bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Datablitz abstracts from the 20th Anniversary Conference of the Division of Neuropsychology
Authors: Bellesi Giulia , Barker Edward , Valmaggia Lucia , Betteridge Shai , Attrill Gemma , Boakye Ndidi , Fish Jessica , Boakye Ndidi , Betteridge Shai , Corrie Sarah , Chan Edgar , MaCpherson Sarah E. , Bozzali Marco , Shallice Tim , Cipolotti Lisa , Drew Yasmin , Poveda Blanca , Gilks Steve , Gray Debbie , Kinch Julianne , Hammond Lis , Kontou Eirini , Moffitt Jenna , O’Brien Clara , Ponticelli Sharim , Robinson Sally , Teager Alistair
Published: January 2023

Fifteen punchy five–minute talks were given in quick succession at the Anniversary Conference this year, the datablitz session sticking to time thanks in part to the evidently well–functioning frontal lobes of those presenting, and in part to highly efficient and only very mildly aggressive chairing by Simon Prangnell (threats of water–pistol attacks on anyone exceeding their timeslot no doubt live long in the memory). The abstracts from those presentations are included for your enjoyment here. They cover an impressive range of topics and give a very positive impression of the service–based research being undertaken in neuropsychology departments across the UK.
Training on behaviour theory: Increasing staff confidence and understanding of interventions for challenging behaviour in a neuro-rehabilitation setting
Authors: Forbes Claire , Gilks Steve , Poveda Blanca
Published: January 2023

This paper reports on the impact of a one–hour training session on staff understanding of behavioural theory and confidence in managing challenging behaviour. The training was developed for staff working with neurological difficulties, including acquired brain injury. It aimed to provide staff with an understanding of basic behavioural theory concepts and how this may translate into possible interventions in their practice. As hypothesised, the training significantly increased staff self–reported confidence and understanding of behavioural interventions.
An evaluation of a telephone triaging system for traumatic brain injury referrals
Authors: Natalie Sowter , Lorraine King , Fiona Eccles
Published: January 2023

This paper builds upon our previous pilot study using a telephone triage service for traumatic brain injury (TBI) referrals. We have investigated effects of this new service on waiting times, attendance rates and use of clinical time during the first year of implementation. Waiting times reduced, 36 clinical hours were saved, and contrary to our predictions, the ‘did not attend’ (DNA) rate increased. Likely reasons for this unanticipated outcome are discussed, and further projects are recommended.
Healthcare professionals’ experiences of working with patients with MND: A qualitative study
Authors: Ben Hunt , Leon Dysch , Paula Smith
Published: January 2023

This paper describes a service evaluation that explored the experiences of healthcare professionals providing neurological rehabilitation and support to patients with motor neurone disease (MND). This formed part of a wider service development initiative which focused on improving resilience and wellbeing for staff working within a neurological rehabilitation service. Based on the findings, recommendations are made on how to promote and facilitate staff resilience when working with patients who have MND.
Vocational rehabilitation following acquired brain injury: A pilot service initiative
Authors: Robson Nichola , Witty Chloe
Published: January 2023

This article describes the development of a specialist vocational rehabilitation pathway within a CommunityAcquired Brain Injury (ABI) Service. The existing literature is briefly reviewed, an overview of a pilot vocationalrehabilitation group is given, and a preliminary evaluation of the group is described. We conclude with somereflections on developing the pathway and in particular on the role of the Vocational Coordinator in this work.
Evaluating a community interdisciplinary neurological rehabilitation team using patient interviews focused on self-management
Authors: Partridge Alice , Wilkinson-Tough Megan , Dysch Leon
Published: January 2023

The Planned Rehabilitation Team is a community interdisciplinary neurological rehabilitation team (CINRT) in the south west of England, providing rehabilitation for adults who have long-term neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and motor neuron disease. The service aims to help develop service users’ ability to self-manage their condition and become more independent by providing rehabilitation in their homes and local community. This paper reports an evaluation of the service via service-user interviews with individuals who have a long-term progressive neurological condition. The data, alongside a literature review and clinician feedback, were then used to develop recommendations about information provision, staff training and service protocols, which may be applicable to other similar teams.
The delivery of paediatric neuropsychological rehabilitation in the Covid-19 pandemic: A survey from the UK Paediatric Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Specialist Interest Group (PNRSIG)
Authors: Bennett Emily , Gosling Sophie , Harter Catherine , Watson Suzanna
Published: January 2023

