Dr Catherine Purcell
(she/her)
CPsychol AFBPsS
Reader: Occupational Therapy
- PurcellC2@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29225 10961
- Ty Dewi Sant, Room Room 3.18a, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN
- Media commentator
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
As a psychologist my first programme of research focuses on neurodiversity, which includes neurodivergent children and adults including Developmental Coordination Disorder (also known as Dyspraxia in the UK), Developmental Language Disorder, Dyslexia, ADHD and ASD. My research, which spans 20 years, is particularly interested in the experience of being neurodivergent on everyday living, models of inclusive design and understanding access requirements to community opportunities, which links with my second programme of research which focuses on active journeys and sustainable transportation.
Active journeys can be described as making journeys in physically active ways, such as walking, wheeling, cycling or scootering. Active journeys are increasingly recognised as a potentially effective means of increasing physical activity levels. Active journeys contribute to physical and mental wellness, a reduction of carbon emissions and congestion, increasing social interaction and creating greater cohesion in our communities. However, some people experience significant inequalities in opportunities for active journeys, for example neurodivergent children and adults, who often experience greater environmental barriers meaning that they are less likely to benefit from the health and well-being benefits of travelling actively.
I am currently leading a project with seven colleagues from across six universities in Wales exploring how children with and without disabilities are interacting with the outdoors, using a behaviour change framework. Our Wales Active TraveL ReseArch ConSortium (ATLAS) aims to explore the influence of active journeys and sustainable transportation on health and well-being and how to ensure the benefits are accessible to all. We also evaluate the quality of green and blue spaces and the impact that travelling actively has on our natural and built environments.
I hold positions on national and international neurodiversity committees, including for example, the Welsh Government Neurodiversity Clinical Advisory Group and I am the vice Chair of the International Society of Research and Advocacy for Developmental Coordination Disorder (ISRA-DCD). I have also been invited to join the mental health, participation and quality of life working group for the next revision of International Clinical Practice Recommendations for DCD. I also sit on the Welsh Government's Active Travel to Schools National Advisory Group, which advises the Active Travel Board on ways to support the effective implementation of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013.
In addition, I lead Research and Development for Occupational Therapy based in the School of Healthcare Sciences, and I am an Associate Lead for the Population Health Research Theme, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences (BLS), Cardiff University. I also Chair the Occupational Therapy Research and Evidence Based Practice Network (ORiENT), which aims to support a Welsh occupational therapy research environment and enable occupational therapists to undertake audit, service evaluation and research to improve outcomes for the people of Wales.
Publication
2024
- Dale, C., Hewitt, R. M., Purcell, C., Pandya, N. and Bundy, C. 2024. 'Feeling like a second-class citizen': exploring the impact, self-management and existing support for adults living with acne and/or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring. British Journal of Dermatology 191(3), pp. 469-470. (10.1093/bjd/ljae190)
- Hewitt, R. M., Dale, C., Purcell, C., Pattinson, R. and Bundy, C. 2024. A qualitative exploration of the impact, management, and existing psychological support available for adults living with skin conditions. Acta Dermato-Venereologica 104, article number: adv40657. (10.2340/actadv.v104.40657)
- Purcell, C. et al. 2024. Harnessing real-life experiences: the development of guidelines to communicate research findings on Developmental Coordination Disorder/dyspraxia. Research Involvement and Engagement 10(1), article number: 84. (10.1186/s40900-024-00611-0)
- Wilmut, K., Purcell, C. and Meachon, E. J. 2024. Editorial: Current perspectives on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), volume II. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 18, article number: 1466104. (10.3389/fnhum.2024.1466104)
- 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)
