Dr Geraldine Scanlon
Department of Psychology and Education
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Dr Scanlon has a broad background in education with experience across several educational settings including early year’s provision, post leaving certificate, and third level. Her interests in experimental psychology, education and research have lead her to develop a unique approach to investigating the attitudes of primary and post-primary teachers to pupils with SEN. For example, as a chartered psychologist, her training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and experimental psychology has enabled her to apply the principles of ACT to assessing and altering teachers’ attitudes to pupils with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) in mainstream education. The aim of which is to develop more effective fulfilling education, integrative inclusion and improved well-being for both parties. Coupled with her interest in Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), and School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support Programmes (SWPBS), her most recent research project developed targeted interventions to enable teachers to work more effectively with pupils with EBD in mainstream education. This work has enabled her to become an educational consultant to the Limerick Regeneration Group and elements of the programme will be developed to work with teachers, parents and pupils in schools and communities in Limerick.
Her current project, funded by the NCSE is examining the experiences of pupils with SEN and their parents during their transition from primary to second level education. She also lectures and is a tutor on the PGDE in the education department at NUIM. Her research interests include Developing SWPBS for mainstream schools, evaluating educational and psychological interventions for pupils with SEN in mainstream education and developing teacher education with regard to SEN and inclusive practices.
Recent publications
Scanlon, G. (2008). ADHD and self-image. The Psychologist, 21(6).
Scanlon, G., & McGilloway, S. (2005). Managing children with special needs in the Irish education system: A professional perspective. REACH Journal of Special Need Education in Ireland, 19, 81–93.
Scanlon, G., Barnes-Holmes, Y., Barnes-Homes, D., & Stewart, I. (Under Review). Self-esteem profiles of children with ADHD in mainstream education. The Psychological Record.
Scanlon., G, Barnes-Holmes, Y., Barnes-Holmes, D., & Stewart. I. (Under Review). Using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure to study gender and self in young children. The Psychological Record.
