu.au. 
 
Furthermore, the lab has frequently hosted guests students from Austria, Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland.

Workshop:

Every second year a workshop, the "Melbourne Multidisciplinary Risk Research Roundtable" [2M3R] is conducted, focussing on environmental hazards and pertinent social-science research (info=2M3R). The last one in 2009 dealt with the sociopsychological risks in environments like cafes, restaurants and pubs where load music is played.


30-08-09   BR