![Jennifer Keating](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3007?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Jennifer Keating
(she/her)
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Jennifer Keating
Lecturer
Overview
I am a lecturer in Social Psychology in the School of Social Sciences. My main research interests lies in identifying and understanding factors which support children's development. I am also interested in sensory processing differences and sensory experiences and their impact on child development. My current work uses administrative data and large scale survey data to understand and support the education of children with additional learning needs. I collaborate with the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD) and Administrative Data Research (ADR) Wales to carry out this work.
I previously worked as a Research Associate at the School of Healthcare Sciences and School of Psychology at Cardiff University. In this role, I worked on research projects with a focus on cognitive flexibility, developmental coordination disorder, and the benefits of play for social and emotional development. I use a variety of research methods including data linkage, behavioural assessments, caregiver-reports, electroencephalography (EEG), and functional near-infared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Publication
2025
- Keating, J., Knight, C., Sandu, A. and French, R. 2025. What individual, family, and school factors influence the identification of Special Educational Needs in Wales?. British Journal of Educational Psychology (10.1111/bjep.12760)
- Thomas, K. S., Keating, J., Ross, A. A., Cooper, K. and Jones, C. R. G. 2025. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) symptoms in gender diverse adults and their relation to autistic traits, ADHD traits, and sensory sensitivities. Journal of Eating Disorders 13, article number: 33. (10.1186/s40337-025-01215-z)
2024
- Sandu, A., Keating, J., Huxley, K. and French, R. 2024. Educational attainment dynamics in Wales: Insights through data linkage and geographically weighted regression. Presented at: International Population Data Linkage Conference, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 17 September 2024, Vol. 9. Vol. 5. Swansea University, (10.23889/ijpds.v9i5.2722)
- Keating, J., Hashmi, S., Vanderwert, R. E., Davies, R. M., Jones, C. R. G. and Gerson, S. A. 2024. Embracing neurodiversity in doll play: Investigating neural and language correlates of doll play in a neurodiverse sample. European Journal of Neuroscience 60(3), pp. 4097-4114. (10.1111/ejn.16144)
- Keating, J., Purcell, C., Gerson, S. A., Vanderwert, R. E. and Jones, C. R. G. 2024. Exploring the presence and impact of sensory differences in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities 148, article number: 104714. (10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104714)
- Keating, J., Uljarević, M., van Goozen, S. H. M., Abbot‐Smith, K., Hay, D. F. and Leekam, S. R. 2024. Assessing pragmatic language difficulties using the Revised Children's Communication Checklist‐2. Exploratory structural equation modeling and associations with restricted and repetitive behaviors. Autism Research 17(3), pp. 584-595. (10.1002/aur.3100)
2023
- Keating, J., Gerson, S. A., Jones, C. R., Vanderwert, R. E. and Purcell, C. 2023. Possible disrupted biological movement processing in Developmental Coordination Disorder. Cortex 168, pp. 1-13. (10.1016/j.cortex.2023.06.018)
- Keating, J., Van Goozen, S., Uljarevic, M., Hay, D. and Leekam, S. 2023. Restricted and repetitive behaviors and their developmental and demographic correlates in 4-8-year-old children: A transdiagnostic approach. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 17, article number: 1085404. (10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1085404)
2022
- Hasshim, N. et al. 2022. Links between daytime napping, night-time sleep quality and infant attention: an eye-tracking, actigraphy and parent-report study. Children 9(11), article number: 1613. (10.3390/children9111613)
- Keating, J., Hasshim, N., Bramham, J., McNicholas, F., Carr, A. and Downes, M. 2022. An exploration of early sleep development in preschool children with and without a familial history of ADHD. Sleep Medicine 100, pp. S27-S28. (10.1016/j.sleep.2022.05.088)
- Keating, J., Gaffney, R., Bramham, J. and Downes, M. 2022. Sensory modulation difficulties and assessment in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review. European Journal of Developmental Psychology 19(1), pp. 110-144. (10.1080/17405629.2021.1889502)
2021
- Keating, J., Bramham, J. and Downes, M. 2021. Sensory modulation and negative affect in children at familial risk of ADHD. Research in Developmental Disabilities 112, article number: 103904. (10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103904)
Articles
- Keating, J., Knight, C., Sandu, A. and French, R. 2025. What individual, family, and school factors influence the identification of Special Educational Needs in Wales?. British Journal of Educational Psychology (10.1111/bjep.12760)
- Thomas, K. S., Keating, J., Ross, A. A., Cooper, K. and Jones, C. R. G. 2025. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) symptoms in gender diverse adults and their relation to autistic traits, ADHD traits, and sensory sensitivities. Journal of Eating Disorders 13, article number: 33. (10.1186/s40337-025-01215-z)
- Keating, J., Hashmi, S., Vanderwert, R. E., Davies, R. M., Jones, C. R. G. and Gerson, S. A. 2024. Embracing neurodiversity in doll play: Investigating neural and language correlates of doll play in a neurodiverse sample. European Journal of Neuroscience 60(3), pp. 4097-4114. (10.1111/ejn.16144)
- Keating, J., Purcell, C., Gerson, S. A., Vanderwert, R. E. and Jones, C. R. G. 2024. Exploring the presence and impact of sensory differences in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities 148, article number: 104714. (10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104714)
- Keating, J., Uljarević, M., van Goozen, S. H. M., Abbot‐Smith, K., Hay, D. F. and Leekam, S. R. 2024. Assessing pragmatic language difficulties using the Revised Children's Communication Checklist‐2. Exploratory structural equation modeling and associations with restricted and repetitive behaviors. Autism Research 17(3), pp. 584-595. (10.1002/aur.3100)
- Keating, J., Gerson, S. A., Jones, C. R., Vanderwert, R. E. and Purcell, C. 2023. Possible disrupted biological movement processing in Developmental Coordination Disorder. Cortex 168, pp. 1-13. (10.1016/j.cortex.2023.06.018)
