Professor Fiona Patterson

Information:	Professor Fiona Patterson BSc, MSc, PhD, CPsychol, AcSS, FRSA
Specialism:	Assessment, high stakes selection, innovation and change.
Teaching:	Postgraduate: (MSc Organisational Psychology/Behaviour): Selection and Assessment, Professional Skills, The Psychology of Creativity and Innovation and project supervision.
Location:	Social Sciences Building D429
Tel:	07847-600-630
Fax:	0207-040-8580
Email:	f.patterson@city.ac.uk
Office Hours:	By appointment via email

Professor Fiona Patterson is a leading expert in the field of assessment, high stakes selection, innovation and change in organisations. Fiona has over 20 years experience of working at a strategic level with a variety of FTSE 100 companies and public sector organisations. Prior to her posts in academe, she was Head of Organisational Psychology at The Boots Corporation Plc an internal consultant psychologist at Ford Motor Company Limited (Global). These posts led to an interest in research in assessment and she was sponsored by Ford to conduct a PhD in this area at the University of Nottingham. In 1998, Fiona took a lectureship at the University of Nottingham to pursue her research interests.

Following this she was promoted to a post at the Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield where she led a research team and was Director for post-graduate programmes. She was appointed Professor of Organisational Psychology at City University in 2003 where she established the Organisational Psychology Group, a teaching and research unit, and became Director of Research for the School of Social Sciences. Fiona is now part-time at City and is currently the Social Sciences lead for the Interdisciplinary Centre for Creativity in Professional Practice, comprising 7 Schools across the University. Fiona is Director and founder for the Work Psychology Group Ltd, providing research-led consulting to public and private sector organisations internationally.

Fiona publishes widely in assessment, especially in relation to selection, innovation and change in organisations. Over the past 10 years, her research has had a major impact upon governmental and corporate policy in many settings.

SELECTED ESTEEM MARKERS

Advisory Roles

Adviser to the UK Department of Health and Academy of Medical Royal Colleges on assessment and selection methodology
Psychometric Adviser, Royal College of Surgeons, England.
Assessment and Psychometric Adviser, Royal College of General Practice, UK
Invited by Professor Sir John Tooke and the Medical Schools Council to Chair an International Expert Panel to review selection mechanisms for Entry into Foundation Training the UK.
Invited Faculty member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, Psychology of Management

General

Invited Academic Convenor, BPS Science & Practice Strategy Group, 2009; Division of Occupational Psychology.
British Psychological Society nomination for Academician of Social Sciences for outstanding contribution. Awarded 2006.
Author of Work Psychology; the main academic textbook selling over 12,000 copies worldwide; translated into 4 languages and recently launched in China
First Psychologist to be awarded research funding by NESTA (National Endowment Science Technology and the Arts) for research on innovative people in organisations
Guest Editor Special Centenary & Millennium Edition of Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology; 2001.
Author of the Innovation Potential Indicator (IPI), a psychometric test used internationally, nominated by the Design Council for the Millennium ‘Best of British’ Award (2001)

RESEARCH INTERESTS & FUNDING

Professor Patterson’s research in selection and assessment in medical education and training has had a major impact on UK and international policy. Fiona’s initial research in one locality (Trent region, whilst at the University of Nottingham) focusing on GP selection became the start of a long-term research programme. The impact of her research has been fundamental in changing the way in which doctors are selected and assessed internationally, in partnership with senior figures in the medical community.

Her programme of research uniquely involves the development of theoretical models of important non-cognitive skills required of doctors (such as empathy, communication and integrity) and the related design, implementation and validation of assessment methodologies. Through her research team Fiona’s activities have provided evidence for the introduction of innovative methodologies in medical selection such as situational judgement tests (SJT) and selection centres. These methods are now being adopted by all medical Royal Colleges in the UK (via the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges) and the Medical Schools Council. Her research is being adopted internationally (e.g. Royal College of Surgeons, Australasia; GP Education and Training in Australia, Netherlands, Denmark etc). Example research activities and publications include:

Design, implementation and validation of a competency model and selection centre to select General Practitioners (with the GP National Recruitment Office see Patterson et al 2000, British J Gen Practice; 2001; 2005, British Medical Journal).
Design and validation of job analyses for secondary care specialties (see Patterson, Ferguson & Thomas, 2009, Medical Education; Patterson et al, 2009, Clinical Medicine).
Design, implementation and validation of selection methodologies, including the first application of Situational Judgment Tests (SJT) and selection centres in postgraduate medical training (Patterson et al 2009; Medical Education).
Evaluating the impact of the European Working Time Directive on doctors training and work organization (Davies & Patterson, 2006-2009)
Expert adviser in the design & evaluation of the Clinical Skills Assessment for the new MRCGP licensing exam (in collaboration with Royal College of General Practice) (Munro et al, 2006, Ed Primary Care)
Royal College of Physicians selection test methodology (Patterson et al, 2009; Clinical Medicine)

Through her research interests in personality and individual differences, a second stream of research is exploring employee creativity and innovation in organisations. Fiona’s research has led to the development of a model of individual level innovation. This model was further developed and has since been published as a psychometric profiling instrument to examine employee innovation potential. The tool is used internationally as a selection and development tool and was nominated for a millennium ‘Best of British’ Design Council award. In 2009, Professor Patterson was awarded a grant by NESTA (National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts) to explore the characteristics and behaviours of innovative individuals in organisations . The research grant awarded by NESTA for work on innovation in organisations was the first time NESTA have given an award to a social scientist in this area. Fiona was appointed Academic Adviser to the UK government in 2000 advising on innovation in organisations. She has supervised several PhDs in the area of innovation, notably Dr Rebecca Port (2005), Manager characteristics that influence innovation; University of Sheffield and Dr Wissam Magadley (2006); Evaluation of creativity retreat centres; University of Sheffield.