The Covid-19 pandemic has driven a radical shift in practice for services to be able to provide remote neuropsychological interventions for children, young people and their families. This survey aimed to understand the changes in the delivery of paediatric neuropsychological rehabilitation during and after the first national lockdown. It sought to explore what could be learned from experiences across services in the UK. Thirty-six members of the PNRSIG responded to the survey questions. These questions addressed change in the delivery methods of individual work with children, young people and families as well as work with schools. The survey included respondents’ qualitative reflections on the adaptation to services. The discussion describes the implications for the future of service delivery with particular consideration of the access implications of remote service provision for vulnerable children and families.
The impact of Covid-19 and lockdown on the lives of people with traumatic brain injury: Do we need an increased focus on the assessment and enhancement of resilience?
Authors: Campbell Tomás , Parrett Neil
Published: January 2023

People with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have unique individual constellations of cognitive, behavioural and psychological difficulties that may affect their resilience to adverse events and ability to cope with stressors. Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns have affected the lives of everyone but may have had a disproportionate impact on the normal and protective structures, activities and routines of people with TBI. We discuss that Covid-19 will continue to affect all our lives for the foreseeable future and suggest that this is an opportunity for clinicians to work with people with TBI and their family and carers to identify individual resilience and vulnerabilities to minimise the negative consequences of Covid-related restrictions.
A pre-post study investigating the effectiveness of functional neurological disorder (FND) training to increase healthcare staff’s knowledge, and confidence in FND management
Authors: Samani Narissa , Burns Annmarie , Chan Joanne ,   Whittington Health
Published: January 2023

Educational interventions aimed at improving healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) knowledge and confidence in managing complex conditions are widely recommended. However, there is limited evidence regarding the impacts of such interventions on HCP confidence and knowledge in relation to the management of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). This investigation aimed to ascertain whether a two-hour FND training session, delivered online in group format, improved HCP confidence and knowledge in FND management, using a pre-post repeated measures design. Responses from 25 HCPs from community-based rehabilitation services at Whittington Health NHS Trust were included in the analysis. The findings indicated significant improvements in participant confidence and knowledge scores following training, suggesting the potential value of accessible low-cost training within the NHS. Future studies could adopt a randomised controlled trial design to reliably determine the effectiveness of delivering the training.
International news
Authors: Baron Helen ,   Convenor, International Liaison Group
Published: January 2023

The internationalisation of organisations and economic processes are commonplace. As occupational psychologists the implications of this needs to be incorporated into much of our work, whether it is considering the availability of translated versions when making decisions regarding assessment instruments or bearing in mind cultural norms in coaching a manager. The professional organisation of occupational psychologists is also increasingly international and it is one of the roles of the International Liaison Group of the DOP to monitor what is happening both in Europe and around the world for DOP members. This is a brief round-up of some things that have happened or are in progress that you may find it useful to know.
The threat to the integrity of occupational psychology’s research credibility
Authors: Fletcher Clive
Published: January 2023

The author is Professor Emeritus at Goldsmiths’ College, and MD of Personnel Assessment Ltd. He was a member of the Expert Panel which reviewed the future education and curriculum for occupational psychologists in 2011. What follows is apurely personal view on the main challenge for the profession and how we need to think more strategically about training provision in the future
Opinion: MBTI: The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: Still going strong and still getting it wrong
Authors: Carter Carl
Published: January 2023

This article was originally published in OP Matters No.32, December 2016
In Practice: How to ‘switch off’ from a stressful work day
Authors: Kinman Gail
Published: January 2023

Occupational psychologist Gail Kinman talks about the importance of downtime and explains how even busy teachers can fit it into their busy days.
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)
Authors: Armour Cherie
Published: January 2023

The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia. 5–7 November 2009.
International Gambling Conference – Gambling in the 21st century: The implications of technology for policy, practice and research
Authors: McCormack Abby
Published: January 2023

24–26 February 2010, Auckland, New Zealand.
Loneliness and health: An integration of complex systems
Authors: Harris Rebecca
Published: January 2023

The importance of social connection for health and well-being has been discussed at great length by psychologists. People experience the aversive state of loneliness when they perceive that their social connection needs are not met. This literature review aims to present current research outlining potential mechanisms that may link loneliness to poor health. The article also highlights the complex relationship between loneliness and health, involving a number of interacting physiological, neural, psychological and cognitive mechanisms. Cacioppo and Hawkley’s (2009) recent model of loneliness and health is identified as encompassing the complexity of these interacting factors; however limitations to the model are also highlighted.
Psychology people in profile
Authors: Loring Phil , Doran Kate
Published: January 2023

In this second of two interviews, Kate Doran asks Phil Loring, in his role as the Society’s Curator of Psychology at the Science Museum, how he promotes public engagement with psychology.
Developing an integrated model of eating disorders: A neurological perspective
Authors: Allely Clare
Published: January 2023

