Key Staff

Founder and Director of KSO Research is Dr Kate Skellington Orr (MBPsS, CMRS)

Kate holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Applied Psychology and Sociology, a M.A. in Applied and Professional Ethics and a Ph.D. in Psychology.  She has worked for over 25 years as an academic, government and private sector researcher including time spent working at both the Home Office and the with the Scottish Government.  Before embarking on a research career, she was a Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde and has previously contributed to both undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Kate specialises in monitoring and evaluation research and is skilled in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. She has considerable experience of process, impact and outcome evaluations, developing strategic assessments and forming evidence-based recommendations. She works across a broad range of policy areas and is often approached to design projects that explore emotionally sensitive topics.  She also has considerable experience of engaging with at risk, hard to reach and seldom heard groups to ensure that their voices are represented in research.  She is committed to sharing learning and regularly takes part in dissemination activities, presenting her research at both national and international conferences and events.

Kate partners with Associates and fellow research professionals from around the UK to deliver the necessary insights, skills and experience required for each contract that she works on.

Kate is a member of the British Psychological Society, the British Society of Criminology, the Social Research Association, Market Research Society and the European Association of Psychology and Law.