Dr Sofia Barbosa Boucas
Reader (Education) in Psychology

Project details

• Research Collaboration with Dr Ben Jennings (Senior Lecturer in Psychology) (August 2023 - Present): Collaboration with Dr Jennings on the research project “The dark and light personality triads and their relationship to mental and physical health.” This project investigates the relationship between physical and mental health and personality traits from the Dark Triad (psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism) and the Light Triad (humanism, Kantianism, faith in humanity). 
• Research Collaboration with Ms Jou Yin Teoh (Senior Lecturer (Education) in Occupational Therapy) and Dr Geeta Ludhra (Senior Lecturer in Education) (July 2023 - Present): Collaboration with Ms Teoh and Dr Ludhra on the research project “Hidden curriculum of Occupational Therapy practice education,” the first study in the United Kingdom to examine the hidden curriculum of occupational therapy education. The study aims to generate descriptions and understandings of the hidden curriculum in occupational therapy practice education in London NHS settings, with a focus on the experiences of learners from multiply disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Research Collaboration with Dr Pauldy Otermans (Reader (Education) in Psychology) and Dr Stephanie Baines  (Senior Lecturer (Education) in Psychology):
  • Collaboration with Dr Otermans and Dr Baines on the research project “Skills acquisition in Level 4 and Level 5 in Psychology students.” The study examines the skills acquisition and perceived value of skills among Level 4 and Level 5 Psychology students; it involves online surveys and focus groups, with qualitative and thematic analyses of student responses to understand their skills development and confidence. (September 2022 - Present)
  • Lead the research project “Revision of assessments in the Psychology undergraduate programme to address the awarding gap,” part of the University Access and Participation Research and Evaluation Funding. This action research project aims to review and revise assessment types and assessment briefs in the Psychology undergraduate programme to address the ethnicity awarding gap. The study involves focus groups and surveys to gather student feedback and inform changes in assessments, with a focus on inclusivity and clarity. (September 2021 - May 2022)
  • Lead the research project “Evaluation of dual delivery in the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences,” commissioned by the Executive Dean of the College, Professor Paul Hellewell. The study evaluates the dual delivery teaching provision across the College during 2020/21; it involves online surveys and semi-structured interviews with academic staff and students to gather perspectives on dual delivery, aiming to inform and improve future teaching delivery in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. (March 2021 - May 2022)
• Research Collaboration with Ms Jou Yin Teoh (Senior Lecturer (Education) in Occupational Therapy), Ms Tai Frater (Honorary Lecturer in Health Sciences), Dr Ayana Ifekoya (Lecturer in Occupational Therapy), Mr Kee Hean Lim (Lecturer in Occupational Therapy), Dr Andrew Siu (Reader in Occupational Therapy), Dr Stanley Gaines (Senior Lecturer in Psychology), Dr Nelli Ferenczi (Senior Lecturer in Psychology), Dr Lora Adair (Senior Lecturer in Psychology), Dr Pauldy Otermans (Reader (Education) in Psychology), and Ms Shafeena Anas (Senior Lecturer (Education)): Collaboration with Ms Teoh, Ms Frater, Dr Ifekoya, Mr Lim, Dr Siu, Dr Gaines, Dr Ferenczi, Dr Adair, Dr Otermans, and Ms Anas on the research project “Addressing educational inequities through co-production of inclusive learning,” part of the University Access and Participation Research and Evaluation Funding. Joint research between the Division of Psychology and the Division of Occupation Therapy to evaluate educational interventions aimed at reducing race-ethnicity awarding gaps. The project involves surveys and focus groups with racially minoritized students to assess the impact of these interventions on their educational experiences and relationships with educators.
• Research Collaboration with Professor Joanna Adams (University of Southampton, United Kingdom) (January 2018 - December 2021): Continue collaboration with Professor Adams and the Osteoarthritis Thumb Therapy (OTTER) trial team on the OTTER Trial II, a prospective multi-centre, single-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial with one embedded qualitative study of verum and placebo splint arm participants.