Department of Psychology
We are a forward-looking and energetic department combining excellence in learning and teaching with a strong and active research culture. We strive to provide the best educational experience and take pride in doing so within a friendly, intimate and supportive learning environment.
We offer a growing portfolio of Psychology programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Our British Psychological Society-accredited degrees explore every aspect of human behaviour, from biological, social and developmental psychology to psychological disorders and cognitive neuroscience.
The department organises an annual seminar series with internal and external guest speakers. These events are open to all staff and students, and students are actively encouraged to attend.
Our research feeds directly into our teaching, ensuring a fresh, vibrant learning experience with academics who have an international reputation in their specialist area. What’s more, there are opportunities for students to get directly involved with our research during their degree.
Our research activity is organised into four research groups and one research centre, focussing on Brain and Cognition, Social and Organisational Psychology, Childhood and Youth Psychology, Health Psychology and Forensic and Investigative Psychology, and reflecting our research strengths. See below for more information on each.
Watch our subject video
PhD opportunities in Forensic Psychology
From vulnerable witnesses to interviewing children in a hospital setting, the Centre for Forensic and Investigative Psychology (CFIP) is delighted to announce a fascinating array of postgraduate research supervision opportunities. Visit the CFIP website to find out more and get in touch.
Latest news
Jan 2024: Psychologist teams up with Education experts on creativity in schools
Cognitive Psychologist Prof. Paul Sowden has joined forces with the renowned Centre for Real-World Learning on The Creativity Collaborative, an Arts Council-funded project to embed creativity in the school curriculum. A joint event takes place on 25 January at the University. Find out more about the Creativity Collaborative.
Dec 2023: Winchester Psychology student volunteers to help tackle loneliness this Christmas
Final-year Psychology student Olivia volunteers for Hammersley Homes, which supports adults with mental health challenges in Hampshire. Every week she talks to the same two people on the phone, and at this time of year, her listening ear is particularly welcome to those who struggle with loneliness and mental health issues. Read the full BBC article.
Consultancy and research facilities
The Department of Psychology offers consultancy services and has cutting-edge facilities and laboratories for psychology research, as well as cubicles for experimental work. We have also been able to invest in state-of-the-art software and equipment. Explore our excellent facilities.
For all the latest from this dynamic department, follow Psychology at Winchester on Twitter
Meet the Psychology team
Academic team
- Dr Samuel Nyman, Reader in Psychology/Head of Department
- Dr Sarah Bayless, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Valérie Bonnardel, Reader in Experimental Psychology
- Dr Kim Bradley-Cole, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Psychology
- Dr Deborah Crossland, Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Andrea Gibbons, Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr David Giles, Reader in Media Psychology
- Dr Daniel Gill, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Debra Gray, Reader in Psychology
- Dr Margaret Husted, Reader in Psychology
- Dr Rhiannon Jones, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Feni Kontogianni, Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Jenny Kontosthenous, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology
- Dr Gary Lancaster, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Joost Leunissen, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Lynn McKeague, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Beth Parsons, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Franchesca Potts, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology
- Dr Jordan Randell, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Kirsty Ross, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Cassie Richardson, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Liam Satchell, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Prof. Paul Sowden, Professor of Psychology, Cognition and Creativity
- Dr Joe Stubbersfield, Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Amy Warhurst, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Frances Warren, Lecturer in Psychology
- Dr Adrian Whyte, Lecturer in Psychology
Research Staff
Technical Staff
Eleanor studied BSc Psychology at the University of Warwick and graduated with a First in 2019, before joining the Psychology Department at the University of Winchester as a Research Assistant. In March 2020, she joined the Psychology Technicians Team, supporting teaching and research in the Department. Her role includes providing technical support to teaching on modules, creating practical experiments for use in workshops, and helping our students conduct their own research projects. She have specialist knowledge of methods such as Electroencephalography (EEG) and Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES). In addition to her work as a Psychology Technician, she is undertaking a PhD in cognitive neuroscience and psychopathology. Specifically, her research is centred around investigating electrical brain activity involved in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and associated traits.