- Falemban, R., Wilmut, K., Hurst, H. and Purcell, C. 2024. Roadside experiences of parents of children with developmental coordination disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 18, article number: 1339043. (10.3389/fnhum.2024.1339043)
- Ingham, L., Burke, J. and Purcell, C. 2024. Experiences of 'virtual' occupational therapy service delivery in Wales. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 87(3), pp. 152-168. (10.1177/03080226231208050)
2023
- Purcell, C., Schott, N., Rapos, V., Zwicker, J. G. and Wilmut, K. 2023. Understanding factors that influence physical activity behavior in people with developmental coordination disorder (DCD): a mixed-methods convergent integrated systematic review. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 17, article number: 1274510. (10.3389/fnhum.2023.1274510)
- 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)
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2023. Parent perceptions of cycle training for children with special education needs and disabilities: What drives intention to cycle?. Heliyon 9(5), article number: e16173. (10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16173)
2022
- Harris, S., Purcell, C. and Wilmut, K. 2022. Moving with confidence: How does anxiety impede performance in individuals with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)?. Current Developmental Disorders Reports 9(4), pp. 98-104. (10.1007/s40474-022-00251-7)
- Hewitt, R. M., Purcell, C. and Bundy, C. 2022. Safeguarding online research integrity: concerns from recent experiences. British Journal of Dermatology 187(6), pp. 999-1000. (10.1111/bjd.21765)
- Hewitt, R. M. et al. 2022. A mixed methods systematic review of digital interventions to support the psychological health and well-being of people living with dermatological conditions. Frontiers in Medicine (10.3389/fmed.2022.1024879)
- Ingham, L., Jackson, E. and Purcell, C. 2022. Learning from adversity: Occupational therapy staff experiences of coping during Covid-19. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 85(8), pp. 577-584. (10.1177/03080226211064490)
- Wilmut, K., Williams, J. and Purcell, C. 2022. Editorial: Current perspectives on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 16, article number: 837548. (10.3389/fnhum.2022.837548)
2021
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2021. Why are older adults more at risk as pedestrians? a systematic review. Human Factors (10.1177/0018720821989511)
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2021. The nature of the risk faced by pedestrians with neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review. Accident Analysis and Prevention 149, article number: 105886. (10.1016/j.aap.2020.105886)
2020
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2020. The lived experience of crossing the road when you have Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): the perspectives of parents of children with DCD and adults with DCD. Frontiers in Psychology 11, article number: 587042. (10.3389/fpsyg.2020.587042)
- Purcell, C. and Romijn, A. 2020. Teaching children road safety using a simulated environment. Journal of Education and Educational Development 7(1), pp. 44-54. (10.22555/joeed.v7i1.2948)
- Duncan, H. and Purcell, C. 2020. Consensus or contradiction? A review of the current research into the impact of granting extra time in exams to students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD). Journal of Further and Higher Education 44(4), pp. 439-453. (10.1080/0309877X.2019.1578341)
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2020. Are pedestrians with neurodevelopment disorders more at risk at the roadside: a systematic review. Accident Analysis and Prevention
- Purcell, C., Scott-Roberts, S. and Beyer, G. 2020. How do children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience their participation in school based occupations?. British Journal of Occupational Therapy
2018
- Scott-Roberts, S. and Purcell, C. 2018. Understanding the functional mobility of adults with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) through the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). Current Developmental Disorders Reports 5(1), pp. 26-33. (10.1007/s40474-018-0128-3)
2017
- Purcell, C. and Romijn, A. 2017. Appropriateness of different pedagogical approaches to road safety education for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Research in Developmental Disabilities 70, pp. 85-93. (10.1016/j.ridd.2017.08.010)
- Purcell, C. and Scott-Roberts, S. 2017. Neurodiversity: developing guides to success using participatory research. In: Niven, K., Lewis, S. and Kagan, C. eds. Making a Difference with Psychology. London: Richard Benjamin Trust, pp. 123-130.
