Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T18:08:45.312Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Educational Psychologists as Researchers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2013

Keith Topping
Affiliation:
School of Education, University of Dundee, United Kingdom
Fraser Lauchlan*
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom
*
Address for correspondence: Fraser Lauchlan, School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond Street, Glasgow, G1 1XQ. Scotland, United Kingdom. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The role of educational (school) psychologists around the world is often debated, and usually involves the discussion of many key functions. Traditionally, the role has focused on the importance of cognitive assessment; however, increasingly this role is gradually being marginalised in favour of other more generic and systemic activities, such as research. This article will outline the importance of research in the role of educational psychologists, and will consider how this role can be fostered across the profession in order to meet the demands of the educational marketplace, thus ensuring that the profession of educational psychology will survive well into the 21st century. Implications for the organisation of psychological services are also discussed, as well as implications for the training of educational psychologists.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society Ltd 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ashton, R., & Roberts, E. (2006). What is valuable and unique about the educational psychologist? Educational Psychology in Practice, 22 (2), 111124.Google Scholar
Boyle, C., & Lauchlan, F. (2009). Applied psychology and the case for individual casework: Some reflections on the role of the educational psychologist. Educational Psychology in Practice, 25 (1), 7184.Google Scholar
Boyle, C., & Lauchlan, F. (2010). Can teacher instructions be improved to enhance task completion by primary school children? Support for Learning, 25 (2), 7073.Google Scholar
Boyle, C., & Lauchlan, F. (2013). A comparative overview of educational psychology across continents. In Holliman, A. (Ed.), The Routledge international companion to educational psychology. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Boyle, J., MacKay, T., & Lauchlan, F. (2008). The legislative context and shared practice models. In Kelly, B., Woolfson, L., & Boyle, J. (Eds.), Frameworks for practice in educational psychology, pp. 3351. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Curtis, K., Roberts, H., Copperman, J., Downies, A., & Liabo, K. (2004). ‘How come I don't get asked any questions?’ Researching ‘hard to reach’ children and teenagers. Child and Family Social Work, 9, 167175.Google Scholar
Davidson, A.L., Boyle, C., & Lauchlan, F. (2008). Scared to lose control? Are we failing to treat the underlying cause in females with a phobia of vomiting? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64 (1), 3039.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Department of Education and Science (DES). (1978). Special educational needs (The Warnock Report). London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Dewey, J., & Bento, J. (2009). Activating children's thinking skills (ACTS): The effects of an infusion approach to teaching thinking in primary schools. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 79 (2), 329351.Google Scholar
Donohoe, C., Topping, K.J., & Hannah, E. (2012). Impact of a metacognitive computer-based intervention (Brainology) on the mindset and resiliency of secondary school pupils. Educational Psychology, 32 (5), 641655.Google Scholar
Dunsmuir, S., Brown, E., Iyadurai, S., & Monsen, J. (2009). Evidence-based practice and evaluation: From insight to impact. Educational Psychology in Practice, 25 (1), 5370.Google Scholar
Eodanable, M. (2005). Practitioner-research by educational psychologists. Unpublished Masters thesis, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Eodanable, M., & Lauchlan, F. (2009). The advance of research and evaluation skills by EPs: implications for training and professional development. Educational Psychology in Practice, 25 (2), 113124.Google Scholar
Farrell, P., Woods, K., Lewis, S., Rooney, S., Squires, G., & O'Connor, M. (2006). A review of the functions and contribution of educational psychologists in England and Wales in light of ‘Every Child Matters: Change for Children’. London: DfES Publications.Google Scholar
