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Ryan Gibson

Assistant Professor
Faculty Fellow
Office: McConnell Hall, Room 341e, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:

How does your social environment shape your thinking? Who you trust? Who you follow?

Dr. Ryan Gibson serves as an Assistant Professor of Sociology, a Faculty Fellow at the Carsey School of Public Policy, and director of the Social Technologies and AI Research (STAR) Lab at the University of New Hampshire. His research integrates expertise in sociological theory, social psychology, and organizational justice to explore the causal mechanisms underlying everyday judgment, performance, and group dynamics.

Using advanced quantitative methods, especially structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and online experimental methods, he develops advanced predictive models to analyze how demographic factors, such as race and ethnicity, and institutional and technological factors (such as authorities and AI agents) interact to influence a range of critical organizational and social outcomes, such as fairness, trust, and authority. His work in this field is published in premier national outlets, including Social Forces, Social Psychology Quarterly, Social Sciences, The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Ethnic and Racial Studies, and the Handbook of Social Psychology.

Dr. Gibson specializes in teaching courses on introductory sociology, the sociology of justice, race and ethnicity, social psychology, quantitative research methods, and sociological theory.

He also serves as co-chair of the Finance and Administration Committee of the UNH Faculty Senate, as well as on the University's Budget Advisory Committee. 

Current projects include 1) examining AI influence across ideological domains and 2) analyzing how organizations can reduce worker burnout.  

Recent PhD Placements: Florida State University ('25), Northeastern University (’23)

Courses Taught

  • SOC 530: Race and Ethnicity
  • SOC 595: Independent Reading & Research
  • SOC 636: Sociology of Justice
  • SOC 697: SpcTop/Social Psych of Justice
  • SOC 745/845: Race, Ethnicity, & Inequality

Education

  • Ph.D., Emory University
  • M.A., Emory University

Research Interests

  • Quantitative methodology
  • Social psychology
  • Organizational Theory and Behavior
  • Race and ethnic studies
  • Leadership

Selected Publications

  • Gibson, R., Hegtvedt, K. A., Johnson, C., & Hawks, K. (2026). Comparing Sources of Instrumental and Relational Support: Motivating Workers for the Job and Beyond. Social Sciences, 15(2), 118. doi:10.3390/socsci15020118

  • Hawks, K., Johnson, C., Hegtvedt, K. A., & Gibson, R. (2026). The bases of propriety: instrumental, relational, moral, and collective. Social Forces. doi:10.1093/sf/soag004

  • Tomar, N., Gibson, R., Brewer, K., & Mian, N. (2025). Intersectional Stigma and Occupational Engagement Among Racialized Higher Education Students: A Qualitative Study.. Am J Occup Ther, 79(2). doi:10.5014/ajot.2025.050984

  • Hegtvedt, K. A., & Gibson, R. (2025). Justice. In Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research (pp. 371-393). Springer Nature Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-93042-3_24

  • Johnson, C., Gibson, R., Hawks, K., & Hegtvedt, K. A. (2024). Emotional Benefits of Leader Legitimacy. Social Psychology Quarterly, 87(4), 357-379. doi:10.1177/01902725231199720

  • Brewer, K. B., Gibson, R., Tomar, N., Washburn, M., Giraldo-Santiago, N., Hostos-Torres, L. R., & Gearing, R. E. (2024). Why Culture and Context Matters: Examining Differences in Mental Health Stigma and Social Distance Between Latino Individuals in the United States and Mexico.. J Immigr Minor Health, 26(2), 278-286. doi:10.1007/s10903-023-01550-w

  • Hawks, K., Hegtvedt, K. A., Gibson, R., Johnson, C., & Zion, J. (2024). Pathways to Legitimacy for Black and White Authorities: Impressions of Competence and Warmth. Social Psychology Quarterly, 87(1), 84-105. doi:10.1177/01902725231162068

  • Gibson, R. (2022). Does the perception of discrimination impact Asian American boundaries? An analysis of group threat and closure ideology. ETHNIC AND RACIAL STUDIES, 45(12), 2362-2389. doi:10.1080/01419870.2021.2015417

  • Hegtvedt, K. A., Johnson, C., Gibson, R., Hawks, K., & Hayward, J. L. (2022). Power and Procedure: Gaining Legitimacy in the Workplace. SOCIAL FORCES, 101(1), 176-201. doi:10.1093/sf/soab103

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  • Most Cited Publications