Research
Cognition. Emotion. Motivation.
A single throughline connects three decades of work: the conviction that thought, feeling, and drive cannot be studied, or designed for, in isolation.
The CEM Framework
A research paradigm integrating Cognition, Emotion, and Motivation to explain and improve human behavior. The throughline of his career, from doctoral work on debugging expertise to present-day work on crime victimization.
Emotional Intelligence and Decision-Making
How emotion and motivation regulate perception, reasoning, creativity, and decision-making, explored across two decades of publications and translated texts.
Youth Vulnerability and Resilience
Research on the psychological structures underlying resilience, applied to student development and career-readiness programs in Tunisia.
The Human Factor in Cybercrime
A Springer Nature chapter examining motivations, behaviors, and vulnerabilities behind cyber-offending and victimization. Human psychology, not just technology, is the pivotal variable.
AI for Crime Prevention
Machine learning models that predict victimization risk before a crime occurs, published in the International Journal of Digital Crime and Forensics. Future work: an AI-powered smart companion that protects individuals and communities.
Original methods
Beyond publications, two research instruments originated in his lab and carry his signature.
CogNet / CogMap
A method and tool for cognitive mapping: charting how experts structure knowledge.
MacTRACE
A method for content analysis of verbal protocols and qualitative data.
Research practice
A toolkit built across three decades of experimental work.
- Experimental techniques and verbal protocols
- Statistical analysis (SPSS, STATISTICA, SuperANOVA)
- Cognitive process software (PsyScope, SemNet, QSR NUDIST, SuperLab)
- Cognitive mapping (CogNet method, CogMap tool)
- Content analysis (MacTRACE method)