Research Associates

Applied Research Associate: The Lab

The Lab is a group of organisational psychologists, computer scientists, and statisticians from New Zealand. The goal of The Lab is to achieve remarkable insight and business efficiencies from robust analyses that challenge the scope of applied psychology in New Zealand. The Lab works across industries in organisational development, human resources, marketing, commerce, and social research. They act as a conduit between the latest research findings and their application in the world of work. The unifying theme of The Lab is that they draw on the research literature to support their approach, and review their approach in light of the empirical evidence.

Assessment Associate: Drasgow Consulting Group

Drasgow Consulting Group (DCG) specialises in helping organisations to carry out research projects related to personnel selection, assessment, and development. DCG has nearly 30 years of experience in psychometrics, statistics, and research methodology. DCG also have significant expertise in developing and validating conventional and computer-based assessments of cognitive ability, personality, job performance, leadership, interpersonal communication, work attitudes, and discrimination.

DCG experts have been involved in numerous undertakings aimed at improving various aspects of human resource practices in commercial, industrial, and governmental settings. Their client list includes large corporations, educational institutions, the military, and government organisations in various countries. By virtue of DCG's particular expertise in high-level psychometrics and statistics, they have often collaborated with other consulting firms to produce enhanced product and research solutions.

Attitude Associate: Healthy Thinking Institute

Dr. Tom Mulholland is known as a medical doctor, international speaker and author. He is the founder of the Healthy Thinking Institute and has initiated extensive research into attitudes, behaviours and emotions in the workplace. Dr. Mulholland is the author of two international best-selling books which have been translated into 12 languages, has hosted his own daily television show ‘Dr. Tom - The Attitude Doctor’, travelled globally training leadership teams and delivered keynote speeches receiving international acclaim. His list of clients includes Microsoft, Hilton, Hewlett Packard, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Rabobank and many more.

Dr. Mulholland believes that “it is not work that is stressful, but our perception of it that is”. Also that giving people fringe benefits has no long-lasting effect on personal satisfaction and performance. Instead he firmly believes that giving people the tools to change their thinking, emotions, actions and attitudes, creates high performing teams and organisations. As a self described emotional architect, Dr. Mulholland creates ‘Healthy Thinking’ Hotels, Schools, Families and Companies.

Assessment Centre Associate:  Duncan Jackson

Duncan Jackson is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Seoul, South Korea, in the Human Resource Management Program. He is also Director of the Research Center for Personnel Selection and Promotion at Assesta Group. He earned his Doctorate from Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand and served as a Senior Lecturer in New Zealand for six years prior to moving to Seoul.

Duncan's primary research interest is in task-based assessment centers with a particular focus on psychological and situational factors that affect behavior. His work has been published in some of the top journals in industrial organizational psychology including the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, Human Performance, and the International Journal of Selection and Assessment. Duncan has consulted to a broad range of large and small organizations in both the private and public sectors. He has developed assessment center programs for a range of organizations and has also served as an assessment center trainer and assessor.

Evaluation Associate: Davidson Consulting Ltd

Davidson Consulting Ltd was founded in 1997 by director Jane Davidson, author of ‘Evaluation Methodology Basics: The Nuts and Bolts of Sound Evaluation’ (Sage Publications, 2004). Davidson received her Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University (CGU) in organisational psychology, with substantial emphasis on evaluation. As part of the rigorous doctoral programme at CGU, she studied with some of the leading theorists and practitioners in evaluation and management, including Drs. Michael Scriven, Peter Drucker, and Vijay Sathe.

In a diverse career that began in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Davidson has worked in a wide range of evaluation, consulting, training, and quality assurance-related roles in education, government, and business. Her main areas of specialisation are in programme evaluation, performance appraisal, needs assessment, organisational culture, organisational learning, and the evaluation of organisational change.