Dr James Smith-Spark

Editorial board membership:

Behavioral Sciences (MDPI), June 2025 to date

Dyslexia: An International Journal of Research and Practice (Wiley Press), May 2023 to date

Review editor roles:

Psychology of Language, Frontiers in Psychology

Reason and Decision-Making, Frontiers in Cognition

REF Unit of Assessment 4 (UoA4) Lead

Previous academic management and administrative responsibilities (all at London South Bank University)

REF Impact Coordinator for Unit of Assessment 4 (September 2024 to June 2025)

Head of the Division of Psychology (June 2020 to June 2023)

Deputy Head of the Division of Psychology (July 2017 to June 2020)

Chair of the School of Applied Sciences’ Academic Standards Committee (July 2017 to June 2020, July to December 2025)

Global Lead for the School of Applied Sciences (September 2022 to January 2025)

Link tutor for Psychology, British University in Egypt (May 2016 to August 2020)

Course Director: MSc Investigative Forensic Psychology (July 2016 to September 2019)

Course Director: Undergraduate Psychology (September 2013 to August 2017)

Departmental Undergraduate Admissions Tutor (December 2007 to September 2013)

External examining experience

BSc Psychology, Leeds Beckett University, September 2018 to November 2023

External course reviews

External panel member, University of Bedfordshire Course Approval for BA (Hons) Psychology, July 2018.

External panel member, Department of Psychology Periodic review, Edge Hill University, November 2018-January 2019.

PhD completions (8)

Protopapa, C. (2026). Higher order cognition in dyslexia: The ecologically valid study of executive functioning, prospective memory and future thinking. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Director of Studies. [Corrections agreed by examiners on June 3rd, awaiting Provost confirmation]

Osofisan, E. J. (2025). Executive functioning in adults with developmental dyslexia. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Director of Studies.

Mensah, C. A. (2023). Executive functions, time perception and prospective memory in adults with dyslexia. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Director of Studies.

Conlon, N. (2021). Positive Behaviour Support: Development and experimental evaluation of behavioural staff training protocols. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Director of Studies. 

Jacobs, J. (2021). Factors influencing reasoning strategy use in children and adults with and without dyslexia. Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Supervisory team member.

Teodorini, R. (2020). The off-prescription use of modafinil and methylphenidate: Perceived risks, benefits and impact on cognitive function. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Supervisory team member.

Gordon, R. (2016). Measuring children’s working memory: The influence of titrated time constraints on complex span tasks and the relationship with higher order cognitive abilities. Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Supervisory team member.

Zięcik, A. P. (2015). Prospective memory in adults with developmental dyslexia. Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Director of Studies.

Doctoral and MRes examining

Bromfield, R. (2025, July). A Cross-Sectional, Qualitative Cohort Study Investigating Special Educational Needs Student, Staff and Caregiver Perceptions of a Trauma-Informed Approach to Secondary Education.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Master of Research (Psychology). Internal examiner.

Hodgson-Jones, S. L. (2026, May). How can schools better support pupils with dyslexia? A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Professional Doctorate in Education, London South Bank University. Internal examiner.

Mearns, S. (2020, June). The Emotional Decision Maker: Exploring the role of affect in sweet food choice. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of London South Bank University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Internal examiner.

Murphy, H. (2024, August). The role of working memory in the understanding of social inference and the lived experience of dyslexia. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of The University of Buckingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. External examiner.

Rawlins, K. (2019, October). Reasoning in adults with dyslexia. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of University of Lancaster for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. External examiner.

Zhou, Y. (2026, July). Examining the Interconnections Between Adaptive Motor Control, Executive Function, and Academic Achievement in Early Adolescence. Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University College London. External examiner.

Successful external grant applications:

March 2013: £9,000 British Academy/Leverhulme Small Grant. Project title: Mediating effects of executive functioning on alcohol-induced prospective memory. Role: Co-investigator.

October 2012: £135,000 Technology Strategy Board (TSB; later InnovateUK) food processing and manufacturing efficiency competition grant. Forming part of a larger bid with industry partners, full value of bid £421,000. Project title: “Minimising pre-consumer food waste through accurate labelling and date coding”. Role: Co-investigator.

Cognitive Science
Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Work Psychology
Research Methods (Quantitative and some qualitative)