Research

Staff research interests

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Dr Evelyn McGregor

Director of Postgraduate Studies / Lecturer in Developmental Psychology

Education, Community and Society (ECS)

Email: evelyn.mcgregor@ed.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 131 651 6341

Location:

St Johns Land (Rm 2.16)

Background

MA (Hons) Psychology, University of St. Andrews, 1992
PhD Psychology University of Dundee, 1999

I took a degree in Psychology at St. Andrews University, graduating in 1992, then took a post as a Demonstrator in Psychology at Dundee University while I studied part-time for my PhD (Developing a cognitive intervention programme to help people with autism learn about belief). After completing my PhD, I held two research posts evaluating interventions for health and well-being in deprived areas of Scotland. The first, with a children's charity funded by the Rowntree Trust, evaluated inter-agency working with families at risk of exclusion. The second, with the Research Unit in Health, Behaviour and Change, and lottery-funded, evaluated the national healthy living centre project. Subsequently I held a lectureship in Developmental Psychology at St Andrews University before taking my current post with the School of Education in 2007. During this time I have taken training at St George's Medical School in rating 'The Strange Situation', a measure of infant attachment; and training at Oxford University in using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). I currently teach on the PGDE Primary programme, and the MSc in Education.

Principal interests

Social cognition in autism and typical development
Narrative fluency in autism and in typically developing children
Development of social identity
Reading and storytelling in the home
Attitudes to inclusion of children with disabilities

Research Supervision

I would like to supervise research on any of the topics above. In addition, I have an interest in biases in parental and teacher perceptions of siblings and also in attachment.

I am currently supervisor to two PhD students: the first on ethnic identity in British Born Chinese children; and the second on Educational Inclusion processes in Greece.

Current and recent research

British Academy grant (2008-09): 'A parent survey of the narrative interests and skills of children with autism, their siblings and peers'
Experimental research (pilot funded by Mindroom): 'The effect of story format on narrative fluency in autism and typical development'

Publications

Publications list for Dr Evelyn McGregor

Teaching

MSc Education: Learners, Learning and Teaching

MSc Research Methods

PGDE Child Development and Childhood