Research Board
We advise on science and research policy, the funding of psychological research, and the submission of evidence to public or private bodies.
About
The Research Board acts as champions and advisors for high quality research for the British Psychological Society.
The Research Board reports to and advises the Board of Trustees on science and research policy, the funding of psychological research, the submission of evidence to public or private bodies, as well as other matters relating to the promotion and advancement of psychological science.
The Research Board also oversees several awards to recognise and celebrate excellence in psychological research, as well as grants for researchers to access funding to support their projects and programmes.
Find about more about our awards/grants and how to apply.
The main responsibilities of the Research Board are:
- Influencing internal and external funding for the support and encouragement of research
- Reviewing psychological research within the UK and elsewhere, research conducted by our members, and research sponsored by the Society
- Providing informed and impartial advice on research issues in response to internal and external enquiry
- Commissioning or undertaking enquiries to produce expert and authoritative reports on research issues of interest to the Society and the wider public
- Supporting, on grounds of eligibility and quality, research activities planned or conducted by Society members
- Promoting research (both discipline based and multidisciplinary) through the dissemination of results through conferences, seminars and other means
- Defining standards for the training of postgraduate students in research methods
- Working to maximise the availability of funds to support psychological research
Download the Research Board terms of reference
For any enquiries please contact the Research Board team.
Research Board Members
Chairpersons
Chair 2021-2024
- Professor Andy Tolmie
Deputy Chair
- Dr Richard Stephens is Deputy Chair of the Research Board (appointed in October 2021) and serves as Chair of the British Psychological Society Psychologist and Digest Editorial Advisory Committee. Richard is a former Chair of the British Psychological Society Psychobiology Section (2013-2017) and continue to serve as a committee members, while also working as a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Keele University. His current research area is the cognitive psychology of flow and state disinhibition.
Section nominees
Cognitive Psychology Section
- Dr Sanjay Kumar
Community Psychology Section
- Meltem Osman
Consciousness & Experiential Psychology Section
- Ms Jane Henry, Chair of Consciousness and Experiential Psychology Section. Previously Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology at Open University. Research on long term-outcomes of personal development strategies, wellbeing and creativity. Has held UK, European and US grants. Published 10 books.
Cyberpsychology Section
- Dr Catherine Talbot
Defence & Security Psychology Section
- Dr Pam Richards
Developmental Psychology Section
- Dr Chris Jarrold is a Professor of Cognitive Development at the University of Bristol. He is currently the Chair of the British Psychological Society's Developmental Section and has previously served as the Honorary Secretary of the Experimental Psychology Society. His research focuses on children's cognitive development, and particularly on the processes that support goal-directed behaviour and the maintenance of information in immediate memory.
Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity Section
- Kate Russell
History & Philosophy of Psychology Section
- Professor Gavin Sullivan
Male Psychology Section
- Dr Deborah Powney
Mathematical, Statistical & Computing Section
- Dr Mark Andrews
Political Psychology Section
- Professor Catherine Lido
Psychobiology Section
- Kyla Pennington
Psychology of Education Section
- Dr Louise Taylor
Psychology of Women and Equalities Section
- Hannah Frith
Psychotherapy Section
- Professor Ho Chung Law was an international consultant in psychology, research & development with over 35 years' experience. He was the first equality advisor to the Assistant Permanent Under Secretary of State in the UK Home Office Research, Development Statistics Directorate. Ho is currently the Editor of the BPS Transpersonal Psychology Review, supervising a dozen research doctoral students, advocating a new narrative action research while dividing his time between research, supervision, writing, and family.
Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section
- Sarah Seymour-Smith & Laura Kilby
Social Psychology Section
- Dr Sara Vestergren
Division nominees
Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology (DARTP)
- Prof. Lorna Hamilton
Division of Clinical Psychology
- Dr. Cordet Smart is the Research Director for Exeter University DClin Psy programme, and Interim Programme Director. Here research areas include clinical communication, teamwork and wellbeing at work, with numerous publications in these areas. She has successfully led numerous grants including NHIR clinical research, and is a Director of project 5, a national wellbeing organisation. She has held multiple senior director roles in Higher Education and has a keen interest in developing organisational structures to improve enjoyment of work and enhance success of staff and students.