- Purcell, C., Wilmut, K. and Wann, J. P. 2017. The use of visually guided behaviour in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) when crossing a virtual road. Human Movement Science 53, pp. 37-44. (10.1016/j.humov.2016.11.007)
- Duncan, H. and Purcell, C. 2017. Equity or advantage? The effect of receiving access arrangements in university exams on Humanities students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD). Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning 19(2), pp. 6-26. (10.5456/WPLL.19.2.6)
2015
- Purcell, C., Scott-Roberts, S. and Kirby, A. 2015. Implications of DSM-5 for recognising adults with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). British Journal of Occupational Therapy 78(5), pp. 295-302. (10.1177/0308022614565113)
2013
- Kirby, A., Sugden, D. and Purcell, C. 2013. Diagnosing developmental coordination disorders. Archives of Disease in Childhood 99(3), pp. 1-5. (10.1136/archdischild-2012-303569)
2012
- Purcell, C., Wann, J., Wilmut, K. and Poulter, D. 2012. Reduced looming sensitivity in primary school children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Developmental Science 15(3), pp. 299-306. (10.1111/j.1467-7687.2011.01123.x)
2011
- Wann, J., Poulter, D. and Purcell, C. 2011. Reduced sensitivity to visual looming inflates the risk posed by speeding vehicles when children try to cross the road. Psychological Science 22(4), pp. 429-434. (10.1177/0956797611400917)
- Purcell, C., Wann, J., Wilmut, K. and Poulter, D. 2011. Roadside judgments in children with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities 32(4), pp. 1283-1292. (10.1016/j.ridd.2010.12.022)
Articles
- Dale, C., Hewitt, R. M., Purcell, C., Pandya, N. and Bundy, C. 2024. 'Feeling like a second-class citizen': exploring the impact, self-management and existing support for adults living with acne and/or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring. British Journal of Dermatology 191(3), pp. 469-470. (10.1093/bjd/ljae190)
- Hewitt, R. M., Dale, C., Purcell, C., Pattinson, R. and Bundy, C. 2024. A qualitative exploration of the impact, management, and existing psychological support available for adults living with skin conditions. Acta Dermato-Venereologica 104, article number: adv40657. (10.2340/actadv.v104.40657)
- Purcell, C. et al. 2024. Harnessing real-life experiences: the development of guidelines to communicate research findings on Developmental Coordination Disorder/dyspraxia. Research Involvement and Engagement 10(1), article number: 84. (10.1186/s40900-024-00611-0)
- Wilmut, K., Purcell, C. and Meachon, E. J. 2024. Editorial: Current perspectives on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), volume II. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 18, article number: 1466104. (10.3389/fnhum.2024.1466104)
- 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)
- Falemban, R., Wilmut, K., Hurst, H. and Purcell, C. 2024. Roadside experiences of parents of children with developmental coordination disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 18, article number: 1339043. (10.3389/fnhum.2024.1339043)
- Ingham, L., Burke, J. and Purcell, C. 2024. Experiences of 'virtual' occupational therapy service delivery in Wales. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 87(3), pp. 152-168. (10.1177/03080226231208050)
- Purcell, C., Schott, N., Rapos, V., Zwicker, J. G. and Wilmut, K. 2023. Understanding factors that influence physical activity behavior in people with developmental coordination disorder (DCD): a mixed-methods convergent integrated systematic review. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 17, article number: 1274510. (10.3389/fnhum.2023.1274510)
- 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)
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2023. Parent perceptions of cycle training for children with special education needs and disabilities: What drives intention to cycle?. Heliyon 9(5), article number: e16173. (10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16173)
- Harris, S., Purcell, C. and Wilmut, K. 2022. Moving with confidence: How does anxiety impede performance in individuals with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)?. Current Developmental Disorders Reports 9(4), pp. 98-104. (10.1007/s40474-022-00251-7)
- Hewitt, R. M., Purcell, C. and Bundy, C. 2022. Safeguarding online research integrity: concerns from recent experiences. British Journal of Dermatology 187(6), pp. 999-1000. (10.1111/bjd.21765)
