Dr Rachel Avery

Research Interests

I am interested in contributing to the motivation-cognition interface by developing understanding of how differently motivated individuals might differ in terms of the cognitive process engaged during goal pursuit. I am particularly interested in motivational modulation of cognitive control components and my work to date has primarily attended to the impact of achievement goals (mastery-performance, approach-avoidance) on working memory processing. This has particular relevance to applied interventions (classroom, workplace) in terms of shaping cognitive control through motivational manipulation.

Publications

Avery, R. E. (in prep). The Effectiveness of State Achievement Goal Manipulation Methods: A Meta-Analysis.

Avery, R. E. (under review). Employee Achievement Orientations, Personality, and, Expectation Based Job Satisfaction and Satisfaction with Ones Own Job Performance.

Avery, R. E., Smillie, L. D., & de Fockert, J. W. (under review). The Role of Working Memory in Achievement Goal Pursuit.

Avery, R. E., & Smillie, L. D. (2012). The Impact of Achievement Goal States on Working Memory. Motivation & Emotion. (DOI: 10.1007/s11031-012-9287-4).

Smillie, L. D., Loxton, N. J., & Avery, R. E. (2011). Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, Research, Applications, and Future. In T. Chamorro-Premuzic, S. von Stumm & A. Furnham (Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Individual Differences (pp. 101-131). Blackwell.

Selected Presentations:

Avery, R. E., & Smillie, L. D. (May, 2012). Achievement Orientations Modulate Working Memory Resources. Symposium Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Motivation, Chicago.

Avery, R. E., & Smillie, L. D. (May, 2010). Achievement Motivation and Simple vs Complex Span. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Motivation, Boston.

Avery, R. E., & Smillie, L. D. (November, 2009). Mastery-Approach and Performance-Approach Goal Pursuit, and Working Memory. Poster presented at the International Congress on Cognition, Emotion and Motivation, Tunisia.

Teaching

Introduction to Work and Organisational Psychology (Final Year UG Module Convenor)

Social Psychology of Organisations and Institutions (PG Module Convenor)

Organisational Behaviour (PG Contributing Lecturer)

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dissertation Supervisor

Departmental Duties

Lab Token Scheme Administrator

SONA Research Database Administrator - Would you like to take part in University of Surrey Psychology Research? Please email me for a participant login. 

Volunteer Research Apprentice Scheme Administrator - Second Year Psychology Student Scheme.

Additional Information

Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol)

Full member of the Division for Teachers and Researchers in Psychology

Member of the Division of Occupational Psychology

Professional Member of the British Psychological Society Psychological Test Centre (PTC)  - Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing

Member of the Society for the Study of Motivation

DOP Learning a Living Committee Member - Applied, innovative, cutting-edge CPD workshops on the latest thinking in Occupational Psychology