Psychology Research Themes
Research themes in the Department of Psychology address real-world issues. Our themes are underpinned by significant research strengths, ranging from forensic to cognitive psychology and social to health psychology.
Members of the Department have been very active research leaders and have a substantial track record of research outputs. The REF Unit of Assessment 4 (Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience) largely consists of staff within the Psychology Department, which expanded rapidly in size and research capacity over the period 2014-2021. UoA4’s Research Power rank increased from 76th to 60th in REF 2021, and the UoA is busy gearing up for REF 2029.
The Department has a vibrant, inclusive research environment and currently supports nearly 20 research students working on a wide range of topics, from the impact of music on learning transfer in a leadership context to behavioural and experimental factors in investigative interviewing.
There two dynamic research centres and four research groups - see below for more information on each.
Explore our research themes
Understanding and Enhancing Communication and Information Exchange
Improving our understanding and the accuracy of communication and information processing in face to face and digital contexts.
Research in this theme informs our understanding of how people communicate with each other in various media. This work tries to understand the processes by which people may communicate important personal and everyday information, from their mere appearance to their sharing of personal narrative. This theme includes work that ranges from internet-mediated communication in an online environment to the interpersonal experience of people sharing spaces.
By providing a rigorous scientific framework for studying communication (e.g. psychophysical, neuroimaging and computational models), we seek to identify the key factors that influence how we communicate and how we interpret the communication of others. This knowledge has far-reaching implications for a wide range of fields, including forensic investigations, healthcare and business.
Find out more about research under this theme by exploring:
The Brain and Cognition Research Group
Promoting human flourishing
To understand and promote the educational, health, and wellbeing outcomes necessary to maximise life chances and enable all people to achieve their full potential in different contexts, throughout their lives.
Successful human flourishing is underpinned by key enablers including quality of health, mental health, and wellbeing, opportunities for meaningful learning, and engagement with others in the context of our lives. Our research in this theme, focusses on gathering evidence for best practice approaches to support the journey to flourishing for all, including vulnerable groups.
In particular, our work emphasises:
- Family and peer relationships in childhood and adolescence
- Educational experiences during school and beyond
- Promotion of healthy behaviours
- Evaluation of behaviour change interventions
- Participation and leadership in the workplace
- Community engagement
Find out more about research under this theme by exploring:
The Engaging Communities Research Centre
The Healthy Lives Research Group
The Childhood and Youth Psychology Research Group
The Social and Organisational Psychology Research Group
Tackling Inequality and Injustice
To reduce and prevent social and systematic determinants of inequality and injustice.
Meeting significant social challenges at local, national and international levels, work within this theme is focussed on fairness, inclusivity and equality for all, across the lifespan. We achieve this through cutting edge research and evidence-based interventions, training and policies.
Working closely with collaborators, industry, government stakeholders and global partners, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, we strive to reduce inequality and injustice across a wide range of aspects. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Criminal justice processes
- Education
- Development
- Health and wellbeing
- Culture and society
The applied focus of our research ensures significant beneficial impact for all our stakeholders.
Find out more about research under this theme by exploring:
The Engaging Communities Research Centre
The Childhood and Youth Psychology Research Group
The Healthy Lives Research Group
The Social and Organisational Psychology Research Group