Psychology and Counselling Research Centre

Open Psychology Research Centre

The Open Psychology Research Centre is the research centre of the School of Psychology & Counselling at The Open University. The Centre represents a progressive approach to psychological research, theory and practice that is tightly connected with other social sciences and humanities disciplines. It champions creative, critical and credible psychological research that makes a difference to real social issues, that informs practice, and that inspires a positive vision for living together fairly, equitably and imaginatively. Our engaged research also feeds into scholarship for teaching at the OU.

When we are open to new possibilities, we find them. Be open and sceptical of everything.
Todd Kashdan

Often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

WATCH: Why do we tolerate road deaths? - Professor Gemma Briggs
18th February 2026
The first Open Psychology Research Public Lecture of 2026 was delivered by Professor Gemma Briggs, with the title “Why do we tolerate road deaths?"
WATCH: Supporting mothers in pregnancy and the post-natal period - Professor Gini Harrison
10th December 2025
Professor Gini Harrison hosted an OPRC Public Lecture on the perinatal period surrounding childbirth.
WATCH: When Face Recognition Goes Wrong - Professor Catriona Havard
1st December 2025
This public talk will cover several of the key themes explored in Professor Havard’s book, including how and why face recognition fails, the cognitive biases involved, and the real-world consequences of these errors.