Psychology PhD

Staff within the Department of Psychology carry out and supervise world-class research in a range of areas. We host five major research groups: <br/><br/><br/>* Developmental Science <br/><br/><br/>* Human Cognitive Neuroscience <br/><br/><br/>* Language, Cognition and Communication <br/><br/><br/>* Differential Psychology <br/><br/><br/>* Social Psychology <br/><br/><br/>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). <br/><br/>**Developmental Science**<br/><br/>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:<br/><br/><br/>* cognitive, social and linguistic development<br/><br/><br/>* differential psychology and genetics<br/><br/><br/>* statistical and computational modelling<br/><br/><br/>They use a range of methods from behavioural experiments and brain imaging, to large cohort studies. <br/><br/>**Human Cognitive Neuroscience**<br/><br/>This research group comprises academics with a diverse set of research interests spanning cognitive neuroscience. <br/><br/>Areas of research include: <br/><br/><br/>* visual processing <br/><br/><br/>* control of action <br/><br/><br/>* memory <br/><br/><br/>* language <br/><br/><br/>* attention <br/><br/><br/>* executive functions <br/><br/><br/>* social cognition <br/><br/><br/>* higher-level cognition and reasoning <br/><br/><br/>The group uses traditional experimental psychology and neuropsychology, neuroimaging techniques such as: <br/><br/><br/>* fMRI <br/><br/><br/>* fNIRS <br/><br/><br/>* EEG <br/><br/><br/>* brain stimulation <br/><br/><br/>* eye-tracking <br/><br/><br/>* motion tracking <br/><br/><br/>* computational modelling <br/><br/><br/>* clinical assessment <br/><br/><br/>Staff work with both normally functioning children and adults, and people with neurological disorders. <br/><br/>**Language, Cognition and Communication**<br/><br/>The Language, Cognition and Communication group is internationally recognised for its work on the psychology of language. <br/><br/>We have wide expertise in such areas as: <br/><br/><br/>* spoken and written comprehension <br/><br/><br/>* production <br/><br/><br/>* dialogue <br/><br/><br/>* bilingualism <br/><br/><br/>* language development <br/><br/><br/>* the cognitive neuroscience of language <br/><br/><br/>Researchers use a range of methods, including behavioural experiments, brain imaging and eye-tracking. <br/><br/>**Differential Psychology (individual differences)**<br/><br/>Individual differences researchers ask how and why people or other primates differ from one another psychologically and how these differences matter in their lives. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>**Social Psychology**<br/><br/>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:<br/><br/><br/>* questionnaires<br/><br/><br/>* interviews<br/><br/><br/>* social cognitive techniques<br/><br/><br/>* observation<br/><br/><br/>* physiological measures<br/>