Clare Allely investigates altered brain activity and decreased grey matter in individuals with eating disorders: is it a neuro-developmental disorder.
Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into Peer Review: Responses from postgraduates
Authors: Jackson Emma , Bartlett Kirsten
Published: January 2023

‘Peer review is the most remarkable manifestation of a collaborative spirit of science and needs to be nurtured and fortified where necessary.’ (Pulverer, 2010)
Anthrozoology and positive behaviour support: How the study of assistance dogs in developmental disability can foster collaborative research and practice
Authors: Butterly Felicity , Percy Carol , Ward Gillian
Published: January 2023

This paper will argue that canine practice, anthrozoological theory, and assistance dog practice and research describe features of assistance dogs which may make them suitable as a positive behaviour support for challenging behaviours.
Understanding virtual relationships: A psycho-social perspective
Authors: Shah Adfer Rashid
Published: January 2023

This age is the age of telecommunication, an era of android/blackberry sensation and other advanced electronic forms/gadgets of communication. This is the time of new contact practices across the cultures and boundaries where social networking, connecting even to unknown people not for any particular significant purpose/reason but for pleasure seeking and leisure enjoyment is the order of the day. Today the internet is acting as the basic medium for interpersonal relationships that have merely got reduced to electronic conversations/bonds especially among youths. This conceptual paper takes a dig into the psycho-social aspect of the virtual relationships that still remains a least described corner of social relations in the contemporary era. Also the article discusses how virtual intimacy trend has changed the frequency and content of the entire communication in the contemporary times.
Sights, sounds and science in New Orleans
Authors: Robertson Sara
Published: January 2023

The 14th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, New Orleans, Louisana, 17–19 January 2013.
The International Investigative Interviewing Research Group Annual Conference 2012
Authors: Whelan Clea Wright
Published: January 2023

Toronto, Canada, 24–26 May.
2nd International Congress on Borderline Personality Disorder and Allied Disorders
Authors: Fisk Laura
Published: January 2023

European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders:www.esspd.eu

Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre, 27–29 September 2012.
International Conference on Eating Disorders 2013
Authors: Plateau Carolyn
Published: January 2023

Montreal, Canada, 1–4 May 2013.
Royal College of Nurses International Nursing Research Conference
Authors: Watts Jenny
Published: January 2023

Belfast, 20–22 March 2013
Development and delivery of an Outreach training event for postgraduate psychology students
Authors: Rowbotham Samantha , Noke Melissa , Butterworth Ruth
Published: January 2023

University Outreach programmes are important for providing opportunities for talented individuals from less privileged backgrounds to participate in higher education as well as communicating science to the public more broadly. In addition to this, it is an enjoyable and worthwhile way for postgraduates to boost their CVs while gaining valuable experience in communicating their topic to different audiences. The School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester has a thriving programme of Outreach activities but sometimes struggles to find postgraduate students to be involved in the development and delivery of these activities. As such, we decided to develop a training session to introduce postgraduate students to Outreach, with a view to increase knowledge of the kinds of activities they can get involved in and boost their confidence in developing and delivering new activities. Here we report on the format of the workshop and the feedback received from delegates as well as suggesting improvements and providing tips for people wishing to set up a similar project.
Family structure and Pakistani young adults’ anger expression
Authors: Eman Saima
Published: January 2023

A comparative study of joint versus nuclear family conflicts on expression of anger amongst Pakistani young adults.
The British Psychological Society Joint Cognitive Psychology Section & Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference 2013
Authors: Kwok Rosa
Published: January 2023

The University of Reading, 4–6 September 2013
The British Psychological Society Division of Clinical Psychology Annual Conference 2013
Authors: Brown Hannah
Published: January 2023

The Royal York Hotel, 4–6 December 2013
Studying cognition and behaviour in Williams Syndrome
Authors: Lough Emma , Greer Joanna , Cranwell Mathew , Riby Deborah M.
Published: January 2023

An article from the North East Williams Syndrome Research Group
Psychology People in Profile: Professor Jonathan A. Smith
Authors: Doran Kate
Published: January 2023

In the second of two interviews (Doran, 2014), Professor Jonathan A. Smith and Kate Doran discuss the development of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), its achievements and potential future directions.
Psychopathy: An overview
Authors: Lockwood Patricia
Published: January 2023

