معرفی
Dr. Vanessa Parson serves as Associate Head of School of Psychology and Public Health (0.5 FTE) and Academic Development Partner (0.5 FTE) at the University of Sunderland. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy with extensive experience across cognitive psychology, educational technology, and assessment innovation.
Her research interests span cognitive psychology with specialization in perception and attention, the psychology of learning, cyberpsychology, and the impact of technology on education. She has particular expertise in how musical training affects cognitive processing and how technological aspects of everyday life enhance learning experiences. Her recent work focuses on the implications of artificial intelligence for assessment practices and educational design.
Analysis of her publication record reveals a clear evolution from neuropsychological research in visual attention (early 2000s) to virtual learning environments (2008-2011), then to social media behavior (2017-2021), and most recently to AI applications in education (2021-2024). Her work consistently bridges theoretical psychology with practical educational applications, demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches across cognitive science, educational technology, and social psychology.
Professional Recognition:
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Dr. Parson actively supervises PhD students, including directing research on cyberstalking and obsession. Within her Academic Development Partner role, she leads the Assessment Innovation Programme's Artificial Intelligence Applications strand and co-leads the assessment change: Principles to Practice strand, working with academics across the institution to facilitate changes in practice. She has also authored two editions of "Communication and Study Skills in Psychology," demonstrating her commitment to student development.
