Stephanie Burns has worked as a Lecturer (Education) in the School of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast since 2018, with a focus on teaching research methods and social psychology. She is the Qualitative Methods Advisor for trainees in the School's Doctorate in Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychology programme, and is the Disability Advisor for undergraduate students in the School.

With a Master’s degree in Social Research Methods (QUB, 2006) and a PhD in Psychology (QUB, 2013), Stephanie has over 15 years’ experience of conducting research and programme evaluations within QUB and for government and non-government bodies, including 8 years as a post-doctoral Research Fellow at the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work and the School of Psychology. Stephanie also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK.

Stephanie is an interdisciplinary researcher, with interests across the fields of psychology, education and peace studies. Her work has examined intergroup relations in post-conflict societies, particularly the roles of schools and contact-based interventions in promoting social cohesion.  Most recently, she has worked as part of the team from the Centre for Identity and Intergroup Relations (School of Psychology, QUB) conducting the evaluation of the PEACE IV Objective 2.1 Children and Young People (14-24) Programme in Northern Ireland and the border region of the Republic of Ireland ("Peace4Youth"). She is particularly interested in issues of identity, multiculturalism and respect for diversity (her PhD focussed on understandings of the concept of ‘respect for diversity’ and its measurement); shared & collaborative models of education; inclusivity in education, educational outcomes in contexts of adversity, and inequalities in education (at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels); and the promotion of community participation and voice (particularly for children and young people, and widening participation in higher education). Her research therefore contributes towards UN Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

As a mixed methods researcher, Stephanie has employed a range of methodologies during her career. In her qualitative work, she has conducted interviews, focus groups and creative methods of data collection (including photovoice and drawings) with children and adults, and has experience of employing a range of qualitative analysis techniques. She is also experienced in designing cross-sectional and longitudinal survey studies; secondary data analysis; and psychometric scale development and factor analysis.

Stephanie currently teaches on the following modules:

PSY1008 Foundations in Psychology (Level 1 tutorials)

PSY1009 Introduction to Methods in Psychology (Labs)

PSY3114 Psychology Thesis (Level 3 supervision)

PSY3133 Introduction to Cultural Psychology

PSY7094 Research Thesis Psychology (MSc Psychological Science supervision)

PSY7063, PSY7064: Principles of Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis I and II (teaching assistance)

PSY9045, PSY9049, PSY9052: Research and Inquiry I, II, III

Qualitative Methods Advisor (DECAP)

Disability Advisor for the School of Psychology

Personal Tutor

Advisor of Studies

Ethics Committee Reviewer (Proportionate Review applications)

QUB Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences – Maths and Statistics Helpdesk Tutor

Member of the QUB School of Psychology Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group

Member of the QUB School of Psychology Qualitative Research Network

Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)

Member of the European Society of Psychology Learning and Teaching (ESPLAT)

Member of the American Psychological Association (APA); Member of APA Division 48: Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division; and Member of APA Division 2: Society for the Teaching of Psychology.

Member of the Research, Policy and Advocacy Consortium for the Migrant and Minority Ethnic Council, Northern Ireland