Alison Lacey

Dr. Alison Lacey is a Research Fellow at the University of Sussex's School of Education and Social Work, specializing in qualitative longitudinal methods. She leads projects like the national evaluation of A Better Start and research on marginalized family voices during crises, earning recognition through the 2024 University of Sussex Research Culture Award.

• Current affiliations: University of Sussex, CRESS Lab
• Previous roles: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Doctoral Tutor at Sussex
• Education: PhD in Psychology (2023), MSc in Experimental Psychology (2017), MA in Creative & Critical Writing (2011)

Her research focuses on children's social-emotional development, peer play dynamics, and applied policy evaluation. Recent work examines pandemic impacts on education and inclusive research methodologies for underrepresented groups.

Scientific accolades include the 2024 award for ethical research innovations and AFHEA certification (2020). She has co-authored studies on teacher well-being during lockdowns, parent-child pandemic adjustment, and policy evaluation frameworks.

Teaching activities span postgraduate modules in Digital Childhoods and Applied Child Psychology, alongside undergraduate research methods instruction. She contributes to the CRESS Lab's collaborative network and advocates for gender equality in educational settings.