Contact
Biography
Laura Outhwaite is a PhD student in the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham, UK. She obtained her BSc in Psychology and MSc in Psychological Research Methods from the University of Nottingham. She is also the postgraduate coordinator for the university's Child and Childhood Network.
Research Summary
Current Status
PhD (full- time) - currently registered
Research Topic Title
The reach of iPad interventions to develop maths skills in disadvantaged young children.
Research Summary
Laura's research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of a tablet technology maths intervention in supporting the acquisition of early maths skills. Her work looks at children's mathematics learning gains over the intervention period and the cognitive skills underpinning early maths to understand the mechanisms underlying the intervention. Her work is in collaboration with the charity onebillion (https://onebillion.org.uk/) and primary schools and not-for-profit organisations in Nottinghamshire and the surrounding areas.
Research Interests
- The development of early maths and cognitive skills
- Technology based educational interventions
Research Supervisors
Primary Funding Sources
ESRC Doctoral Training Centre (http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/esrc-dtc/index.aspx)
Published Papers
Outhwaite, L. A., Gulliford, A. & Pitchford, N. J. (2017). Closing the gap: Efficacy of a tablet intervention to support the development of early mathematical skills in UK primary school children. Computers and Education, 108: 43-58.
Pitchford, N.J. & Outhwaite, L.A. (2016). Can touch screen tablets be used to assess cognitive and motor skills in early years primary school children? A cross-cultural study. Frontiers in Psychology, 7:1666.
Hubber, P., Outhwaite, L.A., Chigeda, A., McGrath, S., Hodgen, J., & Pitchford, N.J. (2016). Should touch screen tablets be used to improve educational outcomes in primary school children in developing countries? Frontiers in Psychology, 7:839.
Pitchford, N.J., Papini, C., Outhwaite, L.A. & Gulliford, A. (2016). Fine motor skills are a better predictor of early maths than early reading ability in primary school children in the U.K. Frontiers in Psychology, 7:783.
Additional Information
Laura has recently completed an in depth evaluation of Children and Family services offered by the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum. In this consultancy role, Laura worked collaboratively with the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum to develop and conduct interviews with refugee and asylum seeking families and then disseminate the results.