Championing interdisciplinary research excellence
Psychology plays a foundational role in education. Over recent decades, the interrelationship between the two disciplines has become increasingly interwoven with major shifts in the educational landscape and the role and responsibilities of educators. Some knowledge and understanding of psychology has both theoretical and applied relevance for education professionals and can support practitioners in tackling contemporary problems in education settings. This SIG will embrace the intersection between psychology and education and offers an interdisciplinary lens to explore and debate some of the most inspiring and challenging issues society is facing today. It will explore individual, societal, systemic and global factors that impact education and learning, including policies, school cultures and social relationships. This SIG will be of interest to those with or without an existing base in psychology and offers rich opportunities for interdisciplinary networking, discourse, research collaboration and collective voice.
Research interests
- The special educational needs agenda and developing collaborative partnerships
- Factors impacting learner motivation and self-esteem
- Supporting educational transitions through insights from psychology and education
- Individual differences and systemic factors that hinder outcomes at the learner/school level
- School/college/higher education cultures and social relationships
- The influence of intersectional psychological factors on cognition and learning
- Adaptation and managing the multiple concurrent changes occurring across the sector
SIG aims:
The Education and Psychology SIG aims to generate passionate engagement with key research topics encompassing a broad range of cross-disciplinary interests. It will provide a forum to critically discuss and promote a deeper understanding of the multiple, complex and global issues facing contemporary education. It will facilitate research partnerships exploring important areas of interdisciplinary inquiry and contribute to knowledge, practice and policy advancements.
In the first instance, we will host a launch event to convene and consult with members and agree the SIG priorities and aims. Further to this, we will set up regular online informal meetings to facilitate networking, exchange ideas and build our membership base. From the outset, we will liaise with our external partners to set up a working group and plan collaborative activities. In the first year, we will host an annual conference (theme to be agreed by members). We will produce a minimum of three newsletters each year to communicate with all members and will set up a social media account and use it as a channel for regular member engagement. We will be active in applying to major research councils for research funding for interdisciplinary projects. We will encourage and facilitate our members’ contributions to the range of Âé¶¹ÒùÔº publications and digital resources. We will build on and extend these initiatives as we firmly establish the SIG and expand its membership.