I am a developmental psychologist with a particular interest in education and children’s wellbeing. I am Course leader for the Psychology and Child Development Degree and co-lead the MSc in Applied Research. I currently supervise six PhD students and especially enjoy working with students at all levels to develop their research skills and confidence.
I re-joined Staffordshire University as a lecturer in developmental psychology in September 2014. Prior to this I have spent time working at Keele University, the Open University and in the NHS as an assistant psychologist. My roots are at Staffordshire University though as this is where I studied my Undergraduate degree and later a PhD in psychology!
Professional memberships and activities
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Chartered member of the British Psychological Society, member of the Developmental Section and the Division for Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology.
Academic qualifications
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PhD on 'The development of drawing abilities and the attitudes and practices towards children’s drawings in Steiner and National Curriculum Schools”, School of Psychology, Staffordshire University, 2014
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PG Cert Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Keele University, 2013
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BSc (Hons) Psychology (First Class), Staffordshire University, 2005
Expertise
- Methodological expertise in designing both qualitative and quantitative research involving infants, children, and young people.
- Creative research methods such as Photovoice and children’s drawings.
- Children’s development, with a particular focus on their wellbeing and education
- Children’s experiences with technology and how these can be supported by parents and teachers.
- University students experiences of assessment feedback
Research interests
I am a developmental psychologist and my work focuses on education and children’s wellbeing. My research has included projects exploring the impact of screen time on physical and psychological development, why children may be at risk of being bitten by a dog and children’s developing creative abilities.
Current projects I am involved in include:
- Exploring how children use technology and investigating how their digital resilience can be supported at home and school.
- Exploring how humor and playfulness are used in educational contexts with the aim of supporting teachers to facilitate children’s learning while nurturing their psychological wellbeing.
I am Director of Staffordshire University’s Psychology Children’s Lab and known for my methodological expertise in designing both qualitative and quantitative research involving infants, children, and young people. This includes traditional approaches such as using standardized tests and validating self-report measures as well as more creative methods such as play-based observational tasks, analyzing children’s drawings, paired interviews and using PhotoVoice.
Alongside my research as a developmental psychologist, I engage in pedagogic research, specifically focusing on university students experiences and engagement with assessment feedback. I am a member of SCoLPP and currently involved in projects exploring perceived barriers that students experience to engaging with assessment feedback.
Enterprise and commercial interests
I have delivered a number of commissioned projects including tendered literature reviews and evaluations of initiatives designed to improve children’s wellbeing. Most recently this involved evaluating the Opportunity Area DfE funded project ‘Social Emotional Mental Health in Further Education’.
I have organised conferences in collaboration with the British Psychological Society and public events funded by the ESRC both at the university and hosted by external partners. I have delivered training for people working with children and young people on a wide range of topics in child development, including rapport building and interviewing techniques and attachment theory,
I have worked with the Higher Education Academy facilitating events for new academics and delivered workshops for Psychology teachers funded by the ESRC.
Teaching
Publications