PSYCHOPATHY is a disorder characterised by callousness, shallow affect, lack of guilt, antisocial behaviour and impulsivity. Since the early characterisation of the disorder, psychopathy has intrigued medical professionals and the general public alike. Understanding the mechanisms that underpin psychopathy is critical: these individuals commit a disproportionate amount of crime and are more likely to reoffend than criminals without psychopathic traits. Indeed, with the cost of antisocial behaviour in the UK an estimated £3.4 billion (www.police-foundation.org.uk), delineating the mechanisms of psychopathy could help to develop treatments and potentially reduce the burden of antisocial behaviour. This discussion paper will give a brief overview of research on the development of psychopathy, how psychopathy is measured and diagnosed, and studies examining the behavioural and neural profile associated with psychopathy.
‘The times they are a changin’: A historical perspective on PsyPAG 2005–2008
Authors: Moore David
Published: January 2023

This period represented a time of great change for PsyPAG, bought about by the hard work of the committee. Dr David Moore shares his experiences during this period, in his roles as Chair and The PsyPAG Quarterly Editor.
Where are they now?
Authors: Williams Kate
Published: January 2023

With PsyPAG roles lasting two years, many members have been involved in the organisation during its 30 year history. In this special issue, Alumni Officer, Kate Williams, caught up with our alumni to find out their involvement in PsyPAG and their career progression since.
Tips for collecting data in public sector organisations
Authors: McFarlane Helen
Published: January 2023

Recent issues of The PsyPAG Quarterly have included articles on the practicalities of collecting data in schools (Jayman, 2014; Rix, 2014). Reading these led me to reflect on my own experiences of data collection in the NHS and, more recently, in the civil service. I resonated with some of the challenges the authors described, such as planning the research and building relationships. However, in conducting research in public sector organisations I have also experienced many unique challenges. The following tips are based on these experiences of collecting data within such organisations and I believe that they will be helpful to anyone planning to collect data within the public sector.
BPS Postgraduate Conference and PsyPAG Conference organisers: Then and Now
Authors: Norris Emma
Published: January 2023

As we eagerly await our 30th anniversary conference in Glasgow, we wanted to see how far the event has come over the years. Lead Editor Emma Norris interviewed the Lead organisers of the 1983 BPS Postgraduate Conference (renamed as PsyPAG for the 1985 conference, see Kemp & Ussher article),Sue Northrop(@SueNorthrop) and this year’s conference,Niamh Friel, to understand their experiences of the event.
Professor Paul Kennedy
Authors: Hearn Jasmine
Published: January 2023

DPhil student Jasmine Hearn interviewed Clinical Psychologist Professor Paul Kennedy of the National Spinal Injuries Centre and the University of Oxford. Paul shared his experiences working in the field of chronic illness, the impact of psychology at the National Spinal Injures Centre, and his advice for others seeking careers in clinical psychology and research.
Tips for conducting a systematic review
Authors: Yee Tang Mei
Published: January 2023

A systematic review is a common feature in the early stages of PhD study, allowing in-depth understanding of existing literature. This article provides advice on all stages of the review process to guide you along.
Undertaking community-based research
Authors: Walton Michael
Published: January 2023

Stepping out of the laboratory and into the community can be both daunting and exciting. This article outlines some methods that can be helpful in overcoming some of the challenges, and making the most of community research. Here I outline some hints and tips for researchers in relation to getting to know the community; community participation; employing multiple and mixed methodology; creativity and researcher reflexivity.
Are postgraduates morning people…?
Authors: Hartley James
Published: January 2023

Stereotype threat describes the experience of being viewed through the lens of a negative stereotype. This socialpsychological phenomenon demonstrates the deleterious effects that negative societal stereotypes can exert on performance. The current article provides a general overview of the past two decades of stereotype threat research, and highlights the generality of these effects across a diverse range of tasks and populations. This article also appraises critically the mechanisms that have been proposed to moderate and mediate stereotype threat effects, interventions developed to ameliorate it, and provides future avenues for research. This theory showcases the importance of recognising how our social world, and not inherent differences between groups, may underwrite social inequality. In addition to its contribution to the field of social psychology, this theory has far-reaching implications for schools and educational reform, particularly in reducing achievement gaps among minority groups.
Purls of Wisdom: Reflections on presenting qualitative research
Authors: Coxon Astrid
Published: January 2023

Having given her first academic conference presentation at the 30th Annual PsyPAG Conference in Glasgow, Astrid Coxon reflects on the experience, and encourages future PsyPAG conference delegates to take the plunge.
The development and measurement of hypersociability in Williams Syndrome
Authors: Gillooly Amanda
Published: January 2023

Williams Syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder which is characterised by an atypical social profile whereby individuals have been reported to show excessive friendliness and heightened approach behaviour towards strangers. Several theories have been proposed to account for the development of this heightened social approach behaviour and these have been tested within the literature with mixed results. Multiple methodologies have been employed to measure social approach behaviour in Williams Syndrome and the accumulated findings have supported this atypical social profile. This discussion paper will provide an overview of the atypical social profile in Williams Syndrome, drawing upon both theory and research evidence to account for its development. It will also discuss the different methodologies used to measure social approach behaviour.
11th International Conference on Developmental Coordination Disorder (Toulouse, France, July 2015)
Authors: Hodgson Jessica
Published: January 2023