Grant holds a BSc Hons in sport science from the University of Winchester and an MSc in exercise physiology from the University of Chichester. Grant has many years technical experience, having previously worked at Southampton Solent and Portsmouth Universities. Within these roles, he supported research and teaching activities in the psychology, physiology and biomechanics laboratories. Also, he was involved in many consultancy projects involving premier league football teams and Olympic para-athletes, in addition to projects of a more occupational nature. While at Portsmouth University, he gained experience working in specialist environmental chambers; aimed at researching the physiological and cognitive responses to all manner of extreme environmental conditions.
Neale's desire to understand and be able to explain both natural and synthetic systems started at an early age through his interest in mathematics and the natural sciences. With over 25 years’ experience of involvement within higher education, Neale holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Computing as well as a Master's degree (with Distinction) in Natural Computation. Recently, he completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in HE, becoming a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Additionally, Neale has spent several years conducting postgraduate research. During his time in academia, Neale has worked as a Technician in five Psychology departments across the country, supported high-impact research projects, taught and assisted on a wide variety of course modules and has received and been nominated for a number of awards. Joining the Psychology department in December 2022 as a Technician, Neale brings a wealth of experience including psychophysiology, eye tracking and experimental psychology.
Visiting Research Fellows
Research in Psychology
Research Themes
Research themes in the Department of Psychology connect research with wider society to bring about positive change. Our overarching themes are:
- Understanding and Enhancing Communication and Information Exchange
- Promoting Human Flourishing
- Tackling Inequality and Injustice
Find out more about each theme.
Research groups and centres
The Department has a vibrant, inclusive research environment organised around four research groups and two research centres.
Centre for Forensic and Investigative Psychology
The aim of the Centre for Forensic and Investigative Psychology is to encourage and develop research opportunities, as well as dissemination of such research with interested parties, both within the University of Winchester and externally.
Find out more about the Centre for Forensic and Investigative Psychology and meet the team
Engaging Communities Research Centre
Our newest research and knowledge exchange centre, developing psychologically and community-informed solutions to contemporary social issues.
Find out more about the Engaging Communities Research Centre
Brain and Cognition Research Group
This group conducts work on fundamental cognitive processes and on brain and cognition in relation to a range of settings including health, education and the criminal justice system.
Find out more about the Brain and Cognition Research Group and meet the team
Healthy Lives Research Group
This interdisciplinary group is interested in individual and population health across the lifespan and across different contexts and cultures. Much of the research undertaken by group members is focussed on 'behaviour', whether in terms of typical health behaviours such as physical activity, or aspects such as patient decision-making or health organisations’ working practices.
Find out more about the Healthy Lives Research Group and meet the team
Childhood and Youth Psychology Research Group
This group conducts research to understand children’s and adolescents’ social, emotional and cognitive development, with the aim of improving psychological wellbeing, relationships at home and school, and academic achievement.
Find out more about the Childhood and Youth Psychology Research Group and meet the team
Social and Organisational Research Group
This group specialises in social psychology, organisational psychology, political psychology, personality and individual differences, and media study, aiming to delineate individual and social behaviours in social and organisational contexts.
Find out more about the Social and Organisational Research Group and meet the team
Criminal Justice Research Network
A collaboration of practitioners and academics working in the field of criminal justice, led by University of Winchester forensic psychology, criminology and policing experts.
Postgraduate research
Supervision
The Department offers research supervision in a wide range of subjects. We currently support nearly 20 research students. To find out more about supervision, explore our academic staff profile pages above for individual areas of supervision.
Research and teaching facilities
Our excellent facilities comprise:
- Electro-encephalography and Neurostimulation Lab
- Social Interaction Suite
- Infant and Child Observation Suite
- Alcohol Research (‘Bar’) Lab
- Eye Tracking Lab
- Virtual Reality Lab
- Colour and Psychophysics Lab
- A suite of two-person, general-purpose project labs
- A psychometric test library
- Psychophysiological measurement equipment (e.g. Actigraphy, BioPAC)
- Support for a wide range of online experiments (e.g. Qualtrics, Matlab, EPrime)
Find out more about Psychology reseach, teaching and Knowledge Exchange facilities
