Psychology

Profile

Background

After completing a B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology and Pg. Dip. in Psychological Research Methods in the Psychology Department at the University of Plymouth, I stayed on to complete my Ph.D. with the aid of a university bursary.  My Ph.D. (supervised by Professor Stephen Newstead) in learning and teaching was awarded in March 1999. 

After completing my Ph.D. I worked as a Research Assistant at the Human Assessment Laboratory (University of Plymouth), an Educational Consultant for Plymouth University's Educational Development Services and Lecturer on an open access, flexible learning psychology degree in the Educational Studies Department at Surrey University.  Just before moving to Portsmouth I worked as a Senior Research Fellow examining predictors of achievement in nationally examined professional courses (funded by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development).  

I am currently Head of Department, here in Psychology.

Teaching Responsibilities

I coordinate Level 5 Personality and Individual Differences, and I am a personal tutor and project supervisor.

Research Interests

Social cognitive approach to understanding learning behaviour (e.g. resilience, readiness for change, decision making) and achievement. Specifically interested in what impacts learners’ self-theories (e.g. Implicit Theories of Intelligence, self-efficacy) and the effect of these on learning outcomess.  

Grants

• Education Endowment Fund (EEF). £368,000. Hoskins, Devonshire & Portsmouth City Council (January 2012) Changing Mindsets in Portsmouth Schools.
• Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE), Arts Council, via Marketing, University of Portsmouth (Dis-Articulate Project).  £8,000. Hoskins, S. L & Devonshire, V. (2011). Do school children’s theories of self and creativity influence university aspirations and decision making?
• Portsmouth City Council. Strategy Unit, Audit & Performance Improvement Service. £4,000. Hoskins, S. L. (2011, March). Ongoing literature review and desktop data analysis of Aspirations in Portsmouth School Children.
• SEEDA, via University Marketing, University of Portsmouth, £7,500. Hoskins, S. L.  (2006).  Evaluating the efficacy of the UP for IT Juniors initiative, that aims to  enhance junior school childrens’ HE aspirations and transitions to senior school.
• Forum for the Aadvancement of Continuing Education (FACE), £1,500 Jacobs, C. & Hoskins, S. L.  (2006) Exploring the mismatch between the expectations and experience of undergraduate life: a key to widening participation.
• ExPERT Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning. I was a member of the bid team for the EXPERT Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (awarded 4.5 million pounds from HEFC, 2005) and I am currently a member of the core operational team and the research team.

Recent Publications

More recent publications

Publications and Book Chapters before 2008

Hoskins S. L. & Newstead, S. E. (2009) Encouraging Student Motivation.  In H. Fry, S. Ketteridge & S. Marshall (Eds.) A Handbook for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.  Kogan Page, in association with The Times Higher Education Supplement.

Hoskins, S., Jacobs, C; MacKenzie, H. (2007).  Mapping Self-Assessment to Achievement in Frankland, Steve (Ed.) Enhancing Teaching and Learning through Assessment: Deriving an Appropriate Model. The Assessment Resource Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University / The Netherlands: Springer [pdf]

Hoskins, S. L., & van Hooff, J. C. (2005) Motivation and ability: which students use online learning and what influence does it have on their achievement?  British Journal of Educational Technology, 36, 2, 177-192

Newstead, S. E., Hoskins S. L., Franklyn-Stokes A., & Dennis I. (1997) Older but Wiser? Mature students in higher education, in P. Sutherland (Ed.) Adult Learning: A reader. London: Kogan Page

Hoskins, S. L., & Newstead, S. E., (1997) Degree Performance as a Function of Age, Gender, Prior Qualificaiton and Discipline Studied.  Assesment and Evaluation in Higher Education, Vol. 22, No 3.

Indicative Presentations

Hoskins, S. L. (2007) False uniqueness- the self perception of new entrants to HE. University Life Uncovered. Held in Manchester, organised by School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, 9th November. [pdf]

Sant, R. & Hoskins, S. L. (2006) Young adults self theories relating to enterprise potential.  Internationalizing Entrepreneurship Education and Training Conference, Innovative Formats for Entrepreneurship Education Teaching, Brazil, University of Sao Paulo, July  

Jacobs, C. & Hoskins, S. L. (2006) Mapping Self-Assessment to Achievement - 18 Months On.  The 19th International Conference on The First-Year Experience, July 24-27, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.