In this article, I provide a review of my experience at the International Conference on Developmental Coordination Disorder, which was held in Toulouse, France in July 2015. The article gives an overview of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), describes some of the presentations given and evaluates the conference format. Overall the experience was a positive one and I would highly recommend this biennial meeting to other researchers.
LEA Adviser’s experience of headteacher appraisal
Authors: Kyriacou Chris
Published: January 2023

This study is based on questionnaires completed by eight LEA advisers concerning their experience of headteacher appraisal in one Local Education Authority. Their view is alat the scheme of appraisal adopted in their LEA has largely been operating successfully, and that their involvement as one of the appraisers has been very useful in enhancing the quality of the headteacher’s appraisal. They wished to see headteacher appraisal continue, largely in its current form and with the involvement of LEA advisers, but were concerned that the future of headteacher appraisal and their involvement in it may be undermined by a lack offunding.
Stress on transfer from primary to secondary school: the contributions of A-trait, live events and family functioning
Authors: Karagiannopoulou Evangelia
Published: January 2023

Transfer from primary to secondary school is one of the crucial events in pupils’ school lives and forms an important part of their development. This study explores the contributions of Trait Anxiety, Life Events and Family Functioning in predicting transfer stress. The sample consisted of 120 first-grade pupils attending a comprehensive school in outer London. The findings showed that anxiety as a personality characteristic was the best predictor of transfer stress followed by measures of family functioning. Somatic and affective characteristics differentiated best between high and low stress pupils. The study suggests that the family has an important role to play in assisting children in coping with transjier.
The effectiveness of playful practice for learning in the early years
Authors: Thomas Lynne , Howard Justine , Miles Gareth
Published: January 2023

Despite the centrality of play within curriculum initiatives for the early years and the significant amount of research interest in play over the last four decades, there remains little empirical support for the relationship between play and learning. Reasons for this paucity include the difficulty of providing an operational definition of play and the issue of isolating the developmental potential of play for experimental manipulation. This paper proposes that both of these problems might be minimised by perceiving playfulness as an approach to an activity, rather than as a set of observable behaviours. The study investigates the effectiveness of playful practice using a problem solving task (timed completion of jigsaw puzzles). Thirty children aged three to five years (mean age 4:7 years) were assigned to either a formal or playful practice condition. The manipulation of cues to construct conditions was based on previous findings about children’s perceptions of play. Results demonstrate that performance is significantly improved through playful practice at both immediate and delayed post-test.
Big-Fish-Little-Pond effect: The negative effects of academically selective schools
Authors: O’Mara Alison J. , Marsh Herbert W.
Published: January 2023

Academically selective schools (i.e. schools in which the average ability of students in the school is high) are intended to have positive effects on academic self-concept. A positive self-belief about one’s academic accomplishments is an important outcome and has been shown to facilitate the attainment of a wide variety of other desirable educational outcomes (Marsh & Craven, 2006). However, a growing body of theoretical and empirical research demonstrates that the effects of school-average ability on academic self-concept can be negative. Thus, attending academically selective schools tends to diminish academic self-concepts rather than to enhance them. These empirical results are consistent with the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE), which predicts that equally able students have lower academic self-concepts when attending schools where the average ability levels of classmates is high, and higher academic self-concepts when attending schools where the school-average ability is low. Here we briefly summarise theoretical, empirical, and policy-related implications of the BFLPE.
Individual Paper: The key features of effective drug, alcohol and tobacco education: The absence of craving
Authors: Roderique-Davies Gareth , Shearer David
Published: January 2023

Schools in England and Wales are required to teach a comprehensive drugs education programme in key stages 1 through to 4. A number of information sources are available to teachers covering the key features of effective drug, alcohol and tobacco education. A notable absence in the information available to teachers is the concept of ‘craving’. For many craving is central to drug use behaviour and will inevitably form a part of discussions concerning drug use and abuse. This article considers what craving is, what its importance in drug use behaviour is, and suggests that exclusion of specific reference to the term ‘craving’ is perhaps sensible given the uncertainty of it as a construct, but an appreciation of the complexity is necessary for appropriate drugs education.
Fish in the water of culture: Signs and symbols in young children’s drawing
Authors: Worthington Maulfry
Published: January 2023

The graphical symbols young children use in their drawings reveal their sign-producing practices. Whilst children’s earliest marks or ‘graphical structures’ appear to be universal (Matthews, 1999), analysis of children’s drawings also point to a complex relationship between social semiotics and the socio-cultural contexts in which children create meanings (Vygotsky, 1978; Kress, 1997).

