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Profile

Dr Joseph Adonu, Lecturer

Dr Joseph Adonu

I joined the Psychology Department of the University of Bedfordshire in August 2005 as Lecturer in Psychology. I currently co-ordinate and teach undergraduate psychology modules as well as supervise undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation students.

My supervision covers the areas of social psychology, personal relationships, culture and the psychology of socio-economic development. If you are interested in pursuing a PhD related to these areas, do not hesitate to contact me for a discussion towards a possible supervision in our department.

Educational Path

After 5 years of study in Automobile Engineering at St. Paul Technical Institute and Ho Polytechnic in Ghana, I refocused my intellectual pursuit to the social sciences.

I entered the University of Ghana in 1993 and graduated with a First Class BA Honours degree in Psychology in 1997. After serving as teaching/research assistant in the Department of Psychology of University of Ghana for two years, I began an MPhil (later upgraded to PhD.) social psychology programme at Brunel University, London in October 2000. I completed my PhD in 2005 under the supervision of Professor Robin Goodwin. My PhD project addressed the question of "Psychosocial predictors of marital satisfaction in British and Ghanaian Cultural Settings".

During my PhD programme I continued to develop my teaching and research by serving again as graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Human Sciences at Brunel, as well as part-time lecturer (Further Education) at Thames Valley University, London.

I also attained a postgraduate qualification in academic practice (PgCAP) from the University of Bedfordshire in 2008 and subsequently achieved the status of Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (FHEA) of England and Wales.

Research Projects
  • My research area lies at the juncture of social psychology and culture. Particularly, I am interested in personal relationships across Euro-American and African cultural settings. Currently, I am collaborating on research projects with Professor Glenn Adams of  University of Kansas, as well as Professor Robin Goodwin of Brunel University. Our research explores the cultural grounding of personal relationships, particularly addressing the construction of friendship, enemyship and marriage in the USA, UK and Ghana.
  • New areas in which I am consolidating research interest include: the psychology  of culture and socio-economic development; history and philosophy of psychology. With a background in engineering science and mathematics, I have a natural penchant for quantitative research methods and psychometrics.
  • I am also in a new collaboration on research and evolution of models for the psychology of culture and innovation. This collaboration involves colleagues from Volda University College in Norway and Flowers School of Technology and Management, Germany.
Teaching Engagements
  • Social Processes and Lifespan Development (Lecturer/Tutor)
  • Critical Social Psychology (Lecturer/Tutor))
  • Psychology of Individual Differences (Lecturer/Tutor)
  • Introduction to Psychological Research Methods and Data Analysis (Deputy Co-ordinator/Lecturer)
  • Counselling and Interpersonal Psychology (Lecturer)
  • Foundations to Psychology (Lecturer)
  • Psychology In Everyday Life (Lecturer)
  • Undergraduate Dissertations Co-ordinator
Other Interests

I engage in the organization and delivery of high-energy motivational messages on subjects such as purpose, personal development and strategic achievement. I am currently working on a book that covers an aspect of student achievement. CLICK HERE for a taster.

In my leisure time, I enjoy watching, analyzing and arguing about football (Arsenal fan) and snooker (Ronnie O’Sullivan fan). I also spend time observing and analyzing cars and listening to Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Boney M, ABBA, Michael Jackson, Andrae Crouch, Nicole Mullen, Pixie Lott and Gabriella Cilmi, among others.

Contact Details

Dr Joseph Adonu
Department of Psychology
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
LUTON, LU1 3JU

UNITED KINGDOM

E: joseph.adonu@beds.ac.uk

T: +44 (0)1582 489276

F: +44 (0)1582 489212

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