My research and clinical interests are primarily focused on skill acquisition programmes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For example, developing individualised teaching strategies and evaluating learner preference for those strategies. I have conducted applied research in the university’s Early Intervention Service that forms part of the Behaviour Analysis Clinic, two of those studies have now been published in peer-reviewed journals. My PhD research has also led to a publication of a systematic review on errorless teaching methods for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

My PhD research has also led to forming new partnerships with members of faculty and outside of USW:

Research group: National University of Ireland, Galway; University of South Wales; The Lizard Centre, Sydney, Australia; and ABACAS School for Children with Autism, Dublin, Ireland: An Evaluation of Moderator Variables During Skill Acquisition Interventions for Children with ASD

Markham, V., Groves, E., Seel, C., Rees, R., & McTiernan, A. (Manuscript in Preparation). Most-to-least Prompt Fading for Effective Skill Acquisition: A Comparison of Fading Across and Within Teaching Sessions. 

Outside of my PhD research interests I have also conducted school-based research on computer-based reading interventions. This research was conducted within the local community and we currently have a manuscript in preparation:

Fox, A., Markham, V., & McTiernan, A. (Manuscript in Preparation). An Evaluation of a Supplementary Computer-based Reading Comprehension Programme in Areas of Socio-Economic Disadvantage

In terms of my own academic background I have completed a BPS accredited first degree in Psychology (awarded 2010), as well as several postgraduate-level courses: Masters in Behaviour Analysis and Therapy (awarded 2013), and my training as a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst via a university-based practicum (completed in 2014). In addition, my PhD thesis entitled "Evaluating Barriers to Skill Acquisition for Children with Language Delays Receiving Behaviour Analytic Instruction: An Experimental Analysis" has now been submitted. 

Regarding my teaching experience and interests, I have been a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2018 and have taught at both undergraduate (BSc Childhood Development, BSc Psychology, BSc Psychology with Behaviour Analysis, BSc Psychology with Counselling) and postgraduate (MSc Behaviour Analysis and Therapy, PgDip Behaviour Analysis Supervised Practice) level since 2015. In the 2020-21 academic year I will be Course Leader for BSc Childhood Development. 

On the BSc Childhood Development course, I have also designed and co-ordinated modules encompassing a range of therapeutic interventions, such as behaviour analysis, play therapy, and CBT. Leading these modules has required effective pedagogic practice in that it requires an understanding of how different therapeutic approaches may be complementary (e.g., practitioners from different backgrounds may work as part of a multi-disciplinary team) and how to arrange this content within a module. To date, I have co-ordinated and developed the following modules: 

PL1D119: Working Therapeutically with Children and Young People

PL2S125: Therapeutic Interventions for Children and Young People

PL3S150: Critical Reflections on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology

In terms of my teaching practice and philosophy, I try to ensure that my teaching integrates my clinical and research interests to provide students with a range of applied examples.