| Description | CDR sound recording of an interview with Professor Thomas A. W. N. MacKay of Ardoch, Strathclyde University, FBPsS, FRSA,CSci, AcSS, CPsychol, FSA Scot, MAppSci, President British Psychological Society 2000-2001, Director Psychology Consultancy Services for the British Psychological Society's Oral History project.
The interview was conducted by Susan Thomson in April 2011.
The following summary is by way of introduction to the full recording held at the British Psychological Society 's History of Psychology Centre, London.
Performers:
Tommy MacKay (TM)
Susan Thomson (ST)
Topics covered:
ST asks TM to speak of his early days, schools and education
ST asks TM how he became interested in psychology
TM speaks of his schooldays, his choice of psychology
TM talks of his time at University, Professor R Pickford, his extra-sensory perception dissertation (1968), his honours degree, his choice of educational psychology, graduate course, diploma in child psychology, MSc course
ST asks TM about his initial employment
TM talks of his employment as an Educational Psychologist at Ayr County Council, working with Leslie Duncan, J.C.Raven, Jim Dury, Roger Calvert
ST What was the Educational Psychologists role?
TM speaks of his early days as an Educational Psychologist covering the educational and clinical sides of the role, expansion after the education act
TM continues to speak of his early days as a psychologist, his aspirations, his time at Dunbartonshire, his view on research in the 1980s, his core functions in the 1990s, his long time as an honorary lecturer at University of Strathclyde, his post-grad course teaching, competencies and clinical neuropsychology, his National Diagnostic Centre Directorship, psychology versus administrative duties
ST asks TM to speak of his literacy project with West Dunbartonshire council
TM speaks of his literacy study, illiteracy levels, group work, attitudes, multiple-level strategies, his plea for a 10 year study, research funding, council commitment, outcome
ST asks TM about media training
TM talks of BPS media training, on-going experience, BPS media course, press releases
ST asks TM to talk of conferences abroad
TM talks of his relationship with the BPS, attending BPS conferences, BPS Scottish Branch committee member, BPS presidency, BPS centenary year 2001, BPS conference keynote speech
ST asks TM to speak of his most influential publications
TM talks of main report West Dunbartonshire literacy initiative , autism, his publications on social justice, Education and the disadvantaged: Is there any justice? published in The Psychologist
TM talks of his optimism for the whole field of psychology, world issues with human behaviour and human relationships, psychology as central, speech and language, neurosciences, psychological foundations and the threat of separate sciences, specialism and division within psychology fields
TM speaks of his mentors and influences including his time with Professor Ralph Pickford, J.C.Raven, Chris Skilberg, Simon Baron-Cohen
Bill Yule, Mike Rutter
TM speaks anecdotally of Ralph Pickford (anecdote), Brian Campbell, Maurice Cunnigham, Ted Sesford, tests, setting up an autistic unit.
Ends.
Total Running Time: c 71mins |
| RunTime | On one CDR disk, running time c 71 minutes |
| AdminHistory | Date of Birth: 04/01/1946
Place of Birth: Glasgow
University Qualifications and Professional Training:
MA (Hons), General and experimental psychology with social psychology, University of Glasgow, 1969
Certificate of Education (Cert Ed), Jordanhill College of Education, 1970
Diploma in Educational Psychology (DEP), University of Glasgow, 1971
Master of Applied Science (MappSci), University of Glasgow, 1999
Doctor of the University (DUniv) (Honorary), University of Glasgow, 2001
PhD, psychology, University of Strathclyde, 2005
Doctor of Educational Psychology (DEdPsy), University of Strathclyde (awaiting completion, 2011)
Other Professional Qualifications:
Educational Psychologist, HPC Registered
Health Psychologist, HPC Registered
Clinical Neuropsychologist, Practitioner
Teacher in Psychology
Researcher in Psychology
Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, Accredited, BABCP
Chartered Scientist, the Science Council
Honours and Awards:
Award from Chartered Institute of Transport, 1990
Fellowship, The British Psychological Society, 1996
Award for Challenging Inequality of Opportunity,The British Psychological Society, 1998
Honorary Doctorate, University of Glasgow, 2001
Business Excellence Award, Scottish Enterprise, 2002
Academician, Academy for Learned Societies in the Social Sciences, 2002
Best Achievement in Children's Services, MJ Award, 2007
Fellowship, Royal Society for the Arts, 2007
George and Thomas Hutcheson Award, 2008
Award for Distinguished Contributions to Professional Psychology, The British Psychological Society, 2008
Public Engagement and Media Award, The British Psychological Society, 2011
Professional Career:
Educational Psychologist, Ayr County Council, 1971-1973
Senior Educational Psychologist, Ayr County Council, Strathclyde Regional Council, 1973-1974
Research Fellow and Lecturer in Psychology, University of Strathclyde, 1974-1976
Course Director, MSc in Educational Psychology (interim), University of Strathclyde, 1976
Senior Educational Psychologist, Strathclyde Regional Council, 1976-1981
Depute Principal Psychologist, Strathclyde Regional Council, 1981-1982
Principle Educational Psychologist, Strathclyde Regional Council (Dunbarton), 1982-1996
Educational Psychologist, West Dunbartonshire Council, 1996-2001
Partner, Critical Solutions, 2000-2007
Educational Psychologist, Argyll & Bute Council, 2001-
Clinical Director, National Diagnosis and Assessment Service for Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 2003-
Consultant, MacKay Associates, 2003-
Director, Psychology Consultancy Services, 1996-
University Appointments:
Visiting Professor (Autism Studies), University of Strathclyde, 2008-
Hon.Lecturer in Psychology, University of Strathclyde, 1974-
Chair, Programme Monitoring Committee, MSc in Educational Psychology, University of Strathclyde, 1990-
Tutor, Autism, University of Birmingham, 1997-2007
Tutor, Early Childhood Education, University of Glasgow, 2000-
Assistant Course Director, Autism, Faculty of Education, University of Strathclyde, 2002-2004
Involvement with BPS:
Member, BPS Professional Conduct Board, 2005-2009
President, The British Psychological Society, 2000-2001
Chair, BPS Investigatory Committee, 2000-2001
Member, BPS Board of Directors (Chair 2000-2001), 1998-2002
Member of BPS Council (Chair 2000-2001), 1994-2002
Chair, BPS Scottish Branch, 1994-1998 |