Members of the P&E team work individually and collaboratively in several research areas. Research is conducted with participants of all ages from infancy to adulthood including children in early years/kindergarten primary/elementary secondary education further and higher education. Research approaches and methodologies reflect a variety of positions within P&E including experimental work discourse analysis naturalistic observations surveys case studies and mixed methods designs.
General Research Themes
- Classroom communication and learning including collaborative group work and the development of cognitive and emotional self-regulation
- Play learning and creativity in early years primary and secondary classrooms
- Conceptual development and causal reasoning in children adolescents and adults including executive functioning early metacognitive development and young children's epistemic beliefs
- Mathematical and scientific reasoning in infants children and adolescents
- Language and the development of children's thinking
- The use of interactive technology in teaching and learning
- Peer group influences on social personal and academic development
- Attitudes and motivation in education regarding school and school subjects; wellbeing and self-efficacy
- Inclusion and the education of children identified with special educational needs
- Gender and achievement
- Transfer and transitions within and beyond the school context
- Learning cultures & climate including education in small and/or rural schools with reference to educational provision children's identity and sense of place.
- Teacher development and pedagogy including teachers’ knowledge and professional learning
- Teacher professionalism status and identity; school improvement