- Hewitt, R. M. et al. 2022. A mixed methods systematic review of digital interventions to support the psychological health and well-being of people living with dermatological conditions. Frontiers in Medicine (10.3389/fmed.2022.1024879)
- Ingham, L., Jackson, E. and Purcell, C. 2022. Learning from adversity: Occupational therapy staff experiences of coping during Covid-19. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 85(8), pp. 577-584. (10.1177/03080226211064490)
- Wilmut, K., Williams, J. and Purcell, C. 2022. Editorial: Current perspectives on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 16, article number: 837548. (10.3389/fnhum.2022.837548)
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2021. Why are older adults more at risk as pedestrians? a systematic review. Human Factors (10.1177/0018720821989511)
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2021. The nature of the risk faced by pedestrians with neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review. Accident Analysis and Prevention 149, article number: 105886. (10.1016/j.aap.2020.105886)
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2020. The lived experience of crossing the road when you have Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): the perspectives of parents of children with DCD and adults with DCD. Frontiers in Psychology 11, article number: 587042. (10.3389/fpsyg.2020.587042)
- Purcell, C. and Romijn, A. 2020. Teaching children road safety using a simulated environment. Journal of Education and Educational Development 7(1), pp. 44-54. (10.22555/joeed.v7i1.2948)
- Duncan, H. and Purcell, C. 2020. Consensus or contradiction? A review of the current research into the impact of granting extra time in exams to students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD). Journal of Further and Higher Education 44(4), pp. 439-453. (10.1080/0309877X.2019.1578341)
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2020. Are pedestrians with neurodevelopment disorders more at risk at the roadside: a systematic review. Accident Analysis and Prevention
- Purcell, C., Scott-Roberts, S. and Beyer, G. 2020. How do children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience their participation in school based occupations?. British Journal of Occupational Therapy
- Scott-Roberts, S. and Purcell, C. 2018. Understanding the functional mobility of adults with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) through the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). Current Developmental Disorders Reports 5(1), pp. 26-33. (10.1007/s40474-018-0128-3)
- Purcell, C. and Romijn, A. 2017. Appropriateness of different pedagogical approaches to road safety education for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Research in Developmental Disabilities 70, pp. 85-93. (10.1016/j.ridd.2017.08.010)
- Purcell, C., Wilmut, K. and Wann, J. P. 2017. The use of visually guided behaviour in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) when crossing a virtual road. Human Movement Science 53, pp. 37-44. (10.1016/j.humov.2016.11.007)
- Duncan, H. and Purcell, C. 2017. Equity or advantage? The effect of receiving access arrangements in university exams on Humanities students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD). Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning 19(2), pp. 6-26. (10.5456/WPLL.19.2.6)
- Purcell, C., Scott-Roberts, S. and Kirby, A. 2015. Implications of DSM-5 for recognising adults with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). British Journal of Occupational Therapy 78(5), pp. 295-302. (10.1177/0308022614565113)
- Kirby, A., Sugden, D. and Purcell, C. 2013. Diagnosing developmental coordination disorders. Archives of Disease in Childhood 99(3), pp. 1-5. (10.1136/archdischild-2012-303569)
- Purcell, C., Wann, J., Wilmut, K. and Poulter, D. 2012. Reduced looming sensitivity in primary school children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Developmental Science 15(3), pp. 299-306. (10.1111/j.1467-7687.2011.01123.x)
- Wann, J., Poulter, D. and Purcell, C. 2011. Reduced sensitivity to visual looming inflates the risk posed by speeding vehicles when children try to cross the road. Psychological Science 22(4), pp. 429-434. (10.1177/0956797611400917)
- Purcell, C., Wann, J., Wilmut, K. and Poulter, D. 2011. Roadside judgments in children with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities 32(4), pp. 1283-1292. (10.1016/j.ridd.2010.12.022)
Book sections
- Purcell, C. and Scott-Roberts, S. 2017. Neurodiversity: developing guides to success using participatory research. In: Niven, K., Lewis, S. and Kagan, C. eds. Making a Difference with Psychology. London: Richard Benjamin Trust, pp. 123-130.
