MSc Projects: Bringing children with and without learning disabilities together to improve attitudes and promote wellbeing
Katrina Scior, Clinical Educational & Health Psychology and UCL Unit for Stigma Research (UCLUS), and Royal Mencap Society
Number: two linked projects are available for the 2017-18 year
Suitability: MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive and Decision Sciences, Research Methods in Psychology, and Social Cognition, UCL
Locations: Mencap National Office, London EC1Y 0RT; and Clinical Educational & Health Psychology based in Torrington Place
Ethical Approval: Application for an amendment to ethical approval is currently being sought
Topic:Attitudes, Stigma, Anti-Bullying, Schools Based Research
Mencap’s All In Award ( is designed to improve young people’s attitudes towards peers with intellectual disabilities by engaging them in interactive, activity based group tasks. It also seeks to improve well-being, self-esteem and confidence in interacting with peers without special needs among children with intellectual disabilities. These linked projects will conduct a mixed methods evaluation of the impact of the All in Award on both typically developing children and those with intellectual disabilities who participate in the award. This is stage 2 of an independent evaluation conducted by researchers at UCL and will (a) collect qualitative evidence on the process and impact of the award from both groups of children, parents and award facilitators; and (b) test the feasibility of a revised catalogue of outcome measures and assess preliminary outcomes. Award sessions will be conducted in seven schools in London and across Kent between January and July 2018.
Required Skills:Previous experience of face to face work with children and/or people with learning disabilities will be an asset but is by no means essential. A willingness to work hard, respond flexibly to the needs of participating schools, and good communication skills and team working skills are essential.
Required commitment:Students interested in this award must be willing and able to commence work on this project in Jan 2018, able to attend a meeting with the team overseeing the award and its evaluation at Mencap’s office in central London in Jan 2018, and generally enthusiastic about working closely with primary and secondary schools both within mainstream and “special” education. A willingness to work in close partnership with Mencap and to be co-supervised by Katrina Scior at UCL and researchers at Mencap is essential. This project suits two students working in collaboration but can be adjusted if only taken up by one student.
Skills to be acquired, educational and CV value and benefits of the Lab: This is an exciting opportunity to conduct applied research across educational and clinical psychology, and to work in close partnership with schools and the charity Mencap. You will be co-supervised by the research and impact team at Mencap and Katrina Scior at UCL. Desk space will be available at Mencap for those wishing to forge links with the lively and friendly research team there. You will acquire skills in both administration of standardised measures to children with and without intellectual disabilities, to develop qualitative interview schedules, and complete face to face and telephone interviews with children, award facilitators and parents. All students will be invited to monthly UCLUS seminars (held at 9am on Friday mornings) who will introduce them to research across the stigma field.
Expressions of interest: To express interest in these projects please email a brief covering statement and your CV and stating why you are interested in this project and what you can contribute to it to . Should interest exceed the numbers that can be accommodated by this project, selection will be made by Katrina on the basis of your covering note, CV, and a face-to-face meeting with shortlisted candidates.