The data for this paper was collected during the first phase of doctoral research into young children’s imaginative play, exploring how this relates to graphicacy and mathematical thinking. Drawings were gathered from children’s self-initiated play in two nursery settings in England, and from two schools in the Netherlands.

The processes that facilitate the crossing of signs and shared meanings between one child and another was not immediately clear; however, they can be understood through the means of ‘joint attention’, a human facility that allows us to pass on aspects of our culture through understanding others’ intentionality, (Tomasello, 1999).

In all their graphicacy children ‘internalize the communicative intentions behind the physical symbol …’ (which) ‘like linguistic symbols, may be internalized and used as aids for thinking’ (Tomasello, 1999, p.131). Finally sign use in this study is related to children’s mathematical graphics (Carruthers & Worthington, 2005, 2006). The study underscores the importance of drawing and symbolic play for young children in which meanings combine with culture to shape children’s graphical narrative. It supports a social-semiotic perspective of children’s mathematical graphics that originate in rich symbolic play and drawings: As Vygotsky (1978) saw so clearly, we are ‘fish in the water of culture’ (Tomasello, 1999, p.215).
Changing school environments and educational outcomes: A longitudinal approach
Authors: McEwen Sharon , Edgerton Edward , McKechnie Jim
Published: January 2023

The current research investigated students’ perceptions of the physical school environment when they moved to a school environment that was new to them. Changes in self-esteem, motivation and school-related behaviours were also assessed. The results revealed that students’ perceptions of their physical school environment changed when they moved to a different school building. In addition, the results lend support to previous research suggesting that when students’ perceive negative changes to their physical school environment; they preserve their self-esteem and motivation by placing less value on physical aspects of the environment. Although changes to the physical school environment may account for some changes in students school-related behaviours, alternative explanations are considered. The findings and implications are discussed with reference to relevant research.
United Kingdom Special Educational Needs (SEN) 2010. Reflections and current concerns
Authors: Pumfrey Peter D.
Published: January 2023

The importance of the values underpinning the type of society in which we wish to live and the education we consider should be provided for our children, whether or not they are deemed to have Special Educational Needs (SEN), are of the essence. Such values are also complex and often controversial (Haydon, 2007).

In the UK, long before 2010, the phrase ‘Special Educational Needs’ (SEN) had ceased to be the preserve of educational specialists. The concept was introduced to state schools across the UK 32 years ago (Warnock, 1978). Nowadays the phrase has a widespread linguistic currency across the general population. A guide for parents and carers has been published (DFES, 2001). SEN is also legally recognised (OPSI, 2001). Despite this, there appear to be no consensus approach to objectively defining and identifying SEN. In principal and in practice, moves towards making all stages of education inclusion-friendly represent an explicit acceptance that every child matters. Wherever possible, addressing SEN in mainstream schools is advocated (DCSF, 2009a).

Given this context, in 2010 is the term SEN valuable, or not, to:

(a) the individual pupil; and

(b) pupils comprising administratively identified groups in our educational system?
Special Edition article Can ‘emotionally intelligent’ coping promote adaptation in young people?
Authors: Davis Sarah K.
Published: January 2023

A growing body of research supports a link between emotional intelligence (EI) and better educational and health outcomes in young people. However, little is known about the processes underpinning this association. Literature suggests that EI may promote adaptation by influencing coping processes. This article evaluates how far extant research supports these claims. It is concluded that whilst EI appears to make an adaptive contribution to the mental health of young people and has the potential to do so for educational achievement, effects appear context-specific. Gaps in current knowledge are highlighted together with recommendations for progression of the field.
Special Edition article: The protective effects of mindfulness against burnout among educators
Authors: Abenavoli Rachel M. , Jennings Patricia A. , Greenberg Mark T. , Harris Alexis R. , Katz Deirdre A.
Published: January 2023

Because many educators experience stress and burnout, identifying factors that promote health and wellbeing among teachers and school staff is critical. Educators’ mindfulness is one aspect of social-emotional competence that may protect them from experiencing burnout and its negative consequences. In the current study, 64 educators completed self-report measures of mindfulness, burnout, affect, sleep-related impairment, daily physical symptoms, stress, and ambition. Results of cross-sectional analyses indicated that educators’ mindfulness had strong, consistent negative associations with three widely-studied components of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and low personal accomplishment. The link between mindfulness and burnout was partially explained by affect, sleep-related impairment, and daily physical symptoms. In addition, the protective effect of mindfulness was most pronounced among more stressed and more ambitious educators. This study adds to accumulating evidence that mindfulness promotes resilience in educators and may foster healthy educators, classrooms, and students.
Annual Conference 2013 paper: Different perspectives and levels of analysis in research into university learning and teaching
Authors: Entwistle Noel , Karagiannopoulou Evangelia , Ólafsdóttir Anna
Published: January 2023

