Dr Almuth McDowall

BSc(Lon) MSc PhD(City University)
Lecturer

Personal Summary

Almuth is a science practitioner, who aims to develop our theoretical understanding of psychology and apply it to the world of work. The aim is to enhance and promote individual well-being as well as improving organizational effectiveness. Almuth’s research and practice areas are:

• Juggling work and non-work
• Learning and development at work
• The role of feedback and use of psychometrics in development and assessment.

Whilst my research areas are diverse, the unifying objective is to promote diversity and equality in the workplace, focusing on solutions rather than problems.

More specific current interests comprise:

• The conflict and facilitation of work and non-work in UK Police Officers: Almuth continues to lead a number of research projects to investigate how working conditions in the Police affect work/life conflict and well being outcomes. Recent focus has shifted to how examples of good practice could be shared to improve best practice.
• How do managers conceptualise development and training, and how do they make related decisions?
• Coaching at work
• Understanding and improving feedback practice in organizations and education
• Developing assessments across languages and cultures

Current Academic Duties

As part of her activities with the Occupational Psychology Research Group at Surrey, Almuth convenes modules for the MSc in Occupational Psychology (M20 Organizational Behaviour and M21 Assessment in the Workplace), also convenes two undergraduate modules  (Psychology of Families and Introduction to Work Psychology). She acts as an external examiner at Birkbeck College, University of London and is undergraduate examinations officer here at Surrey.

Professional Background Information

Almuth joined the University of Surrey in September 2006 from City University, where she directed the MSc in Psychometrics in Organisations and contributed to a number of other MSc programmes. Almuth took her Bachelors Psychology degree as well as a Masters in Occupational Psychology at Goldsmiths College, University of London before completing her PhD at City University, London. She also holds certificates in Life Coaching and Systemic Therapy, and is qualified in a range of psychometric tools. She won an award from the T Richie Rogers Trust for research into management decision-making for training and development, and has published on issues including employee development, work/life balance, coaching, organizational justice and psychometric assessment across cultures in the practitioner and academic press.

Almuth continues to lead a number of consultancy projects for clients such as the London Borough of Barnet, Baker Tilly and the Police Federation of England and Wales. She trains students and HR practitioners in Level A and B, and delivers bespoke workshops and presentations on topics such as work/life balance or psychometric assessment.

Almuth believes passionately in continuous professional development for psychologists. She co-convened the British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology’s Training and Development committee for a number of years. More recently, she has compiled a number of consultation responses on the society’s behalf on issues such as free nursery places for young children, changes in maternity and paternity leave regulations and welfare to work. She is regularly invited to industry and practitioner events to lead workshops and classes on topics such as making the most of feedback in organizations or the value of psychometric assessment.

Postgraduate Supervision

Current and recently completed PhD topics supervised are:

• Dr Neil Scott, City University: Adverse impact in ability testing in the UK public sector (completed) [click here for abstract]
• Dr Lina Daouk, City University: Towards a culture-free model of the Big Five - a cross-cultural investigation of the Orpheus in four different language families
• Ms Chatsaran Tengpongthorn: Work Family Conflict in Thai Nurses
• Ms Mazlina Muhamad: Leadership and competence in a SE Asian context

A selection of recent MSc dissertations supervised includes:

• Cross validation of a coaching tool and personal styles
• Does having ‘me-time’ make a difference to work/life conflict?
• Stressful life events and daily hassles in the UK police
• A case study of perceived control and work/life balance in a UK Police Force; using interviews, surveys and diary studies.
• Cross validation of the ‘big five’ and interpersonal styles
• A comparison of employee development from the managers’ and employees’ perspectives in a cross-cultural context
• Definition of competence in appraisal records.

Publications and Awards List

Research Awards

April 09-Sept 09

£2,000 from University of Surrey USRF fund to support design of coaching intervention for working parents

Jul 07- present

£12,900 award from Centre for Learning and Development, University of Surrey, to build feedback and assessment capacity for students and staff

Jun 05 – Aug 06

£9,600 award from T Richie Rogers Trust to investigate managerial decision making for training and development, held at Psychology Department, City University

Papers in Preparation

McDowall, A. & Banks, A. Job Demands and time based conflict in senior police officers. Paper in preparation for Journal of Applied Psychology.

McDowall, A. & Saunders, M. How age and gender influence the allocation of training and development budgets. Short research note in preparation for Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology.

Lorentatzou, D.A., McDowall, A. & Draghi-Lorenz. Understanding Clients’ Experience of Having Personal Therapy in a Non-Native Language. Paper in preparation for Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

McDowall, A. & Kinman, G. Social support and perceived control and their association with work/life conflict. Paper in preparation for Work & Stress.

