Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal Statement
Dr Sosu is a Reader, and currently Research Director in the School of Education. He has a strong interest in quantitative methods and in addressing educational issues from a psychological perspective. His current research is predominantly focused on exploring how socioeconomic disadvantage influences educational and psychological trajectories from childhood.
Dr Sosu received his PhD from the University of Strathclyde, and studied for an MSc degree at Lund University, Sweden. His first degree is a BEd (Hons) Psychology (1st class honours) from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, followed by a one and half year experience as trainee clinical psychologist. In addition he obtained a postgraduate diploma in psychology (distinction) from the Open University.
Between 2008 and 2013, he worked for the University of Aberdeen, first as a research fellow on the Scottish Teachers for a New Era (STNE) project and subsequently as a lecturer in Education. During this period, Dr Sosu examined the impact of initial teacher education experiences on students’ cognitive dispositions and the extent to which these dispositions influence their classroom competence.
Dr Sosu is the lead author of the influential Joseph Rowntree Foundation report on Closing The Attainment Gap In Scottish Education (http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/education-attainment-scotland-full.pdf), and the research on Widening Access to Higher Education for Students from Economically Disadvantaged Backgrounds: What Works and Why? (https://pure.strath.ac.uk/portal/files/55895221/Sosu_etal_2016_widening_access_to_higher_education_for_students_from_economically_disadvantaged_backgrounds.pdf ) funded by the Scottish Funding Council.
Dr Sosu is a Centre for Health Policy Fellow in the Centre for Health Policy at Strathclyde University.
Ongoing funded projects include:
- ESRC funded research into the role of school absenteeism in the poverty-attainment gap (with Dr Markus Klein, University of Strathclyde)
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Adoption UK funded impact and implementation evaluation of TESSA (with Dr Christine Jones, University of Strathclyde)
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SFC GCRF Institutional funded project on strengthening school-community engagement in disadvantaged schools: A pilot intervention to improve educational outcomes in Ghana and Malawi (with partners in the UK, Ghana, Malawi, and USA)
Research Interests
My primary research focus is on the relationship between poverty and developmental outcomes. I am interested in understanding the mechanisms by which socioeconomic circumstances and experiences of poverty influence educational attainment and psychological outcomes across the lifespan. I harness the power of large longitudinal datasets to aid our understanding of these mechanisms. My goal is to undertake research that drives policies and practices which can improve outcomes for those experiencing adversity nationally and internationally.
Specific Research Interests:
- Childhood and Family–poverty and its effects on developmental outcomes; social mobility; parental beliefs (inc. aspirations)
- Methodology – quantitative methods; structural equation modelling; secondary data analysis; longitudinal designs; psychometrics; mixed methods
- Teacher Education –teacher effectiveness; teacher expertise; pedagogical innovations
Teaching Interests
As well as supervising PhD and Masters students, I teach on the BA in Education, PGDE, MSc Early Years Pedagogue and MEd Inclusive Education programmes. My contributions cover the following areas:
Poverty, Social Class and Educational Achievement
Learning Theories
Memory
The Role of Social and Emotional Interaction in Child Development
Collaborative Learning
Development of Scientific and Mathematical Knowledge in Childhood
Educational Policy
Social Issues in Education
Research Methods
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Education, University of Strathclyde
Award Date: 1 Jan 2008
Master of Social Science, Lund University
Award Date: 1 Jan 2004
Bachelor of Education, University of Cape Coast
Award Date: 1 Jan 2001
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Projects
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Proposal for Process and Impact Evaluation of the East Lothian Tutoring Initiative (ELTI)
Sosu, E., Cassidy, C., Kennedy, A. & Klein, M.
6/01/21 → 30/09/21
Project: Research
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Understanding the Determinants of Resilience in Biological, Adoptive and Foster Families Living With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
1/10/20 → 29/09/23
Project: Research - Studentship
Research output
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Mental Health Literacy and Adolescent Help-Seeking: The Mediating and Moderating Effects of Personal and Perceived Stigmas
Goodfellow, C., Sosu, E., Macintyre, A. & Knifton, L., 31 Jan 2021, Glasgow: University of Strathclyde. 3 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile -
Socioeconomic Disparities in School Absenteeism after the First Wave of COVID-19 School Closures in Scotland
Sosu, E. & Klein, M., 31 Jan 2021, Glasgow: University of Strathclyde. 4 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile91 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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British Psychological Society (The) (External organisation)
Edward Sosu (Advisor)
Feb 2020 → Feb 2021Activity: Membership types › Membership of committee
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External Examiner – BSc Psychology in Education, University of Southampton
Edward Sosu (Examiner)
2020 → 2023Activity: Examination types › Examination