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 to 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 tackle 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 which impact on 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 on learner motivation and self-esteem
• Supporting educational transitions through insights from psychology and education
• Individual differences and systemic factors which hinder outcomes at the learner/school level
• School/college/HE 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 interest. 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 but will setup a social media account and utilise it as a channel for regular member engagement. We will be active in applying for research funding to major research councils to fund interdisciplinary projects. We will encourage and facilitate our members’ contributions to the range of BERA publications and digital resources. We will build on and extend these initiatives as we firmly establish the SIG and expand its membership.