Centre for Educational Psychology Research

We are a group of researchers, based mainly within the Psychology and Mental Health department at Staffordshire University, with a shared interest in applying psychology to educational contexts, a shared commitment to multidisciplinary research, and a shared belief in the value of the dialectic between theory and practice. Members of the group are drawn from a broad range within psychology - including cognitive, social, developmental, critical and educational psychologists – and our interests range across the educational curriculum and all educational levels. These include:

• The psychology of literacy and the teaching of literacy
• The development of children’s art and its place in the national curriculum
• The learning and teaching of mathematics at different educational levels
• Motivational and emotional factors influencing academic performance
• A critical analysis of education
• The learning and teaching of science in higher education

We also have general expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, and welcome opportunities to apply these in educational contexts. In some cases, we use our knowledge directly – in carrying out evaluations of educational interventions for example; in other cases, we provide support for action research by practitioners through customised research training and research mentoring. We can also provide professional development courses for practitioners interested in the above areas. We have enthusiastic postgraduate students and would welcome enquiries about full and part-time PhD study as well as about taught Master’s level courses that we are currently developing. If you would like to know more about any of these please email: d.galbraith@staffs.ac.uk in the first instance.