- Keating, J., Van Goozen, S., Uljarevic, M., Hay, D. and Leekam, S. 2023. Restricted and repetitive behaviors and their developmental and demographic correlates in 4-8-year-old children: A transdiagnostic approach. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 17, article number: 1085404. (10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1085404)
- Hasshim, N. et al. 2022. Links between daytime napping, night-time sleep quality and infant attention: an eye-tracking, actigraphy and parent-report study. Children 9(11), article number: 1613. (10.3390/children9111613)
- Keating, J., Hasshim, N., Bramham, J., McNicholas, F., Carr, A. and Downes, M. 2022. An exploration of early sleep development in preschool children with and without a familial history of ADHD. Sleep Medicine 100, pp. S27-S28. (10.1016/j.sleep.2022.05.088)
- Keating, J., Gaffney, R., Bramham, J. and Downes, M. 2022. Sensory modulation difficulties and assessment in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review. European Journal of Developmental Psychology 19(1), pp. 110-144. (10.1080/17405629.2021.1889502)
- Keating, J., Bramham, J. and Downes, M. 2021. Sensory modulation and negative affect in children at familial risk of ADHD. Research in Developmental Disabilities 112, article number: 103904. (10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103904)
Conferences
- Sandu, A., Keating, J., Huxley, K. and French, R. 2024. Educational attainment dynamics in Wales: Insights through data linkage and geographically weighted regression. Presented at: International Population Data Linkage Conference, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 17 September 2024, Vol. 9. Vol. 5. Swansea University, (10.23889/ijpds.v9i5.2722)
Research
Current projects:
Right place, right time, right support: exploring additional learning needs provision and educational outcomes in Wales
Understanding how additional learning needs provision supports the educational outcomes of those with health conditions is important for planning and implementing an effective support system. Research suggests that children with health conditions are more likely to experience negative education outcomes, including more exclusions, lower attendance, and poorer attainment. However, little is known about the importance of timing and implementation of support on educational outcomes. This project will link administrative health and education data to explore how the timing, context, and diagnosis of a health condition(s) can impact children’s academic journeys, including the impact of any education support offered. This analysis will be completed in the context of the move from the Special Educational Needs (SEN) system to the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system, in accordance with the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal Wales Act (2018).
What individual, family, and school factors influence the identification of additional learning needs?
The aim of this study is to identify which individual, family, and school factors influence the identification of special educational needs/additional learning needs (SEN/ALN) using a large administrative education dataset from Wales. Administrative education data from the Welsh Government will be linked to data from the United Kingdom 2011 Census. Additional analysis will explore how these factors may differ across different SEN types.
Previous Projects:
Coordination, Movement, and the Brain Study (CoMB): The CoMB study investiagted the neural correlates of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Specifically, I used electroencephalography (EEG) to examine mirror neuron system activity in children with DCD.
The benefits of doll play: I coordinated three work packages investigating the impact of doll play across a number of areas including empathy, social skills, and language. This project involved using functional near-infared spectroscopy, behavioural assessments, caregiver reports, and observational measures in both neurotypical children and children with autistic traits.
The role of cognitive flexibility in children's repetitive behaviour: This study examined the role of subtypes of cognitive flexibility (set shifting and representational flexbility) on children's repetitive behaviours. I also examined the role of language ability and children's mental health. This involved analysis of a large dataset of children with social, cognitive, and behavioural difficulties from the Neurodevelopmental Assessment Unit (NDAU).
Teaching
I contribute to teaching on the BSc Human and Social Sciences Human Development module in Year 2.
Biography
Undergraduate education
BA Psychology, University College Dublin (First Class Honours)
Postgraduate education
PhD Psychology, University College Dublin
Employment
2025-present: Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
2023-2025: Research Associate, Wales Insitute of Social and Economic Research and Data, Cardiff University
2021-2023: Research Associate, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
2020-2021: Research Associate, School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University
Honours and awards
- Public Engagement Event at the Festival of Social Sciences, ESRC - June 2024
- University Innovation Institute Strategic Research and Development Fund, Cardiff University - April 2022
- Research Infastructure Bid for Neonatal Brain Imaging Equipment (Co-Investigator), Cardiff University - August 2021
- Shortlisted for Psychological Society of Ireland Division of Neuropsychology Early Career Award – November 2019
- SPARC Public Engagement Funding, UCD – November 2019
- Seed Funding – Dissemination and Outputs, UCD – April 2019
- Graduate Research and Innovation Fund, UCD – March 2019
- Graduate Research and Innovation Fund, UCD – October 2018
- Travel Award, Guarantors of Brain – May 2018
- Postgraduate Scholarship in Arts, UCD – March 2018
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising research projects in the area of developmental psychology with a particular focus on neurodevelopmental conditions or children with additional learning needs.
If you are interested in applying for a PhD, or would like further information regarding my postgraduate research, please contact me directly (contact details above).
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Neurodevelopment
- Neurodiversity
- Neuropsychology
- Child and adolescent development