Individual Differences Lab

The Individual Differences Lab is dedicated to the study of individual differences in humans. Over the years, topics such as intelligence, humour, personality, narcissism, and financial literacy have been investigated, to name a few.

Lead investigator: Associate Professor Gilles Gignac 

Current PhD Students (Principal/Coordinating Supervisor)

Dana Walker

As of mid-2023, Dana Walker has submitted her PhD thesis for examination. Dana investigated the association between intelligence and face processing abilities in a comprehensive meta-analysis. Additionally, Dana conducted an investigation on a relatively unexamined cognitive ability known as figure closing, both with general stimuli and face-specific stimuli. Finally, Dana completed the (to date) most comprehensive study on the association between cognitive abilities and face processing abilities (under review); the investigation also included trait autism. Dana's program of research helped support the contention that face processing may be a serious candidate for inclusion in the CHC model of intelligence, the possibility that prosopagnosia may be a learning disability, that high levels of face processing ability may be negatively associated with trait-autism, and, finally, that face processing abilities may follow a cascading model of development.

Zoe Callis

Zoe Callis' program of research is focussed on financial literacy. In particular, investigating its association with intelligence, an effort that has culminated in a comprehensive meta-analysis. Additionally, Zoe is investigating psychometric considerations in the measurement of financial literacy, including the possible negative consequences of including 'don't know' as a response alternative (some evidence suggests such an approach to measurement is biased against women).

Current PhD Students (Co-Supervisor)

Chloe Giffard

Nicolino Ramondo

Robbie Knox

Current Honours Students

Jay Patel (Honours, 2023),

Elizabeth Stevens (Honours, 2023), Uncovering financial literacy: The interplay between intelligence, need for cognition and numerical anxiety.

Chloe Vanderbilt (Honours, 2023), Money matters, but not always directly: The indirect effect of financial literacy on general wellbeing.

Current Collaborators

Marcin Zajenkowski

Romina Palermo

Paul Gerrans

Tim Bates

Camilla Anderson 

Alumni - PhD

Dr. Danielle Fynn, (2023). Alexithymia in adults with acquired brain injury: Characterisation, measurement and relationship with emotional outcomes. [PDF]

Dr. Sarah Green, (2023). Evaluating apathy and depression in adults with acquired brain injury.

Dr. Tiarn Burtenshaw, (2022). Understanding the individual differences and situational factors that guide human social learning. [PDF]

Dr. Prue Watson, (2021). Evaluating prospective memory following acquired brain injury in adults: Outcome and rehabilitation. [PDF]

Dr. Natalie Frost, (2021). Intense physical activity, executive function, and related frontal lobe grey matter volume in cognitively normal older adults. [PDF]

Dr. Laura McLaughlin Engfors, (2020). Factors contributing to individual differences in face recognition memory ability. [PDF]

Dr. Iolanda Rodino, (2019). Disordered eating attitudes and behaviours among female patients undergoing fertility treatment: Implications for preconception care. [PDF]

Alumni - Honours

Chloe Jones (Honours, 2022), Financial literacy, intelligence, and money values as predictors of attitudes towards cryptocurrencies.

Natalie Mason (Honours, 2022), I’ll be a Bitcoin billionaire!: Narcissism, ability overestimation, and cryptocurrency investment.

Isabelle Yuen (Honours, 2022), Intelligence, financial literacy, money values, and delay discounting as individual differences and predictors of financial wellbeing.

Campbell Arthur, (Honours, 2021). Metacognition and grandiose narcissism in financial literacy.

Holden A. Ellis, (Honours, 2021). Intelligence, openness to experience, and money values as predictors of financial literacy.

Sara A. Hoang, (Honours, 2021). Financial literacy and self-efficacy as predictors of financial well-being amongst university students in Australia.

Tannith Lilford, (Honours, 2020). The correspondence between self-assessed and objectively measured face recognition ability.

Ethan Smith, (Honours, 2020). Face processing ability and the broader autistic phenotype: What are the unique predictors of trait-autism?