Research into university learning and teaching is generally intended to suggest ways of enhancing students’ experiences of studying and the quality of their learning. To gain a fuller understanding of the complexity of the processes involved, research has adopted contrasting perspectives and differing levels of analysis. This article looks at these varying approaches to research to illustrate complementary strengths that can provide a fuller understanding of the influences on how students learn and academics teach.
Annual Conference 2015 paper Self-efficacy and moral disengagement in Mexican secondary school bullying bystanders
Authors: Romero Maria Lopez , Kyriacou Chris
Published: January 2023

The role of bystander involvement in bullying has been widely researched and documented. Nevertheless, bystanders who stop the bullying and/or aid the victim are still the exception rather than the norm. Two factors that seem to be closely related with the decision by bystanders regarding whether to support the victim, are their levels of self-efficacy and moral disengagement. This study seeks to explore students’ perception of their own power to make a difference in bullying situations and their level of responsibility towards their victimized peers. These perceptions will be compared before and after a bystander focused intervention at a secondary school in Mexico in order to explore moral disengagement dynamics and the bystander roles that students can adopt to make a difference within their own behavioural repertoire. This intervention model could increase responsible bystander intervention and reduce bullying situations in schools. This paper presents preliminary findings from the pre-intervention data collection stage.
Enhancing mental health through social pedagogy: A case study of a music course for troubled adults
Authors: Kyriacou Chris
Published: January 2023

One of the major challenges facing society is how to offer help and support for troubled adults experiencing mental health problems. The practice of social pedagogy often involves working with others in ways that will help to enhance their self-esteem and self-confidence, and empower them to engage in actions that will improve their lives. The case study reported here was based on observations of six teaching sessions and interviews with ten troubled adults taking part in a course on music designed for troubled adults living in the local community. The study identified aspects of social pedagogic practice evident in how participants experienced the course, and how such practice was perceived by participants as enhancing their mental health.
Enhancing wellbeing: The necessity and implications of a culturally-grounded interdisciplinary conceptualisation
Authors: McLellan Ros
Published: January 2023

Psychologists, in recent years, have been leading the way in conceptualising and assessing young people’s wellbeing. In the UK, the highly influential annual Good Childhood report in particular has done much to establish which aspects of their lives that young people consider to be important for their wellbeing and identify areas of concern. Governments worldwide are taking notice of wellbeing supporting national and international assessment programmes. However, conceptually the field needs clarity and the contributions of different disciplinary perspectives still need to be fully realised, with even the key distinction between hedonic (feeling well) and eudaimonic (functioning well) aspects of wellbeing made by positive psychologists not being fully recognised in measurement programmes. If young people’s wellbeing in education is to be enhanced, I will argue in this paper that first of all we need to conceptualise it more clearly and drawing on my own research from the UK and Kazakhstan, as well as other work, that this needs to be done with consideration to interdisciplinary and culturally-grounded perspectives.
Starting school: Contrasting perspectives from teachers and mothers in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Atkinson Susan J. , Takriti Rachel A.
Published: January 2023

A positive first transition to school leads to greater academic and social success. Ecological perspectives argue that the child, school, and family are all stakeholders, involved in and affected by transitions. Therefore, understanding the viewpoints of stakeholders about the first days in school is essential. In the present study, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with teachers and mothers of children starting school in the private school system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 10 foundation stage teachers, 10 UK expat mothers living in the UAE, and 10 UAE mothers were interviewed. All were teachers or mothers at the British curriculum private schools in Al Ain in the UAE. Mothers were asked to reflect on their child’s first days in school, and teachers were asked about the first days with a new class. Responses were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Two themes emerged for teachers: ‘A New Order’ and ‘Talking not Crying’, the focus of the first few days at school was on establishing routines and order, which would indicate successful transition. Crying is seen as a barrier to a successful transition. For mothers, the main themes were: ‘Positive Experiences’ and ‘Adapting to Change’. Additionally, two themes ‘Choice of Curriculum’ and ‘What we can Afford’ emerged for UK Mothers. An additional theme ‘Importance of English Language’ was identified for UAE Mothers. The findings suggest key stakeholders—teachers and parents—have different expectations around the first few days in school and what indicates a successful transition. Implications for transition policies and practices are discussed.
Negative capability: A phenomenological study of lived experiences at the edge of certitude and incertitude
Authors: Behal Anil
Published: January 2023