Peer Reviewed Papers

McDowall, A. & Saunders, M. Managers’ conceptions of training and development. Paper submitted to European Journal of Management Learning in September 2008, currently under review

Asumeng, M. Millward-Purvis, L. & McDowall, A. ‘Catch me if you can’! An analysis of managerial feedback seeking. Paper submitted to Journal of Managerial Psychology in February 2009, currently under review

McDowall, A., Kurz, R, MacIver, R. & Saville, P. (2008). A rejoinder to David Bartram. The coaching psychologist, 4(3), 134-140

McDowall, A. & Mabey, C (2008). What are the hallmarks of effective development activities? Personnel Review, 37(6), 629-646

McDowall, A. & Kurz. R. (2008). How to get the best out of 360 degree feedback in coaching. The Coaching Psychologist, Vol 4 (1), 7-19

McDowall, A & Kurz, R. (2007). Making the most of psychometric profiles – effective integration into the coaching process. International Coaching Psychology Review, Vol 2 (3), 299-309

Rust, J., McDowall, A. & Daouk, L. (2005). Navigating the test maze with confidence. Selection and Development Review, August 2005.

Rust, R. McDowall, A. & Daouk, L. (2005). Testing across languages and cultures: challenges for the development and administration of tests in the internet era. Selection and Development Review, August 2005.

McDowall, A. (2005). Work/Life Balance. An issue that concerns us all. Psychology at Work, February 2005

McDowall, A. & Fletcher, C (2004). Management Development from an Organisational Justice Perspective. Personnel Review, 33, 8 - 30.

Edited Books and Book Chapters

Palmer, S. & McDowall, A. (forthcoming in September 09). Putting People First. Understanding Interpersonal Relationships in Coaching. London: Routledge.

McDowall, A. ( 2008). Using Feedback in Coaching. In Passmore, J. (ed.). Psychometrics in Coaching. London: Kogan Page

Technical Reports

McDowall, A. & Heinrich, M (2008). Understanding feedback expectations. Technical report delivered to the Centre for Learning and Development, University of Surrey, September 2008

McDowall, A. & MacKinnon, R. (2004). Report on Work/life balance delivered to Police Federation of England and Wales, Inspectors Central Committee.

Invited Lectures, Master-classes and Key Note Addresses

McDowall, A. & Smewing, C. (2008). Coaching managers to lead and leaders to manage? Invited skills-based session to first European Coaching Conference, University of Westminster, London 18th-19th December 2008

McDowall, A. & Millward-Purvis, L. (2008). “It’s what you say and how you say it”. Understanding the role of feedback in coaching. Masterclass invited by the Special Group in Coaching Psychology, British Psychological Society, May 2008

McDowall, A. Content validity – the key to effective questionnaire design. Distinguished speaker address for MPhil/ PhD programme Oxford Brookes Business School, April 2008

McDowall, A. (2008). Work and non/work. Invited speaker session for MSc Occupational and Organizational Psychology, November, City University, London

McDowall, A. (2007). Work/life balance in the emergency services. Invited Speaker talk for MSc Occupational Psychology at Goldsmiths College, London, 5th December 2007

McDowall, A. (2007). Understanding training and development. Invited speaker session for MSc Occupational and Organizational Psychology, November, City University, London

McDowall, A. & Kurz, R. (2008). Using 360 in coaching. Skills session invited to BPS Special Group in Coaching conference, City University, London, December 2007

McDowall, A. & Kurz, R. (2006). Making the most of psychometrics in coaching. Skills session invited to BPS Special Group in Coaching 1st International Conference, City University, London, December 2008

McDowall, A. How to juggle! A strengths-based approach. Invited key note address to Shell’s Women’s Network Annual Conference, London, June, 2006

McDowall, A. & Rust, J. (2006). Psychometrics – A Dinosaur about to become extinct? Invited key note address to Association of Business Psychologists Annual Conference, Cambridgeshire, May 2006.

Convened Conference Symposia

Forthcoming: Symposium on recovery in the work/place with Mark Cropley and symposium on work/life balance in different occupational groups, both at European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, May 12th-15th 2009

McDowall, A. (2008). Facilitating work and families in the UK. A qualitative perspective. Symposium convened for British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology Conference, Stratford-upon-Avon, January 2008. This included papers by Millward Purvis, Crabb & Millward-Purvis, Taylor & McDowall and Tsang & Millward-Purvis, the discussant was Gail Kinman.