- Purcell, C. and Romijn, A. 2020. Teaching children road safety using a simulated environment. Journal of Education and Educational Development 7(1), pp. 44-54. (10.22555/joeed.v7i1.2948)
- Duncan, H. and Purcell, C. 2020. Consensus or contradiction? A review of the current research into the impact of granting extra time in exams to students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD). Journal of Further and Higher Education 44(4), pp. 439-453. (10.1080/0309877X.2019.1578341)
- Wilmut, K. and Purcell, C. 2020. Are pedestrians with neurodevelopment disorders more at risk at the roadside: a systematic review. Accident Analysis and Prevention
- Purcell, C., Scott-Roberts, S. and Beyer, G. 2020. How do children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience their participation in school based occupations?. British Journal of Occupational Therapy
- Scott-Roberts, S. and Purcell, C. 2018. Understanding the functional mobility of adults with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) through the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). Current Developmental Disorders Reports 5(1), pp. 26-33. (10.1007/s40474-018-0128-3)
- Purcell, C. and Romijn, A. 2017. Appropriateness of different pedagogical approaches to road safety education for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Research in Developmental Disabilities 70, pp. 85-93. (10.1016/j.ridd.2017.08.010)
- Purcell, C. and Scott-Roberts, S. 2017. Neurodiversity: developing guides to success using participatory research. In: Niven, K., Lewis, S. and Kagan, C. eds. Making a Difference with Psychology. London: Richard Benjamin Trust, pp. 123-130.
- Purcell, C., Wilmut, K. and Wann, J. P. 2017. The use of visually guided behaviour in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) when crossing a virtual road. Human Movement Science 53, pp. 37-44. (10.1016/j.humov.2016.11.007)
- Duncan, H. and Purcell, C. 2017. Equity or advantage? The effect of receiving access arrangements in university exams on Humanities students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD). Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning 19(2), pp. 6-26. (10.5456/WPLL.19.2.6)
- Purcell, C., Scott-Roberts, S. and Kirby, A. 2015. Implications of DSM-5 for recognising adults with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). British Journal of Occupational Therapy 78(5), pp. 295-302. (10.1177/0308022614565113)
Research
My current active grants and supervisory roles fall under my two programmes of research:
Neurodiversity
- Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by the Waterloo Foundation, investigating neural correlates of developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
- Co-Investigator on a grant investigating the impact of a specific educational needs and disabilities cycle instructor training programme developed by The Bikebility Trust.
Active Travel
- Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by the Road Safety Trust to create and test an augmented reality game-based road safety education game in Welsh primary schools.
- Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by Welsh Crucible to explore how children and young people in Wales are interacting with their natural and built environments.
- Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by the Wales Innovation Network to bring together a consortium of diverse expertise to develop a programme of research to support the modal shift towards active travel in Wales.
Examples of previous research grants
- 2019 - 2023: Secured funding for a KESS 2 East PhD Studentship: Exploring therapy services across the cancer care pathway in in a Welsh Health Board to develop service delivery options.
- 2019 - 2023: Secured funding for a KESS 2 East PhD Studentship: Evaluating the use of the Recovery Through Activity framework used by Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Services in a Welsh Health Board.
- 2019 - 2023: Secured funding for a KESS 2 East PhD Studentship: Challenging the school-to-prison pipeline for children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Pupil Referral Units.
- 2022: Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by Accelerate Cymru to explore the creation of community-led Health Resilience Centres in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation.
- 2021: Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by The Bukeability Trust to evaluate a series of projects aimed at increasing cycling amongst children with special educational needs and disabilities.
