Dr Aideen McParland is a Lecturer (Education) in the School of Psychology at Queen's University, Belfast. Prior to joining the school, she held the position of Assistant Professor at University College Dublin. Aideen obtained her PhD in Psychology from Ulster University and her doctoral thesis is titled, "Using eye-tracking technology to investigate and operantly condition gaze behaviour of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders". Aideen is a Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and Associate Fellow (AFBPsS) with the British Psychological Society. In June 2019, Aideen became a professionally certified Entrepreneurial Educator with UCD Innovation Academy, a qualification reflecting her commitment to incorporating innovative pedagogies in University teaching. 

Aideen's research interests are predominantly in the fields of behavioural, experimental, and developmental psychology. Her post-doctoral research at Ulster University focused on cognitive and social predictors of early educational outcomes for children residing in socially disadvantaged areas of Dublin. This research used the nationwide 'Preparing for Life' dataset collected by the Geary Institute of Public Policy at UCD. Aideen's doctoral research took a behaviourist approach to develop a training tool to improve gaze behaviour of children with ASD. This training tool incorporated the latest desktop and remote eye-tracking technology as well as multimodal forms of stimuli ( working alongside the University of Texas at Dallas). Current research projects include using student samples to develop this behavioural training tool for atypical populations.  

Queens University Belfast

Positions of Responsibility:

Deputy Director of Education

Level 1 Year Head

Supervision:

Level 1 Personal Tutor

UG Thesis Supervisor

MSc Applied Developmental Psychology Thesis Supervisor

DClin Thesis Supervisor

Undergraduate Teaching:

PSY1009- Introduction to Methods in Psychology (including Level 1 labs)

Postgraduate Teaching:

(MSc Applied Developmental Psychology)

PSY7034- Psychological Methods in Developmental Research ( Module co-ordinator)

PSY7080- Improving Outcomes Using Evidence Based Interventions

PSY7081- Theoretical Perspective on Childhood and Adolescent Development 

Previous Teaching (University College Dublin)

Undergraduate Teaching:

PSY20020- Child and Adolescent Development ( Module Co-ordinator)

PSY30040- Lifespan Developmental Psychology (Module Co-ordinator)

PSY20200- Psychology of Everyday Life

PSY30360- Research Project and Statistical Computing 

BA Thesis Supervision

Postgraduate Teaching:

PSY40690- Mental Health and Neurology ( Module co-ordinator)  

MSc Thesis Supervision