Adam Kenny

Calleva Research Centre post-doctoral research associate | he/him


adam.kenny@anthro.ox.ac.uk

I recently earned my DPhil in Anthropology at the University of Oxford. I am an evolutionary anthropologist, with a background in both biology and anthropology; I hold a BA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (2012) and an MSc in Human Evolution and Behaviour from University College London (2013).

Broadly, I am interested in the role of inter-group dynamics on human prosociality. Specifically, my research focuses on the effects of group identity and inter-group competition on cooperation. My doctoral thesis involved extensive fieldwork in the city of Siena, Italy, among local ‘neighbourhoods’ known as the contrade. I mostly analyse quantitative data generated through field experiments employing behavioural economic games. I also have an interest in open research practices.

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selected publications

For a full list of publications, see
  1. Group dynamics in the contrada communities of Siena, Italy Kenny, A., and Fortunato, L. SocArXiv 2022 preprint abstract bib
  2. The importance of open research practices to empirical research in the evolutionary social sciences Kenny, A. Evolution and Human Behaviour 2021 journal preprint abstract bib
  3. In-group bias in human cooperation: insights from the contrade of Siena, Italy Kenny, A. Doctoral thesis, University of Oxford 2020 abstract bib