About me
I'm a mixed-methods researcher interested in why we choose to
pursue certain recreational activities, how those activities make us feel,
and how those feelings relate to performance, enjoyment, and well-being.
As an video game researcher, I help indie game developers make data-driven decisions by uncovering what drives player behaviour and market trends. Drawing on my background in psychology and mixed-methods research, I analyze everything from player reviews to gameplay patterns to identify what makes games engaging and successful. My goal is to leverage my methodological toolbox to turn complex data into clear, meaningful insights that help indie games thrive in a competitive market.
I completed my PhD with Dr. Katherine Tamminen in the Toronto Sport and Performance Psychology Laboratory. My dissertation research spanned the topics of emotions, moods, and emotion regulation in sports and videogames. I used a combination of quantitative (e.g., surveys, experience sampling, structural equation modeling) and qualitative (e.g., in-depth semi-structured interviews) methods to contribute to a better understanding of the affective experiences of athletes and gamers, both while in-game, and while navigating the world in their daily lives.
Prior to this, I completed my Honours BSc in psychology at the University of Toronto working with Dr. Michael Inzlicht. For my undergraduate thesis project, I investigated the neural underpinnings of pre-game 'performance' rituals, and how they influence our neural response to performance failures (available here!). I then built on these findings for my master's research project wherein I sought out high-performance athletes' own perspectives on why they engage in these seemingly peculiar pre-game behaviours (also available here, or free on my ResearchGate page!).