Professor Patterson’s research funding has come from a wide variety of sources, indicating her ability to collaborate with organisations and research councils (including the ESRC, EPSRC). Examples include the Department of Health, Royal College of Surgeons, Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BUPA, NESTA, BERR, Ford of Europe, Coors Plc, Shell Plc, Royal Bank of Scotland, Home Office, Saint Gobain, National Police Improvement Agency, NHS Education Scotland and Scottish Government. She has a reputation for delivering quality research with high impact dissemination activities.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Arnold J, Silvester J, Patterson F, Cooper C, Robertson I, Burnes, B. (2010) Work Psychology (5th Edition). Pearson; FT Prentice Hall.
Plint S & Patterson F. (2010). The way forward for recruitment into specialty training in the UK– identifying critical success factors. Postgraduate Medical Journal. (BMJ Publishing).
Patterson F, Kerrin M, Gatto-Roissard. (2009) Characteristics and behaviours associated with innovative working in organisations. NESTA Research Reports.
Patterson F & Kerrin M. (2009) Innovation for the recovery. Chartered Management Institute, Research Reports.
Patterson F, Carr V, Zibarras L, Burr B, Berkin L, Plint S, Irish B & Gregory S. (2009). New machine-marked tests for selection into core medical training: Evidence from two validation studies. Clinical Medicine. 9(5), 1-4.
Patterson F, Baron H, Carr V, Lane P & Plint S. (2009) Evaluation of three short-listing methodologies for selection into postgraduate training: the case of General Practice in the UK. Medical Education, 43: 50-57.
Patterson F & Zibarras L (2009). Creative problem-solving at work. General Practice, 6:48-51
Patterson F. (2009) Contemporary issues in selecting doctors: the research evidence. ENT & Audiology, 18(1), 46-48.
Norfolk T, Birdi K, Patterson F. (2009) Developing therapeutic rapport: A training validation study. Quality in Primary Care, 17(2), 99-106.
Patterson F., Ferguson, E., & Thomas, S. (2008) Using job analyses to identify core and specific competencies for three secondary care specialties: Implications for selection and recruitment. Medical Education, 42:1195-204
Patterson F, Carr V & Lane P. (2008) Selection methods for medicine: Core concepts and future issues. Chapter 10, pp-143-156 in Carter Y, Jackson N, editors. Medical Education and Training: From theory to delivery. pp143-156. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Patterson F, & Lane P. (2007). Assessment for Recruitment. Eds N. Jackson, F. Jamieson and A. Khan Assessment in Medical Education and Training, pp62-74, Radcliffe Publishing: Oxford.
Patterson F. & Ferguson, E. (2007) Selection into medical education and training. ASME monographs.
Patterson F. (2007) Selection methodology; fact, fiction and the future. British Medical Journal, 335:802.
Rowley D & Patterson F. (2007) The right choice: A pilot selection centre to improve selection of future surgeons. Surgeons News,10;31-33.
Silvester J, Patterson F, Koczwara A, & Ferguson E. (2007) Psychological and behavioral predictors of perceived physician empathy. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92:2, 519-527.
Randall R, Davies H, & Patterson F & Farrell K. (2006) Selecting doctors for postgraduate training in paediatrics using a competency-based assessment centre. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 91: 444-448. BMJ publishing.
Randall R, Stewart P, Farrell K & Patterson F. (2006) Using an assessment centre to select doctors for postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynaecology. Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. 8: 257-262.
Munro N, Hawthorne K, Denney M, Patterson F, & Sales D. (2006) Developing a new clinical skills assessment for licensing UK general practitioners; the why and the how. Education in Primary Care 17: 301-310.
Patterson F. (2006) Assessment Centres Explained. Surgeons News. 4, 3 p.86-87.
Patterson F, Ferguson E, Norfolk T & Lane P. (2005) A new selection system to recruit GP registrars: Preliminary findings from a validation study. British Medical Journal. 330:711-714.
Beard J, Strachan A, Davies H, Patterson F, Stark P, Ball S, Taylor P. & Thomas S. (2005). Developing an education and assessment framework for the Foundation Programme. Medical Education, 39:841-851.
Arnold J, Silvester J, Patterson F, Cooper C, Robertson I, Burnes B. (2004) Work Psychology (4th Edition). Pitman.
Port R & Patterson F. (2005). Maximising the practical benefits of psychometrics in organisations. Selection & Development Review.
Patterson F. (2004) Personal initiative and innovation at work. Encyclopaedia of Applied Psychology, 2, 843-855; Ed; C. Spielberger, Academic Press, USA.
Patterson F, Port R & Hobley S. (2001). The Psychology of Innovation and Creativity: A review of research and practice in organisations. Chartered Institute of Personal Development. ISBN 0-9545861-0-7.
Patterson F & Hobley S. (2003) A new way to evaluate training and learning. Knowledge Management Review, 6, 20–23.
Silvester J, Patterson F & Ferguson E. (2003) Comparing two attributional models of performance in retail sales: A field study. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 76: 1, 115-132.
Price R & Patterson F. (2003) On-line application forms: Psychological impact on applicants and implications for recruiters, Selection and Development Review, 19 (2), 12-19.
Patterson F. (2002) Great minds don’t think alike? Person level predictors of innovation at work. International Review of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, 17, 115-144.
Patterson F. (2001) Work and organizational psychology; emerging themes and future issues. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 74: 4, 381-90.
Patterson F, Lane P, Ferguson E & Norfolk T. (2001) Competency based selection system for general practitioner registrars. British Medical Journal, 323, 2-3.
Lane P & Patterson F. (2001) Vocational training for general practice: Enhanced management arrangements. In S. Field, B Strachan & G. Evans (Eds.) The general practice jigsaw: The future of education, training and professional development. (pp 87-92). Radcliffe Medical Press Ltd.
Patterson F. (2001) Guest editorial for the Centenary Special Issue. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. 74: 4, 379-380.
Patterson F. (2001) The Innovation Potential Indicator: Test manual and user’s guide. Oxford Psychologists Press.
Patterson F, Ferguson E, Lane P, Farrell K, Martlew J & Wells A. (2000) A competency model for General Practice: Implications for selection and development. British Journal of General Practice, 50, 188-193.
Silvester J, Anderson N & Patterson F. (1999) Organisational culture change. An inter-group attributional analysis. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. 72, 1-23.
Ferguson E. & Patterson F. (1998). The Five Factor Model of personality: openness as a distinct but related construct. Personality and Individual Differences, 24:5, 1-4.
Silvester J, Ferguson E & Patterson F. (1997) Comparing spoken attributions by German and UK engineers: evaluating the success of a culture change programme. European J of Work & Organisational Psychology, 6:1, 103-117.
Ferguson E, Kerrin M & Patterson F. (1997). The use of multi-dimensional scaling: a cognitive mapping technique in occupational settings. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 12: 3, 204-214 .

AFFILIATIONS

Academy of Social Sciences
British Academy of Management
Fellow, Royal Society of Arts
Association for the Study of Medical Education
Chartered Occupational Psychologist & Full member BPS Division of Occupational Psychology
European Association of Work & Organisational Psychology
International Association of Applied Psychologists (IAAP)