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HomeAcademic staffDr James Smith-Spark
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I am an Associate Professor of Psychology at London South Bank University. I am a Chartered Psychologist, an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I am the Global Lead for the School of Applied Sciences. I have also had terms as Course Director for Undergraduate Psychology, Course Director for MSc Investigative Forensic Psychology, Deputy Head of the Division of Psychology, British University in Egypt Link Tutor for Psychology, Chair of the School of Applied Sciences’ Academic Standards Committee, and Head of the Division of Psychology.

My Medical Research Council-funded PhD at the University of Sheffield was on working memory in adults with dyslexia. Studying the effects of dyslexia on the cognition of adults with dyslexia has continued to be my main area of research interest to the present day. Before arriving at London South Bank University, I held research posts at the University of Manchester (a Parkinson's Disease Society-funded project on time perception in Parkinson's disease), the University of Kent at Canterbury (an ESRC-funded project on age of acquisition effects), and Cancer Research UK (an ESRC/EPSRC-funded project on medical decision making and interface design). I am currently the lead academic on the Developmental Cognition research grouping and a member of the Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research. I also have an ongoing research interest in cognitive ergonomics.

Courses taught

Psychology - BSc (Hons)

Psychology (Child Development) - BSc (Hons)

Psychology (Clinical Psychology) - BSc (Hons)

Psychology (Forensic Psychology) - BSc (Hons)

Psychology - MSc

Mental Health and Clinical Psychology - MSc

Psychology - MRes

Postgraduate Research Supervision
Current
Ms Laraib NaeemDoctoral Research ProjectMRes
Miss Golnaz. Sara BerenjkoubDoctoral Research ProjectPhD
Miss Kiara MehtaDoctoral Research ProjectPhD
Mrs Emmanuella Joy OsofisanExecutive functioning in adults with developmental dyslexiaPhD
Miss Christina ProtopapaDoctoral Research ProjectPhD

Awarded in the last 5 years
Mr Charles Agyepong MensahEXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS, TIME PERCEPTION AND PROSPECTIVE MEMORY IN ADULTS WITH DYSLEXIA PhD
PhD

University of Sheffield

1994
1999
BA (Hons) Psychology

University of Sheffield

1991
1994
PGCHE

London South Bank University

2008
2009
CLTHE

London South Bank University

2005
2006
Research Fellow
Cancer Research UK

Research Fellow in the Advanced Computation Laboratory.

2004
2005
Third sector/charities
Research Associate
University of Kent at Canterbury

ESRC-funded research associate in the Department of Psychology, working on a project looking at age of acquisition effects for words, objects, and people.

2001
2004
Education
Research Associate
University of Manchester

Working in the Department of Psychology on a Parkinson's Disease Society-funded project investigating time perception in people with Parkinson's disease.

1999
2001
Education
British Psychological Society
1995
British Psychological Society
2005
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society – Europe Chapter
2016
2019
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society – Europe Chapter
2019
European Association of Developmental Psychology
2019
Leeds Beckett University
External examiner

External Examiner - BSc Psychology.

.

November 2018
November 2023

The Roles of Rule Type and Word Term in the Deductive Reasoning of Adults with and without Dyslexia
Jacobs, J., Smith-Spark, J. and Newton, E. (2024). The Roles of Rule Type and Word Term in the Deductive Reasoning of Adults with and without Dyslexia. Behavioral Sciences. 14 (8), p. 635. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080635

Perceived cognitive performance in off-prescription users of modafinil and methylphenidate: an online survey
Teodorini, R., Rycroft, N. and Smith-Spark, J. (2024). Perceived cognitive performance in off-prescription users of modafinil and methylphenidate: an online survey. Brain and Behavior. 14 (2), p. e3403. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3403

Lived experiences of everyday memory in adults with dyslexia: A thematic analysis
Smith-Spark, J. H. and Lewis, E. G. (2023). Lived experiences of everyday memory in adults with dyslexia: A thematic analysis. Behavioral Sciences. 13 (10), p. 840. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13100840

The impact of developmental dyslexia on workplace cognition: Evidence from a virtual reality environment.
Smith-Spark, J., Gordon, R. and Jansari, A. S. (2023). The impact of developmental dyslexia on workplace cognition: Evidence from a virtual reality environment. Behaviour & Information Technology. 42 (3), pp. 269-277. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2022.2152367

