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Research in the Department of Psychology and Human Development (PHD).
Current research
Current and recent research, funded by a wide range of bodies such as the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Leverhulme Trust and the Nuffield Foundation among others, includes:
- School organisational contexts for learning.
- Language, literacy and numeracy.
- Teaching processes and pedagogy.
- Learning processes.
- Social and emotional competence.
- Special educational needs.
Our research identity is in psychology (particularly in relation to education) and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Educational neuroscience is being developed within our psychology interests.
We publish and research in the following key areas:
- Psychology and typical development, focussing on classroom practices and their relationship with learning (science, maths, literacy, class size, deployment of TAs, motivation).
- Educational neuroscience.
- SEN areas of autism, emotional disorders, hearing impairment, disorders of perception, language difficulties, learning difficulties, literacy difficulties, numeracy difficulties, visual impairment and youth offending.
Doctoral students make a valued contribution in these areas.
Research projects
- Awareness of developmental Dyscalculia and Mathematical Difficulties toolkit (ADD UP)
- Better Together: a wellbeing initiative for doctoral students
- COVID-19: Global social trust and mental health
- The development of empathy in adolescents
- Empowering staff to enhance oral language in the early years
- Practice around Access Arrangements for Students with SpLDs (PASS)
- Using technology to measure children’s social life and engagement in primary school
Research labs
- Child Development and Learning Difficulties Lab
- Motor and Executive Cognitive Interaction (MECI) Lab
- Multilanguage and Cognition Lab
- The Nurture Lab
Find more about our researchers, publications, activities, groups and themes on UCL Profiles.