ProfessorJohn Everatt

The majority of the research I conduct focuses on literacy acquisition and developmental learning difficulties, such as dyslexia. It takes an individual differences approach, providing theoretical explanations/data for differences in learning. As such, I am particularly interested in cognitive and linguistic aspects of learning to read and write, and the range of learning disabilities that can impact on these skills. However, I am also interested in the experiences related to achievement, and how these can impact on, and influenced by, well-being and self-concept/self-efficacy.

The research I conduct also aims to inform practice through the development of assessment tools and by determining the efficacy of intervention procedures; considering what may support learning and under what conditions is learning better achieved. This also leads to a consideration of the effects of different environments (e.g., online, innovative learning environments) in which learning can take place.

My research also considers the relationship between literacy and language. It aims to determine the underlying skills common to both language and literacy and thereby support the development of theories on literacy acquisition across languages/orthographies. This involves collaboration across various disciplines (education, linguistics and psychology), and has involved data collection in European, South-East Asian, African, Arabic, Persian and Indian languages/dialects, in addition to studies of bilingual groups in the UK, New Zealand, the Philippines, Malta, Namibia and Singapore.