Reducing human error in the quality control checking of fresh produce labels
Smith-Spark, J., Katz, H. B., Wilcockson, T. D. W. and Marchant, A. P. (2022). Reducing human error in the quality control checking of fresh produce labels. in: W. F. Lai (ed.) Food Packaging: Safety Management and Quality Nova Science. pp. 307-321

The impact of developmental dyslexia on workplace cognition: Evidence from a virtual reality environment
Smith-Spark, J., Gordon, R. and Jansari, A. (2022). The impact of developmental dyslexia on workplace cognition: Evidence from a virtual reality environment. ECCE '22: the 33rd European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics. Kaiserslautern Germany 04 - 07 Oct 2022 Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). pp. 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1145/3552327.3552340

Self-reported symptoms of developmental dyslexia predict impairments in everyday cognition in adults.
Protopapa, C. and Smith-Spark, J.H. (2022). Self-reported symptoms of developmental dyslexia predict impairments in everyday cognition in adults. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 128, p. 104288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104288

Automaticity and executive abilities in developmental dyslexia: A theoretical review
Smith-Spark, J. and Gordon, R. (2022). Automaticity and executive abilities in developmental dyslexia: A theoretical review. Brain Sciences. 12, p. 446. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12040446

Children's verbal, visual and spatial processing and short-term storage abilities: An analysis of verbal comprehension, reading, counting and mathematics
Gordon, R., Smith-Spark, J. H., Newton, E. J. and Henry, L. A. (2021). Children's verbal, visual and spatial processing and short-term storage abilities: An analysis of verbal comprehension, reading, counting and mathematics. Frontiers in Psychology. 12, p. 5671. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.732182

Dyslexia and syllogistic reasoning in adults: Differences in strategy usage.
Jacobs, J., Newton, E. and Smith-Spark, J. (2021). Dyslexia and syllogistic reasoning in adults: Differences in strategy usage. Dyslexia. 27 (2), pp. 153-167. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.1676

The Effects of Alcohol Use on Prospective Memory: A Systematic Literature Review.
Kyriacou, A., Smith-Spark, J.H., Senar, J., Moss, A.C. and Dyer, K.R. (2021). The Effects of Alcohol Use on Prospective Memory: A Systematic Literature Review. Substance Use & Misuse. 56 (3), p. 359. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2020.1868005

A review of prospective memory impairments in developmental dyslexia: Evidence, explanations, and future directions.
Smith-Spark, J. (2020). A review of prospective memory impairments in developmental dyslexia: Evidence, explanations, and future directions. in: Raskin, S.A. (ed.) Prospective Memory in Clinical Populations Abingdon, Oxon Routledge.

Les fonctions exécutives chez les adultes avec une dyslexie.
Smith-Spark, J. (2020). Les fonctions exécutives chez les adultes avec une dyslexie. in: Colé, P., Cavalli, E. and Duncan, L.G. (ed.) La dyslexie à l'âge adulte Approche neuropsychologique Paris De Boeck.

La mémoire des adultes avec une dyslexie.
Smith-Spark, J. and Gordon, R. (2020). La mémoire des adultes avec une dyslexie. in: Colé, P., Cavalli, E. and Duncan, L.G. (ed.) La dyslexie à l'âge adulte Approche neuropsychologique Paris, France De Boeck.

Memory in adults with dyslexia
Smith-Spark, JH and Gordon, R (2019). Memory in adults with dyslexia. in: Colé, P, Duncan, L and Cavalli, E (ed.) Dyslexia at university: Theoretical insights and practical solutions Brussels De Boeck.

The off-prescription use of modafinil: an online survey of perceived risks and benefits
Teodorini, R., Rycroft, N. and Smith-Spark, J. (2020). The off-prescription use of modafinil: an online survey of perceived risks and benefits. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227818

Working memory and high-level cognition in children: An analysis of timing and accuracy in complex span tasks
Gordon, R., Smith-Spark, J. H., Newton, E. J. and Henry, L. A. (2019). Working memory and high-level cognition in children: An analysis of timing and accuracy in complex span tasks. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 191, p. 104736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2019.104736

Mental Reinstatement of Context: Do individual differences in mental time travel and eyewitness occupation influence eyewitness performance over different delay intervals?
Bangs, K. and Smith-Spark, J. (2019). Mental Reinstatement of Context: Do individual differences in mental time travel and eyewitness occupation influence eyewitness performance over different delay intervals? Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling. https://doi.org/10.1002/jip.1536

Factors affecting accuracy in the quality control checking of fresh produce labels: A situational and laboratory-based exploration.
Smith-Spark, J., Katz, H., Wilcockson, T. and Marchant, A. (2019). Factors affecting accuracy in the quality control checking of fresh produce labels: A situational and laboratory-based exploration. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries.. 29 (6), p. 447– 458. https://doi.org/10.1002/hfm.20806

Executive functions in adults with dyslexia
Smith-Spark, JH (2018). Executive functions in adults with dyslexia. in: Colé, P, Duncan, L and Cavalli, E (ed.) Dyslexia at university: Theoretical insights and practical solutions Brussels, Belgium De Boeck.

