About Our Work

Our Research Focus

In the Squid Lab, we study the predictors and consequences of deviance across various contexts, with a primary focus on organizational settings. Our research is organized into three broad streams:

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Implicit Motives and Personality

The Squid Lab conducts research related to implicit motives and personality, with particular attention on maladaptive traits such as the motive to aggress. See below for selected research related to this stream:

Selected Publications

A person-oriented approach to the study of the implicit motive to aggress and the explicit trait of aggression Sydney L. Reichin
Validity evidence and measurement equivalence for the Dutch translation of the conditional reasoning test for aggression James M. LeBreton, Sydney L. Reichin, Jan te Nijenhuis, Myckel Cremers, & Kitty van der Heijden-Lek
Critically evaluating the use of dark trait measurement in selection Sydney L. Reichin, Elizabeth M. Grimaldi, & James M. LeBreton
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Terrorism and Targeted Violence

The Squid Lab conducts research related to threat and risk assessment, with particular attention on the evaluation of novel threats and risk assessment for soft targets. See below for selected research related to this stream:

Selected Publications

Recommendations for Assessing Vulnerabilities in Soft Targets and Crowded Places Sydney L. Reichin, Kelsey R. Ciagala, Katherine Parsons, & Samuel T. Hunter
Physical security culture: The neglected foundation for effective security Kelsey R. Ciagala, Sydney L. Reichin, Katherine Parsons, & Samuel T. Hunter
TVTP Grant Program Formative and Outcome Evaluation Report Matt Allen, Andrea Walker, Nicholas J. Arreola, Daniel Cook, Jeffrey Jones, Alice Jurkiewicz, Cynthia Kennedy, Charlie Maas, Erin G. Pleggenkuhle-Miles, Sydney Reichin, Noah Turner, Elle Ward, & John Wonderlich
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Personnel Selection and Psychometrics

The Squid Lab conducts research related to personnel selection and psychometrics, with particular attention on faking in personnel selection and selection into defense and security roles. See below for selected research related to this stream:

Selected Publications

Intentional response distortion during the COVID-19 pandemic Sydney L. Reichin, Danielle M. Tarantino, & Rustin D. Meyer
IT'S A TRAP! Faking and faking detection on conditional reasoning tests Jeremy L. Schoen, Jaime L. Williams, Sydney L. Reichin, & Rustin D. Meyer
Promotional score changes across three test administrations: Preliminary evidence for construct relevant change Sydney L. Reichin, Mark C. Frame, Alexander T. Jackson, & Michael Hein
Exploring the feasibility of assessing cultural competence in police officers Sydney L. Reichin, Alexander T. Jackson, Mark C. Frame, & Michael Hein

Inside the Squid Lab

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Squid Lab 2024–2025

Squid Lab 2024–2025