معرفی
Professor Alison Garton is an Honorary Professor in the School of Arts and Humanities at Edith Cowan University (ECU). She holds an MA (Honours) from Scotland and a Doctor of Philosophy from England (1982). Her research focuses on developmental psychology, child and adolescent behavior, educational psychology, and ethics in professional practice. She has authored influential books such as Exploring Cognitive Development: The Child as Problem Solver and contributed to seminal works on intercountry adoptee well-being, adolescent leisure activities, and collaborative learning dynamics.
Her research has been supported by grants including a $441,398 Healthway grant (2005–2013) for youth tobacco control programs and a $45,000 Telstra grant (2003–2005) addressing language difficulties in children. She has supervised numerous doctoral candidates on topics ranging from dissociative identity disorder treatment to the psychological impacts of migration and addiction.
Key research themes include:
- Cognitive and social factors influencing child development
- Adolescent leisure participation and family dynamics
- Ethical frameworks in psychological practice
- Intercountry adoption outcomes and cultural identity
Her work bridges theoretical psychology with practical applications in education, health promotion, and policy development.