The study examined what it was like for leaders in academia, private practice, and business organisations to be in a state of negative capability during periods of uncertainty and conflict in the workplace. ‘Negative capability’ is an expression that was coined by the English romantic poet John Keats and suggests a peculiar disposition to stay in mysteries, doubts, and uncertainty without the irritable reaching after fact and reason. Interviews were conducted using the interpretative phenom enological analysis (IPA) m ethodology. The analysis indicates that the context in which a leader is embedded does not have a significant bearing on how that individual experiences and makes sense of negative capability. The majority of participants interviewed appear to have a diminished capacity to contain uncertainty when faced with paradoxical dilemmas. In such situations, they resort to behaviours such as problem solving, consulting others, shutting down, and dispersing as a means of defending against the uncertainty. An interesting correlation seems to exist between negative capability and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This warrants future research, and is reported in the final section of the paper under ‘deviant findings.’
Big Pharma(kos): The stigmatised scapegoat of medicalisation and the ethics of psychiatric diagnosis
Authors: Robbins Brent Dean , Karter Justin Michael , Gallagher Kevin
Published: January 2023

Psychotherapy has been identified as a form of applied ethics and moral dialogue which is necessarily value-laden. The ethical aspiration toward beneficence obligates psychologists to care for the wellbeing of others, including the wellbeing of the client, his or her relationships, and even the society at large. This paper is an attempt to reflexively examine the ethics of the prevailing narrative of mental health and illness in our culture. Drawing primarily from the works of Rene Girard, Ernest Becker and Erich Fromm, we have identified in the medicalising narrative of psychiatric diagnosis, a scapegoat narrative reinforced through socially conditioned filters and motivated as a defence against death anxiety and the existential condition. We have labelled this a ‘narrative of differentiation’ as it largely functions to maintain society by arbitrating and essentialising differences between well and unwell and normal and abnormal. We then briefly examine this narrative as it relates to two psychiatric diagnostic groups, those with eating disorders and substance use disorders. We claim that, as a result of the aspiration to beneficence, it is imperative that psychotherapists critically examine ways that psychiatric diagnosis and other clinical practices may serve mythologising functions that might scapegoat individuals as a way to conceal pathological patterns in the culture at large. In conclusion, we identify those social conditions necessary to weaken this narrative of differentiation, allowing for a more inclusive society to emerge.
Music and (narrative) psychology: A literature review
Authors: Regout Ghislaine T.M.
Published: January 2023

Previous research has shown that music can have a positive influence on mood, and memory, and a positive effect on learning and shaping of identity, as well as the treatment of mood disorders, and dementia, has also been found. Consequently music may be of use during therapy. This review explores these effects and discusses possible implementation of music in various forms of psychotherapy. Consequences for these findings, and possible future research, is discussed.
Teaching presentation skills to undergraduates: students’ evaluations of a workshop course
Authors: Colman Andrew M.
Published: January 2023

A 10-hour workshop-based course designed to teach communication skills to undergraduates is described and evaluated. In five two-hour sessions, the course covered technical aspects of written communication, oral presentations to small and medium-sized groups, interview skills, non-verbal communication, and skills associated with assessing the presentations of others and providing constructive feedback. Evidence from a course evaluation questionnaire and from observations of the students’ performance suggests that the course was reasonably successful in achieving its aims.
Teaching psychology: a vade mecum
Authors: Brown George
Published: January 2023

This paper provides a review of research on learning and teaching in higher education. It suggests that a useful framework for considering teaching might be based on the notions of methods, structures, skills and styles. It outlines the major findings of research on learning, lecturing, small group teaching, practical work and projects and it touches upon the research on assessment of student learning. It offers some suggestions and guidelines for enhancing teaching and it provides a personal perspective that might encourage some readers to reflect upon the purposes and nature of teaching and learning in undergraduate psychology.
‘I have learned that psychology is linked to almost everything we do.’ Developing and evaluating the impact of a work–based learning module in an undergraduate psychology programme.
Authors: Wrennall Michael , Forbes Douglas
Published: January 2023

Providing structured work experience for undergraduate psychology students is seen by many authors, employers and students as academically desirable and the Dearing Report (1997) indicates that work experience is something which all undergraduates should undertake. It is a problem for psychology degree course administrators to provide relevant work experiences and few courses do this. To provide work experience for psychology students at Glasgow Caledonian University, a second level credit bearing module was developed enabling students who are working part time to capitalise on their part time work. The module requires students to reflect on the job they are doing, the skills they are developing in the work setting and to relate aspects of their psychological knowledge to the job itself. Early evaluation, both qualitative and quantitative, has already shown that the module has been well received by the students and that it is enhancing their learning experiences as undergraduate psychology students.