Ryan Gibson

Dr. Ryan Gibson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and a Faculty Fellow at the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Gibson's research examines how humans perceive fairness, focusing on how racial and ethnic differences influence perceptions of justice, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Gibson's work in this area has appeared in flagship sociology journals, including Social Psychology Quarterly, Ethnic and Racial Studies, and Social Forces. Ongoing projects include applications of justice research across various domains, including business, healthcare, the environment, and criminal justice.
Prospective Graduate Students: Apply if you are interested in learning about how to assess fairness, equity, injustice, or diversity perceptions on surveys or online experiments. Looking for students particularly interested in race, ethnicity, and immigration but open to all with an interest towards empirically evaluating social justice.
Recent PhD Placements: Northeastern University (’23)
Research Interests
- Perceptions of justice
- Quantitative methodology
- Race and racism
- Social identity
- Social psychology
Courses Taught
- SOC 530: Race and Racism
- SOC 595: Independent Reading & Research
- SOC 697: SpcTop/Social Psych of Justice
Selected Publications
Brewer, K. B., Gibson, R., Tomar, N., Washburn, M., Giraldo-Santiago, N., Hostos-Torres, L. R., & Gearing, R. E. (2023). 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. doi:10.1007/s10903-023-01550-w
Johnson, C., Gibson, R., Hawks, K., & Hegtvedt, K. A. (n.d.). Emotional Benefits of Leader Legitimacy. Social Psychology Quarterly. doi:10.1177/01902725231199720
Hawks, K., Hegtvedt, K. A., Gibson, R., Johnson, C., & Zion, J. (n.d.). Pathways to Legitimacy for Black and White Authorities: Impressions of Competence and Warmth. Social Psychology Quarterly, 019027252311620. 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
Most Cited Publications