Ferguson, N., Currie, L., Paul, M., & Topping, K. (2011). The longitudinal impact of a comprehensive literacy intervention. Educational Research, 53 (3), 237256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flynn, B., Hershfield, S., & Topping, K.J. (2010). Why psychologists need to base treatment recommendations on scientific evidence: Methodologies for intervening with disruptive adolescents. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press.Google Scholar
Fox, M. (2009). Working with systems and thinking systematically — disentangling the crossed wires. Educational Psychology in Practice, 25 (3), 247258.Google Scholar
Greig, A. (2001). The educational psychologist as practitioner-researcher. Reality or dream? Educational and Child Psychology, 18 (4), 7588.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hatcher, P.J., Hulme, C., Miles, J.N.V., Carroll, J.M., Hatcher, J., Gibbs, S., . . . Snowling, M.J. (2006). Efficacy of a small group reading intervention for beginning readers with reading delay: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47 (8), 820827.Google Scholar
Jimerson, S.R., Graydon, K., Farrell, P., Kikas, E., Hatzichristou, C., Boce, E., Bashi, G. & the ISPA Research Committee (2004). The International School Psychology Survey: Development and data from Albania, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece and Northern England. School Psychology International, 25 (3), 259286.Google Scholar
Jimerson, S.R., Graydon, K., Yuen, M., Lam, S.F., Thurm, J.G., Klueva, N., . . . Phillips, J., & the ISPA Research Committee (2006). The International School Psychology Survey: Data from Australia, China, Germany, Italy and Russia. School Psychology International, 27 (1), 532.Google Scholar
Jimerson, S.R., Stewart, K., Skokut, M., Cardenas, S., & Malone, H. (2009). How many school psychologists are there in each country of the world? International estimates of school psychologists and school psychologist-to-student ratios. School Psychology International, 30 (6), 555567.Google Scholar
Lauchlan, F., & Boyle, C. (2007). Is the use of labels helpful in special education? Support for Learning, 22 (1), 3642.Google Scholar
Lauchlan, F., & Carrigan, D. (2013). Improving learning through dynamic assessment: A practical classroom resource. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Mackay, T. (2008). Can psychology change the world? The Psychologist, 21 (11), 928931.Google Scholar
Mentis, M., Dunn-Bernstein, M., & Mentis, M. (2007). Mediated learning: Teaching, tasks, and tools to unlock cognitive potential. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.Google Scholar
Miller, D., Topping, K.J., & Thurston, A. (2010). Peer tutoring in reading: The effects of role and organization on two dimensions of self-esteem. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 80 (3), 417433.Google Scholar
Oakland, T.D., & Cunningham, J.L. (1992). A Survey of School Psychology in developed and developing countries. School Psychology International, 13 (2), 99129.Google Scholar
Scottish Executive. (2002). Review of provision of educational psychology services in Scotland (The Currie Report). Edinburgh: Author.Google Scholar
Solity, J., Deavers, R., Kerfoot, S., & Crane, G. (1999). Raising literacy attainments in the early years: The impact of instructional psychology. Educational Psychology, 19 (4), 373397.Google Scholar
Thurston, A., Topping, K.J., Tymms, P., & Merrell, C. (2012). Identifying a zone of optimal error correction rate in paired reading processes. Paper submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Topping, K.J., Miller, D., Murray, P., & Conlin, N. (2011). Implementation process in peer tutoring of mathematics. Educational Psychology, 31 (5), 575593.Google Scholar
Topping, K.J., Miller, D., Murray, P., Henderson, S., Fortuna, C., & Conlin, N. (2011). Outcomes in a randomized controlled trial of mathematics tutoring. Educational Research, 53 (1), 5163.Google Scholar
Topping, K.J., Miller, D., Thurston, A., McGavock, K., & Conlin, N. (2011). Peer tutoring in reading in Scotland: Thinking big. Literacy, 45 (1), 39.Google Scholar
Topping, K.J., Thurston, A., McGavock, K., & Conlin, N. (2012). Outcomes and process in reading tutoring. Educational Research, 54 (3), 239258.Google Scholar
Topping, K.J., & Trickey, S. (2012). The role of dialogue in philosophy for children. In Resnick, L.B., Asterhan, C.S.C., & Clarke, S.N. (Eds.), Socializing intelligence through academic talk and dialogue. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association and Rowman & Littlefield.Google Scholar
Tymms, P., Merrell, C., Andor, J., Topping, K.J., & Thurston, A. (2011). Improving attainment across a whole district: Peer tutoring in a randomised controlled trial. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 22 (3), 265289.Google Scholar