Optimal approaches to the quality control checking of product labels
Smith-Spark, JH, Katz, HB, Wilcockson, TDW and Marchant, A (2018). Optimal approaches to the quality control checking of product labels. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. 68, pp. 118-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2018.07.003

Executive function and academic achievement in primary school children: The use of task-related processing speed
Gordon, R, Smith-Spark, JH, Newton, EJ and Henry, LA (2018). Executive function and academic achievement in primary school children: The use of task-related processing speed. Frontiers in Psychology. 9 (APR). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00582

The relation of “literacy glasses” to cognition in dyslexia and to extended mind theory
Smith-Spark, J (2019). The relation of “literacy glasses” to cognition in dyslexia and to extended mind theory. L’Année Psychologique/Topics in Cognitive Psychology. 118, pp. 365-365. https://doi.org/10.3917/anpsy1.184.0365

Forgetting to remember to remember: Prospective memory in adults with dyslexia
Smith-Spark, JH (2017). Forgetting to remember to remember: Prospective memory in adults with dyslexia. Dyslexia Review. 28 (1), pp. 9-11.

A review of prospective memory impairments in developmental dyslexia: Evidence, explanations, and future directions
Smith-Spark, JH (2017). A review of prospective memory impairments in developmental dyslexia: Evidence, explanations, and future directions. Clinical Neuropsychologist. 32 (5). https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2017.1369571

Verbal and non-verbal fluency in adults with developmental dyslexia: Phonological processing or executive control problems?
Smith-Spark, JH, Henry, LA, Messer, DJ and Zięcik, AP (2017). Verbal and non-verbal fluency in adults with developmental dyslexia: Phonological processing or executive control problems? Dyslexia. 23 (3), pp. 234-250. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.1558

The event-based prospective memory of adults with developmental dyslexia under naturalistic conditions
Smith-Spark, JH, Zięcik, AP and Sterling, C (2017). The event-based prospective memory of adults with developmental dyslexia under naturalistic conditions. Asia Pacific Journal of Developmental Differences. 4 (1), pp. 17-33. https://doi.org/10.3850/S2345734117000036

Adults with developmental dyslexia show selective impairments in time-based and self-initiated prospective memory: Self-report and clinical evidence.
Smith-Spark, JH, Zięcik, AP and Sterling, C (2017). Adults with developmental dyslexia show selective impairments in time-based and self-initiated prospective memory: Self-report and clinical evidence. Research in Developmental Disabilitiesl. 62, pp. 247-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2016.12.011

Everyday memory in adults with dyslexia
Smith-Spark, JH (2017). Everyday memory in adults with dyslexia. in: Fawcett, AJ (ed.) DAS Handbook 2016 Singapore Dyslexia Association of Singapore.

Mental time travel ability and the Mental Reinstatement of Context for crime witnesses.
Smith-Spark, JH, Bartimus, J and Wilcock, R (2016). Mental time travel ability and the Mental Reinstatement of Context for crime witnesses. Consciousness and Cognition. 48, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2016.10.002

Do Baseline Executive Functions Mediate Prospective Memory Performance under a Moderate Dose of Alcohol?
Smith-Spark, JH, Moss, AC and Dyer, K. (2016). Do Baseline Executive Functions Mediate Prospective Memory Performance under a Moderate Dose of Alcohol? Frontiers in Psychology. 7, pp. 1325 - 1325. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01325

Reducing quality control errors by guiding behavior
Smith-Spark, JH, Katz, HB, Marchant, A and Wilcockson, TDW (2016). Reducing quality control errors by guiding behavior. 6th International Ergonomics Conference Ergonomics 2016 – Focus on synergy. Zadar, Croatia 15 - 18 Jun 2016 Croatian Ergonomics Society. pp. 315 - 322

Retrospective and prospective remembering in adults with developmental dyslexia.
Smith-Spark, JH, Zięcik, AP and Sterling, C (2016). Retrospective and prospective remembering in adults with developmental dyslexia. International Workshop on Reading and Developmental Dyslexia (iWORDD). Bilbao, Spain 05 May 2016

