Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

PhD Alumni

Read on to see what some of our PhD alumni think about their time at the IoE and what they have been up to since their graduation.

 

Dr. Beverley Jennings

Title of thesis: The Vocabulary Challenge of the English Language GCSE Exam and the Implications for Adolescent Reading Experience

Year of graduation: 2025

Supervisors: Prof Holly Joseph & Dr Daisy Powell

Research focus: My PhD thesis consisted of three research papers. The first used corpus linguistics to explore the vocabulary found in the reading texts in GCSE English language exams. The second paper explored the responses to a reading survey sent to 16-18 year old students. The final paper explored the vocabulary found in a sample of adolescent students’ independent reading materials and in curriculum materials used across a range of school subjects. The findings highlighted the high challenge of the vocabulary that students’ face both in their curriculum reading and in their exams.

Memorable experiences at the IoE: I enjoyed the opportunities offered at the IoE to meet and mix with other PhD students, from reading groups to presenting at the summer conferences.

Career: When I started my doctorate I was working as a secondary school teacher. Since graduating I have moved to work for the Education Endowment Foundation, where I project manage large educational research trials and also create resources that translate research into useful teacher and school facing content. I use the skills that I learnt at the IoE every day in my new job and love being involved in educational research that helps schools.

 

Dr. Ian S.G. Blagrove

Title of thesis: A Life History Study of the Factors That Influence the Acceptance or Rejection of the Big Bang Theory and Theory of Biological Evolution Among Lifelong Learners

Year of graduation: 2024

Supervisors: Dr Geoff Taggart & Prof Naomi Flynn

Research focus: My thesis explored the factors that influence the rejection or acceptance of scientific theories. Rejection of some theories can occur despite the time that has elapsed since the original theories were proposed and their wider acceptance. The thesis findings contradicted other studies which attempt to identify religious belief as the driver for rejection. Instead my study found multiple factors at work, other than religion, including the influences of discredited alternative theories, popular culture, politics and behaviours, including avoidance of cognitive dissonance and motivated reasoning. This lead to my theory of opinion formation detailed in the thesis.

Memorable experiences at the IoE: My lasting memory of undertaking my PhD at the Institute was the ability to discuss and seek academic advice from my tutors and other staff that was invaluable. Every tutorial resulted in regerous academic debate and thought provoking directions that enhanced my study and thesis. As a direct result of this regerous ongoing debate with tutors throughout my PhD, my viva was thoroughly enjoyable, and the most fulfilling exam I have ever undertaken.

Career: Since graduating I have continued to undertake research in the field of science communication by increasing my original study sample size. This has resulted in additional data, coding and findings that support my original PhD thesis.

 

Dr. Hebah Sheerah

Title of thesis: Exploring English as Foreign Language (EFL) students’ perceptions on the use of blended learning to develop academic English language skills in preparatory year in Saudi Arabia

Year of Graduation: 2018

Supervisors: Dr Vince Trakulphadetkrai & Prof Yota Dimitriadi

Research focus: My PhD explored EFL undergraduate students’ perceptions concerning the strengths and weaknesses of blended learning as a technology-enhanced pedagogic tool on the development of their academic English in each language skill (reading, listening, speaking, writing) as well as their recommendations for improving the skills using blended learning in the preparatory year in Saudi Arabia.

Memorable experiences at the IoE: As a doctoral student, I have been given several opportunities to present my work at seminars and national conferences in the UK. Moreover, a wide range of research opportunities was provided. The environment was encouraging and enabled flexible ways of working.

Career: I am currently an Assistant Professor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at King Khalid University (Abha, Saudi Arabia). I teach undergraduate programmes. In the future, I am hoping to build a strong network of colleagues sharing my teaching and research interests which will hopefully lead to opportunities for collaborations and exchange of knowledge.

 

Dr. Pengchong (Anthony) Zhang

Title of thesis: Comparing different types of EFL vocabulary instruction for Chinese high school learners of English

Year of graduation: 2018

Supervisors: Prof Suzanne Graham & Prof Jeanine Treffers-Daller

Research focus: I started my PhD research here at the Institute of Education in 2014, exploring the teaching and learning of vocabulary through listening among Chinese high-school learners of English. I used a quasi-experimental, mixed method design in a classroom intervention comparing incidental vocabulary learning through listening with different types of vocabulary instruction.

Memorable experiences at the IoE: As an international student, I was made to feel very welcome, with a warm and informative induction that helped familiarise me with the IoE’s vibrant research community. Alongside my PhD, I have worked as a research assistant on two projects (‘Linguistic Creativity in Language Learning’, ‘Phonics Roadshow’) and have taught postgraduate modules. The training, support and research seminars provided have equipped me well to become an independent researcher.

Career: I am now an Associate Professor in Second Language Learning at the University of Reading’s Institute of Education, having previously worked as a Teaching Fellow in Education at the same Institution.  I lead and teach postgraduate level modules as well as supervise MA dissertations. My career aspiration is to become a leading scholar in my research field of second language education.

 

Dr. Yang Hong

Title of thesis: The educational aspirations of ‘Left-behind Children’ in rural China: A case study

Year of graduation: 2017

Supervisors: Prof Carol Fuller & Dr Catherine Foley

Research focus: My research investigated educational aspirations of Chinese rural ‘left-behind children’ (a highly socially disadvantaged young population in China) in relation to their educational experiences within the context of being ‘left behind’. It adopted the qualitative case study approach and used ethnography as the primary research technique to capture factors that impact on aspirations, and to understand and explain why educational aspirations are different among these young people who share many similar social characteristics.

Memorable experiences at the IoE: I have had an absolutely amazing experience studying at the University of Reading’s Institute of Education (IoE). As we all know, doing a PhD is difficult, and it can be even more challenging for international students. However, I received generous support from staff and my fellow PhD peers at the IoE. Without them, I couldn’t make it! I cannot express my gratitude enough for their support.

Career: Currently, I am working as a Research Associate at Shaanxi Normal University in China. I will continue doing research with a focus on the disadvantaged young people and their education, not only in China but also in other countries. I want to give voices to these young people’s experiences, and I hope to raise more awareness towards providing more care, protection and support to these young people.

 

Dr. Nayr Ibrahim

Title of thesis:Identity in children learning to read and write in three languages: A case study

Year of graduation: 2017

Supervisors: Prof Vivien Edwards & Prof Nazima Rassool

Research focus: My PhD research investigated how trilingual/triliterate children negotiated an emerging multilingual identity. It was a qualitative case study, using mixed and multimodal methods, that placed the child at the heart of the research process as it elicited their attitudes, perceptions and interpretations of living and learning in diverse multilingual contexts. 

Memorable experiences at the IoE: I was a part-time student studying away from the university, in Paris, with a full-time job on the side! Even though I was not based in the UK, I did hop on the Eurostar and came over to Reading as often as I could to: meet my supervisor; attend Researcher Development sessions; give my first presentation at the Language Studies PhD conference; and finally for my viva. I always found every one very friendly and helpful, and enjoyed meeting up with other PhD students. 

Career: After graduation, I have accepted the post of Associate Professor of English Subject Pedagogy at Nord University in Bodø, Norway. I am excited to move to Norway and to start my work with student teachers at the University. I am also looking forward to building my network and continue my research in multilingualism, language learning, literacy and children’s voices.