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Dr Amanda Carr

I am a developmental psychologist with an interest in children's social-cognitive development. In particular, I am interested in how children think and learn in the course of interaction with others. I have been a Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University since 2012, and became the Director of Psychology in 2016. I teach at all levels of our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Before joining the psychology team at Christ Church, I was a lecturer at the University of Roehampton and before that a Research Fellow at the University of Sussex, where I studied for both my PhD and BSc (Hons) in Applied Psychology. My PhD was supervised by Dr Nicola Yuill and Professor Rose Luckin.

I teach developmental and educational psychology at all levels of our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. I lead a number of core and optional undergraduate modules in this area and supervise 3rd year dissertations in areas directly connected to research projects within the learning and development lab.

I am a member of the Learning and Development research group in psychology where our work is focused on examining child and adolescent development in social contexts. My own research interests are focused around three main strands of work:

Home learning: I am particularly interested in how parents scaffold children's learning during everyday interaction and conversation. I have recently co-edited a special issue of the British Journal of Educational Psychology on Scaffolding: integrating social and cognitive perspectives on children's learning at home.

Another study underway within this strand of work is The Talk about Thoughts and Feelings Project, which is examining mothers' mental state talk and its relation to children's well-being and adjustment. This project is running in collaboration with Bechange, a local charity supporting families.

Achievement motivation: My PhD research examined the role of achievement goals, for example mastery and performance goals, in children's collaborative interaction.

Children's use of novel technology: Children, like adults, find novel technologies such as tablets and smartphones very appealing. I am interested in the effect of these technologies on 1) developmental processes such as attention and social understanding and 2) Learning and classroom interaction.

Research Projects

  • Cross cultural differences in maternal scaffolding efficacy: links with maternal Theory of Mind, emotional abilities and home environment.. Researcher(s): Dr Ekaterina Cooper. Supervisor(s): Dr Amanda Carr. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Developing a not-knowing approach to experiences conventionally described as severe mental illness. Researcher(s): Ms ANNE COOKE. Supervisor(s): Professor Tony Lavender, Dr Amanda Carr. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Does mastery make sense? An investigation into the validity of 2x2 achievement goal framework measures.. Researcher(s): Mrs Shems Morrison. Supervisor(s): Dr Amanda Carr, Dr James Cane. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Embedding Neuroeducation Programmes In Educational Settings.. Researcher(s): Mrs AMANDA PEDDLE. Supervisor(s): Professor Alex Hassett, Dr Amanda Carr. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Examining the relational and dispositional correlates of mind-mindedness. Researcher(s): Mrs Sharon Good. Supervisor(s): Dr Lance Slade, Dr Amanda Carr. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Explore the Dynamic Maturational Model (DMM) of Attachment and Psychopathology applicability in assessing and resolving complex cases for family courts. Researcher(s): Mr STUART GRAHAM. Supervisor(s): Professor Alex Hassett, Dr Amanda Carr. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Low-level disruption: Investigating links with parenting style and technology use in the home.. Researcher(s): Dr Suzanne Bartholomew. Supervisor(s): Dr Amanda Carr, Dr David Vernon. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Self-awareness and metacognition in a young adult student population: an autistic trait approach. Researcher(s): Miss Kirstin Holsey. Supervisor(s): Dr Amanda Carr, Dr Lance Slade. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The cognitive and socio-emotional development of toddlers receiving day care: a study of how nurseries’ caregivers bolster toddlers’ language abilities and self-control. The case of six Algerian nursery schools.. Researcher(s): Ms LAMIA AOUAOUCHE. Supervisor(s): Dr Kate Smith, Dr Amanda Carr. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The relationship between parental Mental State Talk (MST) and the ‘word gap’ in pre-school children.. Researcher(s): Mrs Rebecca Croll. Supervisor(s): Dr Amanda Carr, Dr Lance Slade. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • What Does It Mean to Be a School Counsellor? A Profession Searching for Its Identity.. Researcher(s): Mrs Harriet Cameron. Supervisor(s): Professor Alex Hassett, Dr Amanda Carr. [Postgraduate Research Project]