Dr Kerry Hannigan

she/her

Kerry is the Programme Leader and Module Leader for the BA(hons) Criminology Degree for the University of the Highlands and Islands, based at Perth College UHI. She completed her PhD with SCCJR, Protection and Security in a Technologically Advanced Society: A Child’s Perspective, in 2015.

The aim of this research was to gain a greater understanding of children and young people’s opinions of safety and protection on the internet. An online survey was developed for completion during school hours by children and young people between the ages of 10 and 16. The survey included questions about children and young people’s access and use of the internet, along with questions on their knowledge of current safety measures. This was then analysed in relation to the grooming of children and young people by online child sex offenders with alternative approach to viewing the grooming process presented (using the Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding). Kerry is, however, interested in all areas of cybercrime.

Kerry is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and has her General Teaching Council for Scotland accreditation (GTCS). Kerry has also sat on the board for the Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (RASAC) Perth & Kinross.

Recent publications

Hannigan, K (2020) ‘Vygotsky and Internet Grooming: The Darker Side of ZPD and Scaffolding’, in Owen, T. & Marshall, J. (eds) (2020) ‘Rethinking Cybercrime: Critical debates’, 1st Ed, Palgrave Macmillan: https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/vygotsky-and-internet-grooming-the-darker-side-of-zpd-and-scaffo/18585626