Moral psychology: Children's understanding of social rules and authority; the factors that influence children's and adults' moral judgements, such as agents' intentions, their level of negligence (carelessness), and their actions' outcomes; the roles of parenting and peer interaction in the development of moral reasoning.
Children's and adults' understanding of science: Understanding the earth, climate change, biology, health and illness.
Physical punishment and abuse of children: what happens in families, and why; the short- and long-term effects of harsh, frequent punishment and maltreatment; punishment and abuse in stepfamilies.
The development of antisocial behaviour, especially the influence of parents, siblings and peers.
Gavin supervises PhDs, MScs and BSc projects on children’s and adults' morality, scientific knowledge, and the development of antisocial behaviour.