Dr Kate Whitfield

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Dr Kate Whitfield CPsychol

Associate Professor of Forensic Psychology

Summary

I am a Chartered Psychologist, Associate Professor of Forensic Psychology, Head of Research Degrees for the Health Research Institute, and Research Ethics Lead for the Industry and Innovation Research Institute. My research focuses on child protection, child sexual abuse and exploitation, violent crime, online crime, domestic abuse, identification of risk, critical incident management, and evaluation of crime prevention interventions. I have led or co-led numerous research projects and evaluations with a combined value of over £3.8m, resulting in a range of presentations and publications.

kate whitfield

About

I am a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Professor of Forensic Psychology. My research focuses on child protection and safeguarding, particularly in relation to child sexual abuse and exploitation. I also conduct research on serious violent crime, organised crime, online crime, domestic abuse, identification of risk, hate crime, and critical incident management. I have led a number of evaluations, primarily aimed at understanding the processes and impact of violence reduction interventions. As a mixed methods researcher, I draw on both qualitative and quantitative methods when carrying out research and evaluation, with a view to impacting on policy and practice.

I am the Head of Research Degrees for the Health Research Institute, leading on postgraduate research activity across the Institute. I am also the Research Ethics Lead for the Industry and Innovation Research Institute, supporting researchers in relation to ethics and research integrity. Within the Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences, I co-lead forensic and investigative psychology research, and supervise a number of doctoral research projects. 

 

 

Publications

Journal articles

Merry, O., & Whitfield, K. (2024). The Landscape of Sexual Harm in the Video Game, Streaming, and Esports Community. Journal of Interpersonal Violence: concerned with the study and treatment of victims and perpetrators of physical and sexual violence. http://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241271349

Gerard, F.J., Whitfield, K., & Browne, K.D. (2017). Exploration of crime-scene characteristics in juvenile homicide in the French-speaking part of Belgium. Journal of interpersonal violence. http://doi.org/10.1177/0886260517702489

Gerard, F.J., Whitfield, K.C., Porter, L.E., & Browne, K.D. (2016). Offender and offence characteristics of school shooting incidents. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 13 (1), 22-38. http://doi.org/10.1002/jip.1439

Gerard, F.J., Browne, K.D., & Whitfield, K. (2015). Gender comparison of young people charged with murder in England and Wales. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X15596387

Gerard, F.J., Jackson, V., Chou, S., Whitfield, K.C., & Browne, K.D. (2014). An exploration of the current knowledge on young people who kill: a systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19 (5), 559-571. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.07.002

Browne, K., Whitfield, K., Jackson, V., Anaut, M., Daniunaite, I., Herczog, M., ... Zurovcova, H. (2012). Child abandonment and its prevention. Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iaşi: Sociologie şi Asistenţă Socială, 2, 196-203.

Alison, L.J., Doran, B., Eyre, M., Mullins, S., Roocroft, J., & Whitfield, K.C. (2007). Decision-Making, Leading and Responding to Stress in Critical Incidents. Forensic Update, 88, 39-43. http://www.bps.org.uk/publications/member-network-publications/member-publications/forensic-update

Waring, S.K., Alison, L.J., Cunningham, S., & Whitfield, K.C. (n.d.). The impact of accountability on motivational goals and the quality of advice provided in crisis negotiations. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 19 (2), 137-150. http://doi.org/10.1037/a0030629

Conference papers

Jones, A., Davey, S., Fenwick, J., Wallis, R., Whitfield, K., & Akhgar, B. (2024). Work-in-Progress—Enhancing Cyber Prevention Education: Utilising Virtual Reality Technology for Parents/Carers and Teachers. Academic Proceedings of the 10th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN2024), 210-216. http://doi.org/10.56198/u6c0w9bx1

Book chapters

Gittens, E., & Whitfield, K. (2017). Behavioral assessment in investigative psychology. In Browne, K., Beech, A., Craig, L., & Chou, S. (Eds.) Assessments in forensic practice: a handbook. (pp. 122-136). John Wiley and Sons

Gerard, F.J., & Whitfield, K. (2016). The experiences of victims of online Islamophobia. In Awan, I. (Ed.) Islamophobia in cyberspace: hate crimes go viral. (pp. 151-166). Ashgate

Alison, L., Crego, J., Whitfield, K.C., Caddick, A., & Cataudo, L. (n.d.). Leading, co-operation and context in Hydra syndicates. In Alison, L., & Crego, J. (Eds.) Policing Critical Incidents: Leadership and Critical Incident Management. (pp. 95-123). Cullompton: Willan

Whitfield, K.C., Alison, L., & Crego, J. (n.d.). Command, control and support in critical incidents. In Alison, L., & Crego, J. (Eds.) Policing Critical Incidents: Leadership and Critical Incident Management. (pp. 81-94). Cullompton: Willan

Reports

Partridge, B., Matkin, D., Whitfield, K., & Coleman, C. (2024). Early Interventions: Understanding and Preventing Violence in First-Time Youth Offenders.

Phillips, J., Hamilton, P., Coleman, C., Whitfield, K., & De Hoog, F. (2022). Promising approaches to knife crime: an exploratory study. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation. https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/05/RAB-2022-03-Promising-approaches-to-knife-crime-v1.1.pdf

Whitfield, K., Coleman, C., Partridge, B., & Wefers, S. (2021). South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit Evaluation.

