Research in the School of Psychology

The School of Psychology has an active research culture which encompasses a range of theoretical and epistemological approaches, in both applied and pure psychological research, with expertise in a range of methods, including experimental, quasi-experimental and qualitative research.

Current programs of research include:

• investigations of sexual and reproductive health
• decision-making in advanced technology environments
• psychometric testing
• music and dance
• speech and hearing
• the experience of people with cancer and cancer carers
• ethnicity and health
• behavioural medicine
• pedagogical practices in schools
• spirituality and subjectivity
• psychoanalytic theory and practice
• neural correlates of awareness
• perceptual adaptation
• recognition of biological motion
• perception during eye movements
• how people recognise faces
• normal and abnormal visual development.
  

Research News 

Professor Jane Ussher and Dr Janette Perz are making headlines.

Leading women’s health researchers, Professor Jane Ussher and Dr Janette Perz from the University of Western Sydney, have conducted a study of the effectiveness of psychological interventions for PMS.

The findings reveal that both one-to-one and self-help therapies can improve women’s overall experience of PMS, as well as ameliorate PMS symptoms.
Read more

www.uws.edu.au/pms

Conference Award

Associate Professor Kate Stevens and Dr Agnes Petocz have been awarded the Best Thematic Area Paper Award at the 8th International Conferences on Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics 2009. The paper is titled, The User Knows: Considering the Cognitive Contribution of the User in the Design of Auditory Warnings. The paper has been short-listed for the golden award for the over-arching HCI International Conference (19-24 July 2009).

Congratulations to UWS School of Psychology academic staff on successful grant applications.  Major grant funding commencing 2010

Dr Tanya Covic in collaboration with Craven, R;  Nelson, G;  Anderson, A; Munns, G. Bridging the gap on locational disadvantage: Impact of community-identified interventions on social capital, psychosocial and socioeconomic outcomes.

Partner Organisations
Benevolent Society
Administering Organisation
University of Western Sydney

Project Summary
Interventions to combat locational disadvantage are vital given the pervasiveness and long-term consequences for youth and communities. This research will offer important educational and socio-economic benefits by enriching the psychosocial adjustment and life potential of young Australians and the capacity of schools in locationally disadvantaged communities. Effective research and community-identified social capital and psychosocial interventions will enhance pro-social behaviours, health, psychosocial adjustment, and school and community engagement. This will build capacity at community, school, and individual levels and contribute to national socioeconomic wellbeing.

Professor Thiagarajan Sitharthan in collaboration with Prof Sherry Saggers, Prof Helen R Wildy, Dr Amanda G Wilson, A/Prof Katherine M Conigrave, Dr Tim Marchant, Ms Anne C Hampshire, A/Prof Jagdish K Dua, Ms Carmen Acosta, Mr Allan Colthart.  What difference does treatment make? Psychometric properties of a measure of young people's progress in residential rehabilitation

Partner Organisations
Department of Health WA, Mission Australia, NSW Health, Sydney Southwest Health, Ted Noffs Foundation
Administering Organisation
Curtin University of Technology

Project Summary
This research is expected to: enhance evidence-based treatment outcome measures in residential rehabilitation services in WA, NSW and the ACT; provide high-quality research training for alcohol and other drug service staff; and contribute to long-term collaborative relationships between five partner organisations, five universities, and addiction specialists which will assist ongoing service quality improvement. Enhancing the effectiveness of alcohol and other drug treatments for young people will also address the National Health Priority of injury prevention as young people are one of three groups at higher risk of harm.