UC Spark

Dr Verena Pritchard

Psychology

Fields of Research

  • Paediatric psychology
  • Impact of media and technology on child and adolescent development
  • Play
  • Developmental neuropsychology
  • Inhibitory processes in visual selective attention and working memory

Researcher Summary

Cognitive and developmental psychology with specific interests in:

- Paediatric Psychology (neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with prematurity, in utero drug exposure)

- Precursors of educational underachievement

- Visual selective attention, and inhibitory processes in working memory and attention

- Negative priming paradigm

- Executive function (measurement and theory)

- Media and technology (cyberbullying, cellphone use)

- Contemporary play

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Groups

Publications


  • Bora, S., Pritchard, V.E., Moor, S. and Woodward, L.J. (2012) Diagnostic utility of parent and teacher ratings of inattention/hyperactivity for predicting clinical diagnosis of ADHD in children born very preterm. Boston, MA, USA: Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting (PAS), 28 Apr-1 May 2012. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E. and Neumann, E. (2011) Classic Stroop negative priming effects for children and adults diverge with less-conflicting and nonconflicting conditions. American Journal of Psychology 124(4): 405-419. http://dx.doi.org/10.5406/amerjpsyc.124.4.0405. (Journal Article)
  • Bora, S., Pritchard, V.E., Austin, N.C., Moor, S. and Woodward, L.J. (2011) Emotional and behavioural adjustment of children born very preterm at early school age. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 47(12): 863-869. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02105.x. (Journal Article)
  • Bora, S., Pritchard, V.E., Inder, T.E. and Woodward, L.J. (2011) Neonatal cerebral tissue volumes associated with attentional problems in children born very preterm. Denver, CO, USA: Pediatric Academic Societies' & Asian Society for Pediatric Research Joint Meeting, 30 Apr-3 May 2011. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Woodward, L.J., Clark, C.A.C., Pritchard, V.E., Anderson, P.J. and Inder, T. (2011) Neonatal White Matter Abnormalities Predict Global Executive Function Impairment in Children Born Very Preterm. Dunedin, New Zealand: 36th Australasian Human Development Association Conference, Jul 2011. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Woodward, L.J., Clark, C.A.C., Pritchard, V.E., Anderson, P.A. and Inder, T.E. (2011) Neonatal white matter abnormalities predict global executive function impairment in children born very preterm. Developmental Neuropsychology 36(1): 22-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/87565641.2011.540530. (Journal Article)
  • Montgomery-Hönger, A., Pritchard, V.E., Raudino, A., Clark, C.A.C. and Woodward, L.J. (2011) Predictors of maternal stress amongst mothers of very preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Dunedin, New Zealand: 36th Australasian Human Development Association Conference, Jul 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E. and Woodward, L.J. (2011) Preschool executive control on the Shape School task: Measurement considerations and utility. Psychological Assessment 23(1): 31-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0021095. (Journal Article)
  • Lean, R., Pritchard, V.E. and Woodward, L.J. (2011) Preschool mental health outcomes of children prenatally exposed to methadone: The role of out of home care. Dunedin, New Zealand: 17th Australasian Human Development Association Conference, 4-6 Jul 2011. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Neumann, E. and Pritchard, V.E. (2011) Short- and long-term negative priming for possible and impossible 3D shapes in children, adolescents, and adults. Auckland, New Zealand: 38th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference (EPC '11), 28-30 Apr 2011. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Bora, S., Moor, S., Spencer, C., Pritchard, V.E. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Behavioral sequelae of a regional cohort of children born very preterm at age 9 years. Hong Kong: 2nd Joint International Conference of the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists & the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK), 11-13 Dec 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Bora, S., Pritchard, V.E., Watts, R. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Development of an fMRI paradigm to examine working memory function in children born very preterm. Auckland, New Zealand: International Conference on Infant Toddler and Preschool Mental Health, 18-20 Feb 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Clark, C.A.C., Liberty, K., Austin, N.C. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Early school-based learning difficulties in children born very preterm assessed longitudinally. Wellington, New Zealand: 14th Annual Congress of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ 2010), 28-31 Mar 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Bora, S., Pritchard, V.E., Austin, N.C. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Mental health outcomes in early school aged children born very preterm. Wellington, New Zealand: 14th Annual Congress of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand, 28-31 Mar 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Woodward, L.J., Clark, C.C., Pritchard, V.E., Anderson, P.J. and Inder, T.E. (2010) Neonatal White Matter Abnormalities Predict Global Executive Function Impairment in Children Born Very Preterm. Vancouver, Canada: Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting (PAS 2010), 1-4 May 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Austin, N.C., Clark, C.A.C., Inder, T.E. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Neurological, Perinatal and Socio-Familial Predictors of the Early Educational Outcomes of Children Born Very Preterm. Vancouver, Canada: Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting (PAS 2010), 1-4 May 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Austin, N C., Clark, C.A.C. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Neurological, perinatal andsocio-familial Predictors of the early educational outcomes of children born very preterm. Vancouver, Canada: Pediatrics Academic Societies Annual Meeting (PAS 2010), 1-4 May 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Austin, N., Spencer, C., Pritchard, V. and Woodward, L. (2010) Neuromotor Outcomes of a Regional Cohort of Children Born Very Preterm at 9 Years. Vancouver, Canada: Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting (PAS 2010), 1-4 May 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Austin, N.C., Spencer, C., Pritchard, V.E. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Neuromotor outcomes of a regional cohort of children born very preterm at 9 years. Wellington, New Zealand: 14th Annual Congress of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ 2010), 28-31 Mar 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Bora, S., Pritchard, V.E., Moor, S., Austin, N.C. