Dr Katheryn Edwards

• BPS Chartered Psychologist
• PhD in Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
• MSc Energy Systems and Environmental Management, Caledonian University, UK
• PG Cert in Learning & Teaching Plymouth Marjon University
• BSc (Hons) Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
• Graduate Diploma in Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
• BA (Hons) Economics and Economic History, University of Warwick, UK

I am module lead for a number of undergraduate and postgraduate psychology courses. As such my teaching covers a variety of topics across cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, research methods and study skills. Key duties include lecturing and assessment-setting in line with module learning outcomes. Other responsibilities involve pastoral care, post-graduate supervision, and collaborating with colleagues to adapt and improve student engagement and success. 

My research examines how humans understand and reason about other people’s minds, with a particular focus on Theory of Mind. I investigate how automatic and controlled cognitive processes contribute to mindreading across the lifespan, and I have developed novel experimental methods to test these mechanisms. My work has been published in leading journals such as Cognition, Scientific Reports, and Cognitive Development.

I also pursue complementary lines of enquiry in comparative cognition and applied developmental science, including studies of social understanding in non-human species and research exploring psychological and interpersonal factors influencing participation in equestrian sport during menopause.

Across these strands, my research aims to deepen theoretical understanding while producing high-quality, translational insights relevant to real-world contexts. I am committed to developing interdisciplinary methodologies and fostering collaboration to expand our understanding of social cognition in diverse environments.

Walters-Symons, R., Edwards, K., Kentzer, N., & Bending, H. (2025). Menopause and equestrian sport: Exploring the impact of the menopause on female equestrian athletes. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 33(1). Presentation abstract.

Brox, B. W., Edwards, K., Buist, N. A., & Macaskill, A. C. (2021). Investigating food preference in zoo‐housed meerkats. Zoo Biology.

Low, J., Edwards, K., & Butterfill, S. (2020). Visibly constraining an agent modulates observers’ automatic false-belief tracking. Scientific Reports, 10,1, 1-12.

Edwards, K., Maymon, C., Peloquin, C., Sivanantham, S., & Low, J. (2020). False belief understanding: On cognitive development, cognitive competence & cognitive systems. In S. Hupp, & J. Jewell (Eds.). The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development. Wiley. doi.org/10.1002/9781119171492.wecad141

Edwards, K., & Low, J. (2019). Leve1 2 perspective-taking distinguishes automatic and non-automatic belief-tracking. Cognition, 193. doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2019.104017

Poulin-Dubois, P., Rakoczy, H., Burnside, K., Crivello, C., Dörrenberg, Edwards, K.,…. Ruffman, T. (2018). Do infants understand false beliefs? We don’t know yet – A commentary on Baillargeon, Buttelmann and Southgate’s commentary. Cognitive Development, 48, 302-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2018.09.005

Low, J., & Edwards, K. (2018). The curious case of adults’ interpretations of violation-of-expectation false belief scenarios. Cognitive Development, 46, 86-96, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2017.07.004

Edwards, K., & Low, J. (2017). Reaction time profiles of adults’ action prediction reveal two mindreading systems. Cognition, 160, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2016.12.004

Invited Symposium Panelist: “Characteristics of Efficient Mindreading in Uncharted Settings” at the International Convention of Psychological Science, Paris, France (2019).

• Chartered Psychologist (British Psychological Society)
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
• Graduate Student Affiliate of the Association for Psychological Science
• Member of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology

Committee Member of South West Branch of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Member of the BPS Student Experience Working Group