My main research focuses on the human voice and perceptions of cooperativeness and trustworthiness.  I am also interested in how attractiveness and dominance attributions modulate perceptions of these pro-social qualities, integrating facial and vocal domains, vocal/auditory cognition, and testosterone heritability and expression in the voice and face. The theoretical background of my work is largely grounded in Darwinian approaches to behaviour (Evolutionary Psychology and human behavioural ecology), including a broader focus on animal behaviour.

Education and Experience:

I began my undergraduate education at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, where I studied Mass Media and Broadcasting.  I then transferred to Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where I studied Music Business and Product Development.  I received my business degree from Belmont in 2005.  

I first developed an interest in evolutionary science during my post-undergraduate career in Atlanta, GA.  I relocated to the UK in 2009 to undertake an MSc in Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Liverpool, where my research (supervised by Dr. John Lycett) focused on perceptions of cooperativeness and trustworthiness in the human voice - a subject which I am continuing to explore with great interest.  I have also worked as a research assistant with Dr. Craig Roberts.  I began my PhD studies at Stirling in the Autumn of 2010, under the principal supervision of Dr. Anthony Little. 

Publications:

Knowles, K.K. & Little, A.C. (under review). The time course of vocal attribution: Physical, aesthetic and personality perceptions at varying exposure times.

Knowles, K.K., Cowan, M.L., Mileva, V.R. & Little, A.C. (in prep). A within-subjects investigation of voice perception methodologies. 

Knowles, K.K. & Little, A.C. (in prep). The effect of manipulated voice pitch on memory for discrete auditory stimuli: Is memory mate choice relevant?