Dr Karen Zhoc

PhD in Educational Psychology (HKU), MEd in Psychology of Education (Bristol U) Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society

Honorary Lecturer

School of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health

karen.zhoc@brookes.ac.uk

Role

I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (Division of Educational and Child Psychology). My research focuses on understanding the psychological and social-emotional factors that contribute to learner’s engagement and wellbeing, and how these factors are interrelated. The ultimate aim of my research is to promote learners’ engagement and wellbeing and support their flourishing and positive development. My research spans developmental and educational stages, from early education to higher education. To support rigorous, evidence-based research and practice, psychometrics is one of my main research strands, which focuses on the development, validation, and psychometric evaluation of psychological and educational measures.

Teaching and supervision

Modules taught

PSYC5016 Personality, Individual Differences, and Psychometrics (Module leader)
PSYC7006 Intelligence, Personality and Individual Differences (Module leader)
PSYC7008 Cognitive and Social Aspects of Development (Module leader)
PSYC4010 Introduction to Key Areas of Psychology
PSYC4011 Academic Skills for Psychology
PSYC6013 Conceptual Issues and Critical Debates in Psychology
PSYC6014 Work and Organisational Psychology
Undergraduate final year dissertation supervision
MSc dissertation supervision

Research

My research encompasses three main strands:

Psychometrics – My work focuses on the development, validation, and psychometric evaluation of psychological and educational measures to support rigorous, evidence-based research and educational practice.
Student Engagement and Learning in Higher Education – I investigate the psychological factors that shape student engagement and learning in higher education.
Emotions and Wellbeing – I examine the roles of emotions, emotional intelligence, wellbeing, and social-emotional learning in promoting positive educational experiences and outcomes across educational settings.

Centres and institutes

Research About Learning in Higher Education (REAL-HE)

Groups

Developmental Psychology

Publications

Zhoc KCH, Tse JKY, King RB, The importance of social and emotional learning in facilitating positive transitions from kindergarten to primary school in Hong Kong
Journal of Early Childhood Research 23 (4) (2025) pp.464-479 ISSN: 1476-718X eISSN: 1741-2927 The importance of social and emotional learning in facilitating positive transitions from kindergarten to primary school in Hong Kong Open Access version on RADAR
Lam WC, King RB, Yeung SS, Zhoc KCH , Mind-sets in Early Childhood: The relations among growth mindset, engagement and wellbeing among first-grade students.
Early Education and Development 34 (6) (2022) pp.1325-1340 ISSN: 1040-9289 eISSN: 1556-6935
Zhoc KCH, Cai Y, Yeung SS, Shan J, Subjective wellbeing and emotion regulation strategies: How are they associated with student engagement in online learning during Covid‐19?
British Journal of Educational Psychology 92 (4) (2022) pp.1537-1549 ISSN: 0007-0998 eISSN: 2044-8279
Zhoc KCH, King RB, Chung TSH, Chen J, Yang M, Emotional intelligence promotes optimal learning, engagement, and achievement: A mixed-methods study.
Current Psychology 42 (2021) pp.10387-10402 ISSN: 1046-1310 eISSN: 1936-4733
Zhoc KCH, King RB, Chung TSH, Chen J, Yang M , Emotional intelligence promotes optimal learning, engagement, and achievement: A mixed-methods study.
Current Psychology 42 (2021) pp.10387-10402 ISSN: 1046-1310 eISSN: 1936-4733
Zhoc KCH, King RB, Chung TSH, Chen J, Emotional intelligence (EI) and self-directed learning: Examining their relation and contribution to better student learning outcomes in higher education
European Journal of Psychology of Education 35 (2020) pp.839-863 ISSN: 0256-2928 eISSN: 1878-5174
Zhoc KCH, King RB, Chung TSH, Chen J, Emotionally intelligent students are more engaged and successful: examining the role of emotional intelligence in higher education
European Journal of Psychology of Education 35 (2020) pp.839-863 ISSN: 0256-2928 eISSN: 1878-5174
Zhoc KCH, King RB, Law W, McInerney DM, Intrinsic and extrinsic future goals: Their differential effects on students’ self‐control and distal learning outcomes
Psychology in the Schools 56 (10) (2019) pp.1596-1613 ISSN: 0033-3085 eISSN: 1520-6807
Zhoc KCH, Webster B, King RB, Li J, Chung TSH , Higher Education Student Engagement Scale (HESES): Development and Psychometric Evidence
Research in Higher Education 60 (2019) pp.219-244 ISSN: 0361-0365 eISSN: 1573-188X
Zhoc KCH, Chung TSH, King RB, Emotional intelligence (EI) and self-directed learning: Examining their relation and contribution to better student learning outcomes in higher education.
British Educational Research Journal 44 (6) (2018) pp.982-1004 ISSN: 0141-1926 eISSN: 1469-3518
Zhoc KCH, Li J, Webster B, New Reliability and Validity Evidence of the Emotional Intelligence Scale
Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment 35 (6) (2017) pp.599-614 ISSN: 0734-2829 eISSN: 1557-5144
Zhoc KCH, Chen G, Reliability and validity evidence for the Self-Directed Learning Scale (SDLS)
Learning and Individual Differences: Journal of Psychology and Education 49 (2016) pp.245-250 ISSN: 1041-6080 eISSN: 1873-3425
Lo R, Woo J, Zhoc, KCH, Li, C, Yeo W, Johnson P, Mak Y, Lee J, Quality of life of palliative care patients in the last two weeks of life
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 24 (4) (2002) pp.388-397 ISSN: 0885-3924
Lo R, Woo J, Zhoc K, Li C, Yeo W, Johnson P, Mak Y, Lee J , Cross-cultural validation of the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire in Hong Kong Chinese.
Palliative Medicine 15 (2001) pp.387-397 ISSN: 0269-2163 eISSN: 1477-030X

