Peta Callaghan

Dr Peta Callaghan

Senior Lecturer

School of Psychology

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


I am a Social Psychologist and completed my PhD in 2014 titled 'Science, Ideology, and Climate Change'. Here I explored the discourses of climate change denial in the context of competing ideological positions and anti-science rhetoric.

I am interested in research topics focused on social justice, especially environmental issues, racism and prejudice, and inequality. I utilise a range of qualitative methods in my research, including realist approaches such as content and thematic analysis, through to more constructionist approaches like discourse and critical discourse analysis.

I am now in a Teaching Specialist role and Program Director of the Online Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Pearson Alliance). This role has allowed me to develop high quality online learning skills, and I have since expanded my research interests to include research focused on teaching and learning, particularly in the online context.

Racism and Prejudice: Discursive constructions of accusations and denials of racism

Climate Change: Attributions of blame during the 2019-2020 'Black summer' bushfires in Australia

Teaching Psychology: Developing effective strategies for online group work

Small School Grant 2020 ($2000): Developing effective strategies for online group work

Academic Lead for Assessment in Psychology

Course Coordinator:

  • Psychology, Science and Society (Level III)
  • Introductory Psychology (Trimester 2)

Course Author (online programs):

  • Foundations of Psychology
  • Social Psychology 
  • Research Methods, Design & Analysis (qualitative module)
  • Applying Research Methods (qualitative module)

Lecturer:

  • Psychology in Society: Social psychology (Level II)
  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor Investigating Transgender and Gender Diverse Experiences of Gender Euphoria in an Australian Context Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Stella Kulesza
    2023 Principal Supervisor Investigating Changing Attitudes Towards Climate Change due to Extreme Weather Events and Anomalous Climate Events Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mitchell James Osborne
    2023 Principal Supervisor Investigating the Experiences of LGBTQIA+ Individuals Engaging Online and the Effects on their Mental and Physical Wellbeing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Alex Penfold
  • Other Supervision Activities

    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Border closures’ impact on University of Adelaide students: exploring barriers and facilitators of support during the COVID-19 pandemic University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Julianne Rogers
    2022 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Social Representations of Climate Change before and after the Black Summer bushfires of 2020 University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Mitchell Osborne
    2022 - 2020 Principal Supervisor #ClimateCriminals: Discursive constructions of climate change prior to and during Black Summer University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Joseph Laranjeira
    2022 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Online communities and identity: experiences of LGBTQIA+ young adults with LGBTQIA+ online content during the covid 19 pandemic University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Alex Penfold
    2022 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Confirmation bias in legal decision-making: a qualitative/ thematic analysis University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Ellie Turner
    2022 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Student and teacher experiences with the transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Sussan Vo
    2022 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Perceptions and experiences of LGBTQIA+ emergency first responders' and defence force personnel's families: A qualitative meta-synthesis University of Adelaide and MESHA Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Philip Dobek
    2021 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Help-seeking experiences of young women with symptoms of anxiety and depression University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Madeleine Whyatt
    2020 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Impact of Employment on the Health & Wellbeing of Middle Eastern Refugee Women University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Gur Kaur
    2020 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Anthropogenic Climate Change and Collective Action University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Part Time Kath Whitson
    2020 - 2020 Co-Supervisor The Affective Practices of Incels: A Social Identity Approach to the Construction of Incel Identities University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Mark Marveggio
    2019 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Negotiating Changing Identities: Migrant and Refugee Children’s Ethnic Identity Expression in Australia University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours Full Time Tamina Islam
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83139907
  • Email: peta.callaghan@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Hughes, floor 5
  • Org Unit: Psychology

Connect With Me
External Profiles