Executive functions in adults with developmental dyslexia.
Smith-Spark, JH, Henry, LA, Messer, DJ, Edvardsdottir, E and Zięcik, AP (2016). Executive functions in adults with developmental dyslexia. International Workshop on Reading and Developmental Dyslexia (iWORDD). Bilbao, Spain 05 May 2016

Self-reports of increased prospective and retrospective memory problems in adults with developmental dyslexia
Smith-Spark, JH, Zięcik, AP and Sterling, C (2016). Self-reports of increased prospective and retrospective memory problems in adults with developmental dyslexia. Dyslexia. 22 (3), pp. 245-262. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.1528

Executive functions in adults with developmental dyslexia
Smith-Spark, JH, Henry, LA, Messer, DJ, Edvardsdottir, E and Zięcik, AP (2016). Executive functions in adults with developmental dyslexia. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 53-54, pp. 323 - 341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2016.03.001

Time-based prospective memory in adults with developmental dyslexia.
Smith-Spark, JH, Zięcik, AP and Sterling, C (2016). Time-based prospective memory in adults with developmental dyslexia. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 49-50, pp. 34-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2015.11.006

Cognitive predictors of accuracy in quality control checking
Katz, HB, Smith-Spark, JH, Wilcockson, TDW and Marchant, A (2015). Cognitive predictors of accuracy in quality control checking. Airenti, G, Bara, BG and Sandini, G (ed.) EAPCogSci 2015 EuroAsianPacific Joint Conference on Cognitive Science. Torino, Italy 25 - 27 Sep 2015 CEUR Workshop Proceedings.

The effects of age of acquisition and semantic congruency on famous person category verification
Smith-Spark, JH, Moore, V and Valentine, T (2015). The effects of age of acquisition and semantic congruency on famous person category verification. CEUR Workshop Proceedings. 1419, pp. 84 - 89 (6).

Label-checking strategies to adapt behaviour to design
Smith-Spark, JH, Katz, HB, Marchant, A and Wilcockson, TDW (2015). Label-checking strategies to adapt behaviour to design. ECCE 2015 – European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics. Warsaw, Poland 01 - 03 Jul 2015 ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/2788412.2788425

Determinants of famous name processing speed: age of acquisition versus semantic connectedness.
Smith-Spark, JH, Moore, V and Valentine, T (2013). Determinants of famous name processing speed: age of acquisition versus semantic connectedness. Acta Psychologica(Amst). 142 (2), pp. 230-237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2012.11.016

Long-term age of acquisition effects in famous name processing.
Smith-Spark, JH, Moore, V and Valentine, T (2012). Long-term age of acquisition effects in famous name processing. Acta Psychologica(Amst). 139 (1), pp. 202-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2011.10.002

Does the face fit the facts? Testing three accounts of age of acquisition effects
Smith-Spark, JH, Moore, V and Valentine, T (2007). Does the face fit the facts? Testing three accounts of age of acquisition effects. Vosniadou, S and Kayser, D (ed.) Proceedings of EuroCogSci07: The European Cognitive Science Conference. Delphi, Greece 23 - 27 May 2007 Lawrence Erlbaum. pp. 794 - 799 (6)

Working memory functioning in developmental dyslexia.
Smith-Spark, JH and Fisk, JE (2007). Working memory functioning in developmental dyslexia. Memory. 15 (1), pp. 34-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658210601043384

Argumentation in Decision Support for Medical Care Planning for Patients and Clinicians.
Smith-Spark, JH, Glasspool, D, Fox, J and Oettinger, A (2006). Argumentation in Decision Support for Medical Care Planning for Patients and Clinicians. Argumentation for Consumers of Healthcare, Papers from the 2006 AAAI Spring Symposium. Stanford, California, USA 27 - 29 Mar 2006 London South Bank University.

Dyslexic students have more everyday cognitive lapses.
Smith-Spark, JH, Fawcett, AJ, Nicolson, RI and Fisk, JE (2010). Dyslexic students have more everyday cognitive lapses. Memory. 12 (2), pp. 174 - 182. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658210244000450

Investigating the central executive in adult dyslexics: Evidence from phonological and visuospatial working memory performance
Smith-Spark, JH, Fisk, JE, Fawcett, AJ and Nicolson, RI (2003). Investigating the central executive in adult dyslexics: Evidence from phonological and visuospatial working memory performance. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology. 15 (4), pp. 567-587. https://doi.org/10.1080/09541440340000024