Staff within the Department of Psychology carry out and supervise world-class research in a range of areas. We host five major research groups:
- Developmental Science
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience
- Language, Cognition and Communication
- Differential Psychology
- Social Psychology
Psychology at Edinburgh is rated 3rd in the UK by Times Higher Education for the quality and breadth of the research using the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
Developmental Science
Research in the Developmental Science group examines how different developmental factors interact across the lifespan, from before birth into adolescence and old age. The group comprises a diverse but well-integrated set of researchers, with expertise in:
- cognitive, social and linguistic development
- differential psychology and genetics
- statistical and computational modelling
They use a range of methods from behavioural experiments and brain imaging, to large cohort studies.
Human Cognitive Neuroscience
This research group comprises academics with a diverse set of research interests spanning cognitive neuroscience.
Areas of research include:
- visual processing
- control of action
- memory
- language
- attention
- executive functions
- social cognition
- higher-level cognition and reasoning
The group uses traditional experimental psychology and neuropsychology, neuroimaging techniques such as:
- fMRI
- fNIRS
- EEG
- brain stimulation
- eye-tracking
- motion tracking
- computational modelling
- clinical assessment
Staff work with both normally functioning children and adults, and people with neurological disorders.
Language, Cognition and Communication
The Language, Cognition and Communication group is internationally recognised for its work on the psychology of language.
We have wide expertise in such areas as:
- spoken and written comprehension
- production
- dialogue
- bilingualism
- language development
- the cognitive neuroscience of language
Researchers use a range of methods, including behavioural experiments, brain imaging and eye-tracking.
Differential Psychology (individual differences)
Individual differences researchers ask how and why people or other primates differ from one another psychologically and how these differences matter in their lives.
The University of Edinburgh is uniquely positioned to offer PhD training in the area because of its long history of world-class individual differences research and teaching. Our researchers focus on a broad range of topics, including the assessment, causes and consequences of personality traits and intelligence, positive psychology, primate behaviour, paranormal beliefs, development, ageing and psychopathology.
For example, the researchers study the roles of genetics and life experiences and developmental trends in personality traits and intelligence, and how these traits are linked with real-life outcomes in the domains of achievement and health.
Social Psychology
The Social Psychology group examines how we think about the self, others, and groups. The research group covers qualitative and quantitative methodologies, spanning processes like identity, relationships, crowds, and inter-group relations. We employ a range of methods such as:
- questionnaires
- interviews
- social cognitive techniques
- observation
- physiological measures