McDowall, A (2007). Work/life balance – achievable and sustainable? Symposium convened for European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology, Stockholm, May 2007. This included papers by Gail Kinman, Anna Allan and Almuth McDowall, discussant Richard MacKinnon

Conference Papers

Rojon, C. & McDowall, A. (2009). Cross-Cultural Assessment: The Actual State of Affairs. Paper presented to BPS Division of Occupational Psychology, Stratford

McDowall, A., Howes, S &Laville, A. (2009). Daily Hassles and Stressful Life Events in UK Police Workers. Does the Conservation of Resources Model help us to understand work/life balance? Paper presented to BPS Division of Occupational Psychology, Stratford

McDowall, A. & Cane, L. (2009). Informal Accommodations of Work to Family and Family to Work in UK IT Workers, Poster presented to BPS Division of Occupational Psychology, Stratford

Rojon, C. & McDowall, A. (2008). The Cultural Orientations Framework questionnaire put to the text: Validation of a new measure for use in cross-cultural coaching.  Paper presented to first European Coaching Conference, University of Westminster, London 18th-19th December 2008

McDowall, A. (2008). Giving feedback – future focus is vital! Oral session to first European Coaching Conference, University of Westminster, London 18th-19th December 2008

Smewing, C. & McDowall, A. (2008). What type of assessments do coaches use in coaching? Poster presented to first European Coaching Conference, University of Westminster, London 18th-19th December 2008

Banks. & McDowall, A. (2008). How ethical are our ethics? Professional Forum presented at BPS DOP Annual Conference, Stratford-upon-Avon, January 2008

McDowall, A. (2007). How age and gender affect the allocation of training and development budgets. Paper presented at BPS DOP Annual Conference, Bristol, January 2007

McDowall, A., Choi, M & Nah, E. (2007). Understanding the Work/ Non-Work Juggling Act – it’s how much you are in control, and how you say ‘no’ that makes the difference! Paper presented at BPS DOP Annual Conference, Bristol, January 2007

Bartram, D., Brown, A., Daouk, L, Inceoglu, I. & McDowall, A. (2007). Making sure we’re not comparing apples with pears – how to put international guidelines on test adaptation into practice. Workshop facilitated at BPS DOP Annual Conference, Bristol, January 2007

McDowall, A.(2006). Does age improve our capacity to develop? Paper presented at International Congress of Applied Psychology, Athens, July 16th – 21st 2006

McDowall, A. (2006). Quantity or Quality? How psychologists can contribute to our understanding of employee development. Paper presented at International Congress of Applied Psychology, Athens, July 16th – 21st 2006

McDowall, A. & Daouk, L. Does the Internet lull us into a false sense of security? Paper presented at International Congress of Applied Psychology, as part of an invited symposium chaired by Professor Dave Bartram, Athens, July 16th – 21st 2006

McDowall, A. & Silvester, J. (2006). How do managers conceptualise training and development? Paper presented to British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology Conference, Glasgow 2006

McDowall, A. & MacKinnon, R (2006). Do as I do and not as I say! A workshop for consultants for looking after our own work/life balance. Workshop presented to British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology Conference, Glasgow 2006

McDowall, A & Palm, D. (2005). How to design and run an effective graduate recruitment process. Workshop invited to German Congress for Psychology Students, Muenster, November 2005

McDowall, A. & MacKinnon, R. How to sell your skills in the real world! Workshop invited to Postgraduate Conference, British Psychological Society Occupational Psychology Division, Nottingham, September 2005

Daouk, L., Rust, J. & McDowall, A. (2005). Testing across cultures and nationalities. Challenges for Testing in the Internet Era. Paper presented at Test User Conference, British Psychological Society, Peterborough, May 2005

McDowall, A & McKinnon, R. (2005). Work/Life Balance: A Pan European Issue. Paper presented at European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology, Istanbul, May 12th -15th 2005

McDowall, A. & Silvester, J. (2005). A New Framework for Employee Development. Paper presented at European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology, Istanbul, May 12th -15th 2005

Rust, J., Walker, S., Malhotra, A. & McDowall, A (2005). I convened an interactive paper on Convivence and Individual Differences in Psychometric Practice. Presented at European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology, Istanbul, May 12th -15th 2005

McDowall, A. (2005). Work/life vs. work/work balance. Paper presented at BPS Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference, Warwickshire, January 2005

 

Getting in touch with Almuth

Please email me: a.mcdowall@surrey.ac.uk. I am very happy to provide you with past and present papers and slides in pdf format. In addition, I would love to hear from individuals interested in studying for a PhD, particularly topics concerned with cross cultural adaptation, work/life balance, giving feedback or development and training in the widest sense.

Student expectations of Feedback -
Building capacity for Staff and Students

Almuth is currently leading, together with Dr Ann Cronin from Sociology, an internal project on student expectations of feedback. This involved large scale data collection from BSc and MSc students, a summary of the results can be accessed by clicking on this link: [2.45Mb]