The department prides itself on a history of producing high-quality and socially relevant psychological research, dating back to its foundation in 1920. It continues this tradition by producing research which is published and presented in both national and international journals and conferences.

Research is not something done only by postgraduate students and staff; all undergraduate students participate in research and engage in various research-oriented assignments as part of their normal coursework, and those students intending to major in psychology are given an extensive education in both quantitative and qualitative research design and data analysis.

The department specialises and publishes in the following fields: Developmental Psychology; Cognitive & Neuro-Psychology; Forensic Psychology; Psychological Trauma & Clinical Psychology; History of Psychology; Social Psychology; Discursive & Critical Psychology (including the Psychology of Difference and the Psychology of Gender).