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Dr Elizabeth Edwards

Senior Lecturer

School of Education
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
elizabeth.edwards@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 56215

Overview

Dr Edwards' research collaborations span education, psychology and medical education. She has a growing track-record for conducting robust laboratory studies examining individual differences in cognitive performance under situational stress. Her work supports the notion that an inability to efficiently process information and maintain concentration, plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of emotional disorders. Her latest work focusses on the translation of theory-driven, lab-based science into treatments for clinical problems.

Dr Edwards completed a PhD and an honours degree in psychology (Bond University), and an undergraduate degree in education (Griffith University). For over two decades, she has worked as a primary classroom teacher, special education teacher, guidance officer, and psychologist. She has taught and supervised clinical, professional and research skills in education, psychology and medicine and worked in higher education in the United Kingdom and Australia. Dr Edwards joined The University of Queensland in 2020 to teach into the Master of Educational Studies (Guidance, Counselling and Careers).

Research Interests

  • Anxiety, memory and attentional control
  • Cognitive control training
  • Behaviour change counselling

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Bond University
  • Graduate Diploma of Psychology, Bond University
  • Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) with Hon, Bond University
  • Bachelor of Education, Griffith University

Publications

View all Publications

Grants

View all Grants

Supervision

  • Competency-based teaching of procedural skills for medical students using an evidenced-based pedagogical framework

    Doctor Philosophy

  • The Potential Contribution To The Quality Of Education By Supplying Proactive Counseling Services To International Students In Current Global Education Environment

    Master Philosophy

  • A meta-model of self-regulated learning to facilitate transition to higher education

    Doctor Philosophy

View all Supervision

Available Projects

  • Anxiety, attentional control and learning: Implications for problem smartphone use in adolescents

    In recent years, research in problematic smartphone behaviour has proliferated. To date however, limited work has explored the characteristics underpinning the relationship between nomophobia (no-mobile-phone-phobia) and internalising psychopathologies (e.g., anxiety and depression) in adolescents. Driven by theory, this project will investigate the link between problem smartphone use and learning, and explore moderating factors such as anxiety and attentional control. The findings will assist educators and students to optimize learning.

  • Cognitive control training for anxiety and depression vulnerability in children

    Studies in cognitive neuroscience confirm that problems with attentional control and information processing efficiency play a critical role in the development and maintenance of vulnerability to anxiety and depression. An emerging area of evidence-based research has attempted to remediate these cognitive deficits using training interventions. Two weeks of daily cognitive control training (i.e., memory and attention training) has demonstrated promise in reducing anxiety and depression in samples of adults and adolescents. This project will investigate the efficacy of using cognitive control training methodology with children in educational settings.

  • Supporting emotional well-being in schools: Knowledge, skills, training and policy issues

    Schools provide convenient access points for supporting the emotional well-being of children, adolescents and their families. However, the characteristics of a facilitative environment for positive growth in educational contexts is not fully understood. This project will use humanistic education theory alongside ecological theory to understand the socio-political factors that are associated with provision of support for emotional well-being in schools.

View all Available Projects

Publications

Journal Article

Conference Publication

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Competency-based teaching of procedural skills for medical students using an evidenced-based pedagogical framework

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • The Potential Contribution To The Quality Of Education By Supplying Proactive Counseling Services To International Students In Current Global Education Environment

    Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • A meta-model of self-regulated learning to facilitate transition to higher education

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Built In or Bolt On? A Policy Analysis of Non-Government Programs in Indigenous Education

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Anxiety, attentional control and learning: Implications for problem smartphone use in adolescents

    In recent years, research in problematic smartphone behaviour has proliferated. To date however, limited work has explored the characteristics underpinning the relationship between nomophobia (no-mobile-phone-phobia) and internalising psychopathologies (e.g., anxiety and depression) in adolescents. Driven by theory, this project will investigate the link between problem smartphone use and learning, and explore moderating factors such as anxiety and attentional control. The findings will assist educators and students to optimize learning.

  • Cognitive control training for anxiety and depression vulnerability in children

    Studies in cognitive neuroscience confirm that problems with attentional control and information processing efficiency play a critical role in the development and maintenance of vulnerability to anxiety and depression. An emerging area of evidence-based research has attempted to remediate these cognitive deficits using training interventions. Two weeks of daily cognitive control training (i.e., memory and attention training) has demonstrated promise in reducing anxiety and depression in samples of adults and adolescents. This project will investigate the efficacy of using cognitive control training methodology with children in educational settings.

  • Supporting emotional well-being in schools: Knowledge, skills, training and policy issues

    Schools provide convenient access points for supporting the emotional well-being of children, adolescents and their families. However, the characteristics of a facilitative environment for positive growth in educational contexts is not fully understood. This project will use humanistic education theory alongside ecological theory to understand the socio-political factors that are associated with provision of support for emotional well-being in schools.

For Media assistance please contact The Office of Marketing and Communications, (07) 3365 1120

Links

ORCID: 0000-0002-7549-205X

Scopus ID: 56133570000

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