Dr Catherine Day BSc, PhD, FHEA
Principal Lecturer (Psychology)
- Department of Psychology Sociology and Politics
- Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology
Summary
I am part of the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics Leadership Team with two leadership roles; Student Experience and Employability/Placements. I joined Sheffield Hallam in 2009 and have taken on a variety of roles including BSc Psychology Course Leader (2013-2017). I continue to teach psychology at all levels with a particular interest in personality, individual differences and psychometrics.
About
Within the department, I lead on the implementation of the University’s approach to working in partnership with students, providing advice and guidance and ensuring staff understand, and are engaged with, the student experience agenda. This role also involves the implementation and management of the University’s Academic Advising policy and student voice principles to ensure formal and informal systems within the department are robust, fit for purpose and effectively represent the diversity of the student cohort.
I also lead on the employability strand of the Business and Enterprise portfolio within the department, including oversight of the short and sandwich placements. This involves fostering placement opportunities with businesses and organisations, and enhancing Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities for students at all levels. Recently I established our departmental Employer Advisory Board which takes a partnership approach to teaching, research and employability between Psychology, Sociology & Politics, employers and relevant associated bodies.
I continue to be passionate about teaching and delivering high quality, engaging modules. I particularly love teaching personality and psychometrics. I teach at all levels on the BSc Psychology course and the MSc Psychology. I also supervise dissertation students exploring a variety of individual differences factors.
My PhD explored individual differences in taste preference and eating behaviour. I have maintained interest in psychological predictors of eating behaviour, conducting studies and supervising students in this area, including a recent PhD completion exploring micronutrients and cognition in brain injured patients. The other strand to my research is related to learning and teaching in Higher Education, applying research to enhance student well-being, transition to university and the student experience. The common thread tying these together is psychometrics.
Professional membership
• Graduate member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• General member of the BPS Division of Health Psychology
• Member of the British Society of the Psychology of Individual Differences (BSPID)
• BPS Register of Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU)
• UK Advising and Tutoring (UKAT), currently registered for recognition through the UKAT Professional Recognition Scheme as a Recognised Senior Advisor.
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Principal Lecturer
Specialist Areas
Personality
Intelligence
Psychometrics
Animal Psychology
Research and Scholarly Activities
Taste Preference
Eating and Drinking Behavior
Compensatory Behavior
Student Satisfaction and Wellbeing
Teaching
Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Psychology
Courses taught:
- BSc Psychology
- MSc Psychology
- MSc Developmental Psychology
Modules taught:
- Academic Development
- Personality and Individual Differences
- Personality Profiling and Psychometrics
- Animal Psychology
- Sports and Exercise Psychology
Research
My PhD explored individual differences in taste preference and eating behaviour. I have maintained interest in psychological predictors of eating behaviour, conducting studies and supervising students in this area, including a recent PhD completion exploring micronutrients and cognition in brain injured patients. The other strand to my research is related to learning and teaching in Higher Education, applying research to enhance student well-being, transition to university and the student experience. The common thread tying these together is psychometrics.
Current projects:
• Aviation Stress Scale development
• Psychology of apologies: Trait Apologising Scale Development
• Employability and Self-efficacy: unlocking the potential of paid work
• Student Experience and Employability Journey at postgraduate level
Publications
Journal articles
Verrier, D., & Day, C. (2021). The moderating effects of mindfulness facets on psychological distress and emotional eating behaviour. Health Psychology Report. http://doi.org/10.5114/hpr.2021.109921
Griffiths, T.-.L., Dickinson, J., & Day, C. (2021). Exploring the relationship between extracurricular activities and student self-efficacy within university. Journal of Further and Higher Education. http://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1951687
Verrier, D., & Day, C. (2020). How can we improve the final year dissertation? A consideration of ethics, quality, and one-to-one supervision. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 8 (2), 90-96. http://doi.org/10.14297/jpaap.v8i2.395
Bowles, D., Sharkey, G., & Day, C. (2020). Psychological predictors of National Student Survey course satisfaction. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 8 (2), 7-15. http://doi.org/10.14297/jpaap.v8i2.423
Denniss, R., Barker, L., & Day, C. (2019). Improvement in cognition following double-blind randomized micronutrient interventions in the general population. Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience, 13, 115. http://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00115
Day, C., Mchale, S., & Francis, J. (2012). Individual differences and preference for dietary fat using the Fat Preference Questionnaire© in a UK sample. Appetite, 58 (2), 679-686. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2011.12.013
Conference papers
Denniss, R., Barker, L., Day, C., & Richardson, P. (2020). Eating the Rainbow: Micronutrients and Cognitive Change in the General Population and TBI [abstract only]. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 35 (2), E163-E164. http://doi.org/10.1097/HTR.0000000000000568
Day, C.J., McHale, S., & Francis, J. (2008). Building upon existing models of food choice; can temperamental personality variables explain individual differences in sour and sweet taste preference? PSYCHOLOGY & HEALTH, 23, 100.
Theses / Dissertations
Denniss, R.J. (2021). Micronutrient intervention effects on cognitive outcomes in post-acute traumatic brain injury. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Barker, L., Day, C., & Richardson, P. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00356
Presentations
Denniss, R., Barker, L., Francis, J., & Day, C. (2017). Eat your greens: Micronutrient supplementation and cognitive ability in a normative group. Presented at: Festival of Neuroscience
Denniss, R., Barker, L., Francis, J., & Day, C. (2017). Can We Improve Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes? Micronutrients and the Brain. Presented at: Development and Society Faculty PhD Event, Sheffield Hallam University
Other activities
- Reviewer for Appetite (peer-review journal)
- BPS Register of Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU)
- External Examiner ( University of Cumbria 2017-2021)
Postgraduate supervision
Rebecca Denniss, PhD completion (2021). Micronutrients and cognition in brain injury.