Secure Societies research projects

Research projects within Secure Societies

Find out how the Secure Societies impact coalition is tackling critical issues like polarisation and crisis management to strengthen societal security.

Completed research projects

Our completed projects have already provided valuable insights and contributed to enhancing societal security:

'The final criminological frontier: Envisioning space crime in VR'
'A multi-channel approach to studying the dynamics of effective collaboration in police teams'
'Experimental study of diversity in risk analysis and countermeasures of social engineering threats'
'Negotiating the (un)expected: Using a multi-level social sciences lens to assess threat in suicide situations via actual bodycam footage of UK crisis negotiators'
'Exploring drug-related subversive crime in the Metaverse: a multi-method approach to understand drug dealing actors, their behaviours and their relations to virtual reality environments'

Ongoing research projects

In addition to our completed research, we are currently working on several promising projects aimed at addressing societal challenges. Here are a few:

'Creating safe and pleasant parks: How games can help for co-designing and perspective taking in green spaces'
'(Ethical) hacking at universities: What is already happening and how do we stimulate the right behaviour?'
'Justifying the unjust: A multidisciplinary study exploring and assessing the influence of legitimation strategies for criminal practices on public opinion'

Safe and pleasant parks through games, 2024

In this project, colleagues from Psychology, Spatial Economics, Environmental Science and Communication Science will work alongside stakeholders, such as the police and city planners, as well as citizens, to co-create safer and more livable cities in a virtual environment before applying these ideas in the real world. The project aims to serve as the foundation for more evidence-based green space development, contributing to the creation of urban spaces that enhance safety, well-being and sustainability.

Research title

‘Creating safe and pleasant parks: How games can help for co-designing and perspective taking in green spaces’

Involved researchers

Max Friehs
Eduardo Simao Da Graca Dias
Thomas Van Rompay
Lynn Bouwknegt

Ethical hacking at universities, 2024

This project brings together colleagues from Criminology and Computer Science, working alongside lecturers and students from the Computer Science programs at both universities. Building on previous research in secondary education, this study explores the ethical considerations of university students. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses, the project seeks to uncover the complexities of ethical decision-making, identify areas for curriculum improvement and provide actionable recommendations for universities. In doing so, it aims to equip students with the technical expertise to assess and strengthen security measures while fostering a culture of responsible digital citizenship.

Research title

'(Ethical) hacking at universities: What is already happening and how do we encourage the right behaviour?'

Researchers involved

Marleen Weulen Kranenbarg (Contact)
Thijs van Ede
Jeroen van der Ham

Legitimising crime and its impact on public opinion, 2024

This research aims to unravel the dynamics of legitimisation strategies for criminal practices and their influence on public opinion. Inspired by recent cyber attacks and societal shifts, the team focuses on understanding how criminal entities justify their actions to shape public perception. Using a multi-method approach, they aim to uncover the underlying psychological mechanisms behind criminal legitimisation.

Beyond academia, this initiative seeks to bridge theory with practice. By collaborating with stakeholders from law enforcement agencies, public institutions, and academia, the team strives to develop practical insights and effective countermeasures against criminal activities.

Research title

'Justifying the unjust: A multidisciplinary study exploring and assessing the influence of legitimation strategies for criminal practices on public opinion'

Researchers involved

Dr Kristina S. Weißmüller (Contact)
Tijs van den Broek
Steven Watson