- 2018 - 2019: Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by the Rees Jeffrey’s Road Fund to measure the efficacy of an augmented reality road safety educational game for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).
- 2017 - 2018: Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by the Road Safety Trust to create and test an augmented reality game-based road safety education game in Welsh primary schools.
- 2017 – 2018: Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by the National Lottery to co-create authentic resources with parents/carers of children with neurodiverse profiles, for parents/carers of children with neurodiverse profiles.
- 2014 – 2015: Consultant to Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD). To advise the WISERD Education team on the most effective ways of gathering data on issues to do with roads, neighbourhood safety and journeys to school and develop the appropriate research instruments
- 2014 – 2015: Principle investigator on a grant awarded by the Richard Benjamin Trust to co-create four guides to success through the facilitation of focus groups with neurodiverse adults and a top tips and tricks booklet with children with neurodiverse profiles
- 2014: Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by BBC Cymru Children in Need to facilitate four themed summer activity days for local children with Developmental Disorders
- 2014 – 2015: Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by the Newport Community Endowment Fund to deliver a series of five practical evening workshops for parents of mainstream children with a developmental disorder who live in Newport
- 2013 – 2016: Principle Investigator on a grant awarded by The Waterloo Foundation to measure the developmental readiness of 6-13 year old children with and without developmental disorders to acquire new knowledge and skills through different methods of teaching road safety.
- 2013 – 2014: Co-Investigator on a grant awarded by the University of South Wales, exploring falls in adults with significant motor difficulties: Quantifying the incidence, severity and cost to the individual.
- Co-Investigator on an ESRC funded follow-on project. Developed freely downloadable highly realistic demonstrations to enhancedriver awareness of perceptual errors in approach speed judgments for road crossing and decisions at junctions
Teaching
I am passionate about teaching and currently module lead a Level 5 research methods module on the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme, as well as a Level 7 research methods module (HCT344) for MSc students. I also module lead a level 7 Public Health, Health Economics and Policy module (HCT203) and jointly module lead a level 7 empircal dissertation module (HCT117).
Biography
I obtained my BSc (Hons) in Psychology in 2007 followed by my MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience and Research Methods in 2008 from the University of Durham. I then completed my PhD in 2012 at Royal Holloway, University of London on perceptual errors in predicting vehicle approach in typical and atypical populations.
I moved to Wales in 2012 to join the Dyscovery Centre as a Research Fellow, this enabled me to conduct research in a clinical setting alongside Occupational Therapists and other Allied Health Professionals.
I became a Senior Lecturer at the University of South Wales in 2015 and led several programmes within the psychology department, before moving to Cardiff University in August 2018 to join the Healthcare Sciences, Occupational Therapy team.
Professional memberships
- Chartered Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Academic positions
2018 - 2020: Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University
2012 - 2018: Senior Lecturer, University of South Wales
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising students who wish to undertake a PhD relating to neurodivergence in children, adulthood or older adulthood. For example, quantifying the cost of neurodivergence in adulthood or the accessibility of community assets for neurodivergent adults.
I am also interested in supervising students who wish to undertake a PhD in active journeys and sustainable transportation, especially relating to health and wellbeing and health inequalities. For example, the feasibility of active journeys for the social care workforce.
I am currently supervising the following PhD students:
- Sara Pocknell
- Savanna Cole
- Rayan Falemban
- Laura Ingham
- Francis Myerscough
- Rachel Hewitt
I have successfully supervised the following students to completion:
I'm interested in research relating to either neurodivergent children and adults (for example: Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder; Developmental Language Disorder; ADHD, Auttism Spectrum Conditions; Dyslexia) and / or active travel.
Current supervision
Francis Myerscough
Research student
Sara Pocknell
Research student
Savanna Cole
Research student
Rayan Falemban
Research student
Laura Ingham
Research student
Rach Hewitt
Research student
Research themes
Specialisms
- Neurodiversity
- active travel
- Behaviour Change