Division of Coaching Psychology
- Dr Catherine Steele is an Occupational and Coaching Psychologist. She is the Academic Director for Postgraduate Programmes in Psychology at the University of Leicester. Catherine represents the Division of Coaching Psychology on the research board. Her personal research interests are in the area of wellbeing and health at work.
Division of Counselling Psychology
- Dr Terry Sergeant
Division of Education & Child Psychology
- Professor Olympia Palikara
Division of Forensic Psychology
- Martin J. Fisher is a Forensic Psychologist, Chartered Scientist and Honorary Fellow of the BPS. He has worked in the criminal justice field for over 34 years in England and Wales. He has honorary appointments within NHS Secure Services and Academia. He is also co-editor of Forensic Update, a past Chair of the BPS Committee on Test Standards, past member of the BPS Ethics Committee and Chairs the Psychology Research Board in HMPPS.
Division of Health Psychology
- David Maidment
Division of Neuropsychology
- Dr Karen Brandt is a Cognitive Neuropsychologist, Head of Employability and Programme Leader in the School of Psychology at the University of Roehampton. Her research explores cognitive function in patients with focal brain lesions and how neuropsychological interventions can be used to enhance memory across the life-span.
Division of Occupational Psychology
- Ian MacRae
Division of Sport & Exercise Psychology
- Dr Daniel Brown
Special groups
Special Group for Psychologists and Social Services
- Dr John Newland
Other representatives
AGM Elected
- Dr Jackie Greatorex
AHPD representative
- Martin Corley
Early Career representative
- Dr Catherine Talbot
Early Career Representative
- Dr Jasmine Childs-Fegredo is a senior lecturer at York St John University. She is a registered counselling psychologist and has worked as a clinician in the NHS and in private practice. Her research interests include yoga-integrated psychotherapy, mind-body approaches to mental health, and mental health in schools.
Co-optee
- Professor Thom Baguley
Chair of the HOPC Advisory Committee
- Professor Elizabeth Hurren
ATSiP Representative
- Mr Sean Rooney
Upcoming meetings:
- 24 October 2025 - Virtual
If you wish to submit something for consideration by the Board, please email the Research team.
Minutes of previous meetings
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Activities
Through its activities, the Research Board promotes the advancement and diffusion of knowledge through new developments in psychological science.
These activities include:
Working parties
The Research Board liaises closely with other society boards and committees on a number of working parties.
Lobbying and liaison
The Research Board via its membership of the Joint Committee for Psychology in Higher Education liaises with key funding bodies such as the ESRC, BBSRC, MRC and the Wellcome Trust, as well as the Higher Education Funding Councils for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It links with other relevant bodies to ensure psychology is represented in appropriate forums.
Our partners include the Association of Heads of Psychology Departments, the Higher Education Council, Campaign for Science & Engineering , the Royal Society, the British Academy, Academy for Social Sciences and the British Science Association.
Awards and grants
To promote, encourage and reward outstanding achievements in psychological science the board administers a range of awards. Grant schemes are also offered to support the advancement of psychological science.
Research guidelines and policy documents
The board publishes a range of guidelines and documents to promote high standards of ethical conduct and to promote psychological science.
The Research Excellence Framework subgroup brings together members of the Research Board, and others more widely, who have experience of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and research assessment.
The group reviews and responds to findings from each cycle of the REF, and guides the BPS' work regarding research assessment.
For example, this group responds to consultations about the REF run by UKRI, to influence future iterations of the exercise.
Activities
Our activities include:
- Development of a paper defining rigour within research
- Responding to consultations about upcoming REF exercises
- Reacting to results from previous REF exercises
- Investigating the impact of psychological research within the REF's Impact Case Study Database
Meetings
The REF subgroup differs from the Research Board in that it does not have a set schedule of meetings.
Rather, the group meets as and when it is needed, for example when a response is required to REF activity.
Members
- Professor Andy Tolmie
- Dr Duncan Guest
- Dr Richard Stephens
- Professor Thom Baguley
- Dr Jo Taylor
- Professor Martin Corley
- Dr Joanna Semlyen