Role
Erin is a Research Fellow in Criminology and Criminal Justice, supporting a project funded by the Youth Endowment Fund. Her role focuses on utilising quantitative data analysis techniques and geospatial information system software (GIS) to explore where, when and why youth violence occurs across the UK.
She is also a member of the Gaming and Gambling Research Group following the completion of her PhD focussing on problem gaming and gambling behaviour.
Career overview
Dr Gibson joined NTU as an undergraduate Communications & Media and Society student and further completed her MSc in Cyberpsychology and PhD at NTU. Her PhD thesis, titled: “Exploring Motivations for Videogame Micro-transaction Use and their Relationship with Problem Gaming and Problem Gambling”, utilised mixed-methods research to identify novel motivations for engagement with micro-transactions.
From 2020 – 2024, Erin undertook the role of Hourly Paid Lecturer in Psychology, providing teaching support for Statistics and Research Methods modules.
Additionally, she has been a supporting researcher for numerous projects funded by and in collaboration with NTU. These include the Future of Cities Foresight Project, the Climate Security National Group and Cumbria’s Climate Risk Assessment.
She has also supported research funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This includes her role as an expert in a workshop focussed on Loot Box research, and as a psychology consultant for a DCMS report focussing on Skins Gambling.
In 2023, she was a guest speaker for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Gaming and Gambling Technology Use program, providing essential learning materials to mental health and addiction service providers surrounding videogame micro-transactions, problem gaming and problem gambling.
Research areas
Erin’s research expertise spans multiple sectors, broadly focussing on the application of mixed-methods research and data analysis techniques to provide evidence-based policy recommendations.
Her previous and current research projects focus on topics such as:
- Gaming and gambling behaviour
- The built environment
- Climate adaptation, security and resilience
- Risk assessment
- The criminology of place
She has extensive experience utilising statistical software, such as R and GIS, to provide high quality and comprehensive research outputs for stakeholders.
External activity
Dr Gibson is currently undertaking training to obtain Accredited Researcher Status.
Publications
Harris, A., Gibson, E., & Griffiths, M.D. (2025). A Rapid Evidence Review of Skins Gambling. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-rapid-evidence-review-of-skins-gambling/a-rapid-evidence-review-of-skins-gambling
Gibson, E., Griffiths, M.D., Calado, F., & Harris, A. (2024). The Role of Videogame Micro-Transactions in the Relationship Between Motivations, Problem Gaming, and Problem Gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-024-10365-9.
Limpanopparat, S., Gibson, E., & Harris, A. (2024). User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: A systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbah.2024.100081.
Gibson, E., Griffiths, M. D., Calado, F., & Harris, A. (2023). Videogame player experiences with micro-transactions: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107766.
Hill, R., Gibson, E., and Pickford, R. (2023) Adaptation measurables and group goals, Climate Security National Foresight Group, Nottingham Trent University. https://www.ntu.ac.uk/media/documents/nce/Good-Adaptation-Measureables-Report-CSNFG-Report-2-V2.pdf
Hill, R., Gibson, E., and Pickford, R. (2023) Cascading Risks and Resilience Crescendos Report, Climate Security National Foresight Group, Nottingham Trent University. https://www.ntu.ac.uk/media/documents/nce/Cascading-Risks-and-Resilience-Crescendos-CSNFG-Report-3-V2.pdf
Gibson, E., Griffiths, M. D., Calado, F., & Harris, A. (2022). The relationship between videogame micro-transactions and problem gaming and gambling: A systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior, 131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107219.
Other publications can be found at: Climate Security National Foresight Group Outputs | Nottingham Trent University