Nikita Hayden

Background

I am currently undertaking a PhD in Psychology and Education at the University of Warwick. My research is based at the Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research. I have completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Science Research (Distinction) with the University of Warwick's ESRC-Doctoral Training Centre as well as a Postgraduate Award in Mixed Methods research with the University of Warwick's Medical School (grade pending). Prior to this, I studied an MSc at Birkbeck’s Department for Psychosocial Studies in Education, Power and Social Change (distinction) and have an LLB Law degree from the University of Reading. I have previously worked for a number of years as a widening participation practitioner and hold a professional certification in PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner.

PhD Research

My PhD project explores the educational and psychological outcomes of children that have a brother or sister with an intellectual disability or autism as well as their relationships with one another. My research employs a mixed methods approach and is working towards the following five studies:

A secondary analysis of a nationally representative data set exploring the psychological and behavioural outcomes of children with a brother or sister with an intellectual disability.
An evaluation of a school-based intervention developed by the UK charity Sibs.
A qualitative study exploring sibling relationships.
An exploration of sibling relationships using a large UK data set.
A longitudinal analysis.

This PhD research is fully funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). My project receives additional funding from the UK charity Sibs.

Publications

Hayden, N. K., McCaffrey, M.,Fraser-Lim, C., & Hastings, R. P. (2019). Supporting siblings of children with a special educational need or disability: an evaluation of Sibs Talk, a one-to-one intervention delivered by staff in mainstream schools. Support for Learning. 34(4). 404-420. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9604.12275
Hayden, N. K., Hastings, R. P., Totsika, V., & Langley, E. (2019). A Population-Based Study of the Behavioral and Emotional Adjustment of Older Siblings of Children with and without Intellectual Disability. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 47, 8: 1409-1419.
Tharian, P.R., Henderson, S., Wathanasin, N., Hayden, N., Chester, V., and Tromans, S. (2019). Characters with autism spectrum disorder in fiction: where are the women and girls? Advances in Autism. 5, 1: 50-63.
Cullen, S. M., Cullen, M.-A, Dytham, S., & Hayden, N. (2018). 'Research to understand successful approaches to supporting the most academically able disadvantaged pupils'. Department for Education. November 2018. Accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approaches-to-supporting-disadvantaged-pupils.
Michael-Fox, B. & Hayden, N. (2018). Transforming the Community, Transforming the Self: Young People, Social Action and Community Leadership. The Sheffield Student Journal for Sociology. Communities: Issue 2:132-158.

Other research projects and roles

Developed a survey for adult siblings of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in collaboration with the UK charity Sibs. Currently recruiting for participants.
Organiser and facilitator of Research Group Meetings, CEDAR, University of Warwick, for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Student rep for Research Group Meetings, CEDAR, University of Warwick, 2017-2019.
Research Assistant on a SEND Evidence Review, CEDAR, University of Warwick, 2019.
Set up a Siblings Research Advisory Group collaboratively with PhD students based at UCL: Mhairi McKenzie & Georgia Pavlopoulou, UCL & University of Warwick, 2018-present.
Assisted and co-author on a Department for Education project researching ways to support children that are academically able and from disadvantaged backgrounds, CEDAR, University of Warwick, 2018. DfE report entitled: 'Research to understand successful approaches to supporting the most academically able disadvantaged pupils'.
Pre-screening interviewer for a randomised control trial, CEDAR, University of Warwick, 2018.
Focus group facilitator, Engage Lime and Policyworks Associates, 2017.
Resident Tutor in Rootes residences, Residential Life Team, University of Warwick, 2017-present.
External Access Course Moderator, AIM Awards, 2016-2018.
Peer reviewed for Research in Developmental Disabilities; Advances in Autism; Nursing & Health Sciences; Tizard Learning Disability Review.

Conference presentations

Hayden, N. (December 2019). Associations between sibling behaviours and relationships where one has an intellectual disability. (Format: oral presentation). Seattle Club Conference, University College London, London.
Hayden, N. (October 2019). What does the research tell us about the siblings of children with Down syndrome? (Format: oral presentation). Ups of Downs group leader conference, Leamington Spa. Invited Talk.
Hayden, N., Hastings. R., & Bailey, T. (July 2019). Associations between sibling behaviours and relationships where one has an intellectual disability (Format: oral presentation). IASSIDD World Congress, Glasgow.
Hayden, N., McCaffrey, M., Fraser-Lim, C., & Hastings, R. (December 2018). Supporting siblings of children with SEND: an evaluation of Sibs Talk, a one-to-one intervention delivered by staff in mainstream schools (Format: poster presentation). Seattle Club, Shrewsbury.
Hayden, N., McKenzie, M., & Pavlopoulou, G. (November 2018). Invited talk: The Sibling Research Advisory Group: Lessons learnt from engaging an under-represented and supported group (Format: oral presentation). Research Engagement Conference, UCL.
Hayden, N., Hastings, R., Totsika, V., & Langley, E. (April, 2018). The Psychological Well-Being of Children Who Have a Brother or Sister with Intellectual Disability: A Secondary Analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study (Format: oral presentation). Gatlinburg Conference, San Diego.
Hayden, N., Hastings, R., Totsika, V., & Langley, E. (December 2017). The Psychological Well-Being of Children Who Have a Brother or Sister with Intellectual Disability: A Secondary Analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study (Format: oral presentation). Seattle Club Conference, University of Durham.
Michael, B., & Hayden, N. (July 2016). Presentation entitled: Access to HE: How can we best support Access learners throughout the student lifecycle? (Format: oral presentation). AIM Awards conference, Loughborough University.
Michael, B., & Hayden, N. (January 2016). Presentation entitled: It was like a weird awakening': Young People’s Sense of Community, Agency and Belonging in Bedford (Format: oral presentation). MeCCSA, Canterbury Christ Church University.

Teaching

I have been awarded Associate Fellow status with the Higher Education Academy and have taught the following:

2019/20 academic year:

Lecturer for ‘Learning, Development and Special Educational Needs’ (CE1D4; L4)

2018/19 academic year:

Module convenor and lecturer for ‘Researching Qualitatively in the Social Sciences’ (CE312; L6)
Lecturer and seminar tutor for ‘Widening Participation in Higher Education’ (CE335; L5 & L6).
Dissertation supervisor (CE302; L6).
Lecturer on 'Dissertation' module (CE302; L6).
Guest lecture for Community Engagement: Theory into Practice, IATL (IL017, L5 & L6).
Keynote speaker: Early Childhood Foundation Degree (L4 & L5).

2017/18 academic year:

Module convenor for ‘Researching Qualitatively in the Social Sciences’ (CE312; L6)
Lecturer and seminar tutor for ‘Widening Participation in Higher Education’ (CE335; L5 & L6)
Dissertation supervisor for CLL students (CE302; L6)
Guest lectures for CES’s Research Methods module (L5)
Guest lecture on 'Dissertation' module (CE302; L6)

2016-17 academic year: