Centre for Positive Psychology and Education

Samantha Hornery has worked as a special educator in a variety of schools and private settings, where she worked with children with learning disabilities. Samantha undertook an intervention research project as part of her postgraduate Doctoral degree at the Centre for Positive Psychology and Education. Her thesis examined the impact of a volunteer-based reading program being implemented in schools across Australia.

Qualifications

BEd, PhD (UWS)

Grants

Positive Pathways to Reading for Disadvantaged Children: Identifying psychosocial antecedents and implementing effective intervention to enhance literacy, self-concept, and motivation - ARC Linkage, 2006-2011

Thesis Title

Positive Pathways to Reading for Disadvantaged Children: Identifying psychosocial antecedents and implementing effective intervention to enhance literacy, self-concept, and motivation. 

Supervisors

Professor Rhonda Craven, Associate Professor Alexander Yeung & Dr Marjorie Seaton

Abstract

The overarching aims of the study are to capitalise upon recent advances in self-concept, motivation, and positive psychology research to develop new, innovative, effective interventions to break the cycle of reading difficulties, disadvantage, and marginalisation experienced by many young Australians; close the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged young children in reading achievement, psychological, well-being, educational, and social indicators; and by unlocking the full potential of our disadvantaged children, ensure no young Australian is left behind. We propose to accomplish these aims by extending and strengthening the Unilever/Learning Links early pilot multidisciplinary intervention based on a synthesis of best international practice in self-concept, motivation, reading and positive psychology theory and research.

Thesis submission date

2011

Publications

Hornery, S., Craven, R. G., Yeung, A. S, & Ali, J. (2008) A New Multidimensional Domain-Specific Motivation Questionnaire: Measurement of Young Children's Multi-faceted Reading Motivation. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education conference, Brisbane Australia, November 2008.