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Pervasive and situational behavioural problems in children born very preterm at 6 years of age. New Delhi, India: 16th Congress of The Federation of Asia & Oceania Perinatal Societies (FAOPS 2010), 14-17 Dec 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Clark, C.A.C., Pritchard, V.E. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Preschool executive functioning predicts early mathematics achievement. Developmental Psychology 46(5): 1176-1191. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0019672. (Journal Article)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Gray, A. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) The effects of prenatal methadone exposure on later behavioural and emotional development. Auckland, New Zealand: International Conference on Infant Toddler and Preschool Mental Health, 18-20 Feb 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Woodward, L.J. and Pritchard, V.E. (2010) Understanding the development of the child born premature. In J. Low and P. Jose (Ed.), Lifespan Development: New Zealand Perspectives (2nd ed.): 32-46. North Shore: Pearson NZ. (Chapter in Book)
  • Montgomery-Hönger, A., Pritchard, V.E., Clark, C.A.C. and Woodward, L.J. (2010) Wellbeing of Mothers Giving Birth to a Very Preterm Infant: Predictors of Maternal Stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Auckland, New Zealand: International Conference on Infant Toddler and Preschool Mental Health, 18-20 Feb 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E. and Neumann, E. (2009) Avoiding the potential pitfalls of using negative priming tasks in developmental studies: Assessing inhibitory control in children, adolescents and adults. Developmental Psychology 45(1): 272-283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0014168. (Journal Article)
  • Pritchard, V.E. and Neumann, E. (2009) Avoiding the potential pitfalls of using negative priming tasks in developmental studies: Assessing inhibitory control in children, adolescents, and adults. Developmental Psychology 45(1): 272-283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0014168. (Journal Article)
  • Pritchard, V., Hood, K., Anderson, P. and Woodward, L. (2009) Cerebral abnormalities on neonatal MR and later inhibitory and switching abilities in preschool children born very preterm. Atlanta, GA, USA: International Neuropsychological Society (INS) 37th Annual Meeting, 11-14 Feb 2009. In Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society 15(Suppl 1) 105. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Anderson, P.J. and Woodward, L.J. (2009) Cerebral abnormalities on neonatal MR and later inhibitory and switching abilities in preschool children born very preterm. Atlanta, GA, USA: Neuropsychological Society 37th Annual Meeting, Feb 2009. In Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 15((Suppl 1)) 105. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Austin, N.C., Spencer, C., Pritchard, V.E., Moor, S. and Woodward, L.J. (2009) Clinical neurologic examination at age 4 correlates with white matter abnormality in children born very preterm. Darwin, Australia: Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand 13th Annual Congress, 19-22 Apr 2009. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Gray, A. and Woodward, L.J. (2009) Early executive profile of toddlers exposed to methadone in utero. Adelaide, Australia: 16th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Human Development Association (AHDA), 5-8 Jul 2009. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Clark, C.A.C., Liberty, K., Champion, P.R., Wilson, K. and Woodward, L.J. (2009) Early school-based learning difficulties in children born very preterm. Early Human Development 85(4): 215-224. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2008.10.004. (Journal Article)
  • Pritchard, V. (2009) Evidence for negative priming in children: Identity-based negative priming effects in typically developing children. Köln: Lambert Academic Publishing. 1-85. (Authored Book)
  • Bora, S., Pritchard, V.E., Watts, R. and Woodward, L.J. (2009) The use of fMRI to assess working memory in children born very preterm. Queenstown, New Zealand: 27th International Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research (AWCBR), 29 Aug-2 Sep 2009. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Clark, A.C., Wilson, K., Champion, P., Woodward, L.J. and Liberty, K. (2008) School-Based Outcomes of Children Born Very Preterm at Age 6 Years. Honolulu, HI, USA: Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting, 2-6 May 2008. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Neumann, E. and Rucklidge, J.J. (2008) Selective attention and inhibitory deficits in ADHD: Does subtype or comorbidity modulate negative priming effects? Brain and Cognition 67(3): 324-339. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2008.02.002. (Journal Article)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Woodward, L. and Neumann, E. (2008) Studying Attentional Ability in Children Born Very Preterm. Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury Health Research Conference, 25 Aug 2007. In The New Zealand Medical Journal 121(1271) 107-108. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Pritchard, V.E. and Neumann, E. (2007) Inhibitory mechanisms in ADHD and cognitive development. Sydney, Australia: Australasian Human Development Association Conference, 5-8 Jul 2007. In Australian Journal of Psychology: Combined abstracts of 2007 Australian Psychology Conferences 59 193-194. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Neumann, E. and Rucklidge, J.J. (2007) Interference and negative priming effects in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Psychology 120(1): 91-122. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20445383. (Journal Article)
  • Pritchard, V.E., Healey, D. and Neumann, E. (2006) Assessing Selective Attention in ADHD, Highly Creative, and Normal Young Children via Stroop Negative Priming Effects. In C.M. Fletcher-Flinn and G.M. Haberman (Ed.), Cognition and Language: Perspectives from New Zealand: 207-224. Bowen Hills: Australian Academic Press. (Chapter in Book)
  • Pritchard, V. E. and Neumann, E. (2004) Assessing selective attention abilities in children and adolescents with and without ADHD via Stroop negative priming effects.. Dunedin, New Zealand: 31st Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference, April. In Australian Journal of Psychology: Combined Abstracts of 2004 Australian psychology Conferences 56 133. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Pritchard, V. E. and Neumann, E. (2004) Negative priming effects in children engaged in non-spatial tasks: Evidence for early development of an intact inhibitory mechanism. Developmental Psychology 40: 191-203. (Journal Article)