Psychology Research

A researcher conducting an experiment with a father and his baby.

A top 20 Psychology department in the UK for world-leading research publications.

Research Communities

  • Developmental Psychology

    How do we develop an understanding of the world around us? We look at cognitive, social, emotional and language development from before birth through to adolescence.

  • Cognitive Psychology

    What are the fundamental cognitive processes behind language, learning, memory, and attention? How does our understanding of cognition impact society?

  • Neuroscience and Neurocognition

    How does the brain respond to different environments and govern cognitive function? We research how humans understand and process the world around us.

  • Social Processes

    How do we develop definitions of morality or trust, and how do they affect our emotions in social interaction or decision making?

Research Themes

Psychology news

A child with a hearing aid

Help Lancaster Psychology identify the most important research questions about childhood deafness and hearing loss

Lancaster’s Psychology researchers are asking the general public to lend a hand when it comes to identifying the most pressing research priorities when in studies on childhood deafness and hearing loss.
Woman examining test tube in a science lab

Lancaster University’s women of science: pioneering research and global impact

Lancaster University celebrates its female researchers who have recently secured significant research awards. Their research spans climate policy, auditory technology, AI security, ice-climate interactions, and trust in high-risk settings. Through innovation and collaboration, they contribute to global advancements in science and society, highlighting the importance of women in research.
Infant placing a hexagonal block on a peg board, surrounded by colourful toys

First measure of infant curiosity as an early trait or individual difference

Questionnaire created in the Psychology Department reliably captures differences in infants’ and toddlers’ overall curiosity and exploratory tendencies
RCAD group discussing around a table

FST launches researcher career development group

Lancaster University’s Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) Researcher Career Development Group (RCaD) launched on December 13, 2024, co-chaired by Abi Frith, Xiaoyun Chen, Luis Pinho, and Janine Morley. The event focused on representing research staff, fostering career development, networking, and community building.
The analysis revealed a 57% increased risk of Parkinson’s for every 10-decibel increase in baseline hearing impairment

Hearing impairment may be a sign of increased risk of Parkinson’s disease

There may be a link between hearing impairment and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s according to research led by Lancaster University. 
Baby playing with laptop

Exploring baby curiosity: Lancaster study reveals how infants actively sample new information

Lancaster researchers used gaze-contingent eye-tracking to study how infants explore unfamiliar animal-like categories based on curiosity. Findings show babies alternate between focusing on one category and exploring another, with individual differences influencing learning patterns.

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