Zhoc, K. C. H., King, R. B. & Tse, J. K. Y. (2020). Teaching Manual on the Happy Start School Project: A Social and Emotional Learning Programme to Facilitate Children’s Transition to Primary School. Quality Education Fund.

Professional information

Memberships of professional bodies

Chartered Psychologist, The British Psychological Society (Division of Educational and Child Psychology)
Member of Psychometric Society
Honorary member of the Positive Psychology and Education Lab, the Chinese
University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Conferences

Invited Conference Speaker: Zhoc, K. (2024, July) Higher Education Student
Engagement Scale (HESES): A new perspective in measuring student engagement in higher education. The Global Human Engagement Conference, Department of Education, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea.
Zhoc, K. (2018, September). The importance of emotional intelligence (EI) in the first year: Examining the differences for students with high and low EI on their engagement and learning outcomes. Paper presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference 2018, Oxford, UK.
Zhoc, K. (2018, September). Emotionally intelligent students are more self-directed in learning. Paper presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference 2018, Oxford, UK.
Zhoc, K. (2018, June). The importance of emotional intelligence (EI) in the first year: Results from the Quantitative Findings. Paper presented at the Annual Departmental Conference of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Zhoc, K. (2017, December). Emotional intelligence (EI) and self-directed learning: Their relation and contribution to student success in higher education. Symposium conducted at the WERA Focal Meeting & HKERA International Conference 2017, Hong Kong.
Zhoc, K. (2013, December). On the psychometric properties of the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS): Findings from a sample of university students in Hong Kong. Paper presented at the Postgraduate Research Conference 2013, Hong Kong.
Lo, R., Woo J., & Zhoc, K. Li, C., Yeo, W., Johnson, P., Mak, Y. and Lee, J. (2001). Cross cultural validation of McGill Quality of Life Scale in palliative care for Hong Kong Chinese – Final analysis. Paper presented at the Asia Pacific Hospice Conference 2001.

Further details

Professional Services

Grant Reviewer: External Reviewer for the Research Grants Council (UGC), Hong Kong
Journal Reviewer: Learning and Individual Differences, Current Psychology, Frontiers in Psychology, European Journal of Psychology of Education, Research in Higher Education, Higher Education Research and Development, Studies in Higher Education, European Journal of Higher Education, Knowledge Management Research and Practice