Browne, K., Chou, S., & Whitfield, K. (2012). Child abandonment and its prevention in Europe. University of Nottingham. https://bettercarenetwork.org/sites/default/files/attachments/Child%20Abandonment%20and%20Its%20Prevention%20in%20Europe.pdf

Theses / Dissertations

Wefers, S. (2021). Transnational child sex offending: understanding threat to disrupt and target. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Whitfield, K. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00427

Merry, O.J. (2020). Child Grooming: Predicting Level of Risk to Prioritise Offenders. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Whitfield, K. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00307

Presentations

Wefers, S., Gerard, F.J., Whitfield, K., & Drabble, J. (2019). Offender Characteristics associated with Transnational Child Sex Offending: A Systematic Review. Presented at: National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers International Conference, Belfast, UK

Merry, O., Gerard, F.J., & Whitfield, K. (2018). Current Knowledge on the Differences between Contact and Non-Contact Child Grooming Offenders. Presented at: British Psychological Society's Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, Newcastle, UK

Britton, E., Whitfield, K., & Duff, S. (2016). Risk of Boundary Violating Behaviour in a Secure Forensic Hospital. Presented at: British Psychological Society's Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, Brighton, UK

Gerard, F.J., Whitfield, K., & Browne, K. (2015). Exploration of Crime-Scene Actions in Juvenile Homicide in the French-Speaking Part of Belgium. Presented at: Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Orlando, USA

Gerard, F.J., Whitfield, K., Purdy, R., & Polisenska, V. (2015). Homicide in the Czech Republic: Influence of Age on the Crime-Scene Characteristics. Presented at: Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, Orlando, USA

Duff, S., Morrissey, C., & Whitfield, K. (2014). Factors associated with Arson Offending in Adult Males in High Security: A Comparison of Male Learning Disability Patients and Mental Health Patients without Cognitive Impairments. Presented at: British Psychological Society’s Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, Glasgow, UK

Ashworth, S., Whitfield, K., & Duff, S. (2014). Investigating Offline and Online Stalking: Are they Perceived Differently? Presented at: British Psychological Society’s Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, Glasgow, UK

Whitfield, K., Chou, S., Jackson, V., & Browne, K. (2012). The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children and Families: An Intergenerational Perspective. Presented at: British Psychological Society’s Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, Cardiff, UK

Keller-Hamela, M., Whitfield, K., Nalbantova, E., Zurovcova, H., Leth, I., Anaut, M., ... Browne, K. (2011). A Study of Child Abandonment and its Prevention in Europe. Presented at: Child Abandonment and its Prevention Conference, Warsaw, Poland

Browne, K., Nalbantova, E., Zurovcova, H., Leth, I., Anaut, M., Herczog, M., ... Whitfield, K. (2011). Child Abandonment and its Prevention in Europe. Presented at: ISPCAN European Regional Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Tampere, Finland

Cunningham, S., Whitfield, K., & Waring, S. (2008). Negotiation Tactical Decision Game. Presented at: North West Negotiators’ Conference, Conwy, UK

Alison, L., Almond, L., Doran, B., & Whitfield, K. (2007). Youth Offending Tactical Decision Game. Presented at: Youth Justice Board Conference, Liverpool, UK

Hermitage, P., Long, M., & Whitfield, K. (2007). Blueprint for Success. Presented at: Big Conversation III, Maidstone, UK

Alison, L., Doran, B., & Whitfield, K. (2007). Methodological Challenges in Critical Incident Decision-Making Research. Presented at: International Conference on Naturalistic Decision Making, California, USA

Whitfield, K., & Alison, L. (2006). Leading through Crisis. Presented at: British Psychological Society’s Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, Preston, UK

Whitfield, K., Alison, L., & Crego, J. (2006). Participative and Empathic Leaders, Flexible and Creative Organisations. Presented at: Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Liverpool, UK

Whitfield, K., & Alison, L. (2006). 10,000 Volts: A Lexis of Critical Incident Management. Presented at: Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Liverpool, UK

Whitfield, K., & Alison, L. (2006). Leading through Crisis. Presented at: Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Liverpool, UK

Whitfield, K., & Alison, L. (2005). Cognitive and Interpersonal Skills of Police Leaders. Presented at: International Investigative Psychology Conference, London, UK

Postgraduate supervision

I supervise doctoral research in forensic and investigative psychology, using qualitative and/or quantitative methods. Examples of some PhD projects are listed below:

  • Peer-on-peer harmful sexual behaviour: understanding risk and behaviour to prevent harm
  • Organised crime homicide: understanding threat to inform prevention and intervention
  • Online behaviour and risk of sexual harm associated with online gaming
  • Risk factors, emotions and decision-making regarding child criminal exploitation 
  • Knife crime: understanding drivers and predicting level of risk
  • Transnational child sex offending: understanding threat to disrupt and target
  • Child grooming: predicting level of risk to prioritise offenders
  • The relationship between trauma and aggression and the role of protective factors
  • Boundary violations between staff and clients in healthcare and forensic settings
  • Juvenile homicide offenders: exploration of the crime-scene, offender and victim characteristics
  • Staff burnout in medium secure forensic settings

 

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