SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Call for application 42nd cycle

Bando ordinario

Applications for participation in the competition, together with the corresponding payment, must be duly completed no later than 14:00 CET on 17 June 2026.

Educational goals and objectives

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

The Ph.D. program aims to provide advanced research training in the different fields of social, developmental psychology, and educational research, with two curricula.

A) Curriculum on SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
This doctoral program is intended to provide advanced research training. After this program, students are expected to be able to conduct autonomous research activity in several social psychology domains (e.g. processes and contents of social cognition, attitudes and their change, interpersonal relationships, group processes and social influence, social communication, prejudice, intergroup relations and social identity) and concerning different areas and contexts such as the health, the political, the economic, the intercultural and the organizational ones. Furthermore, this doctoral program aims to provide advanced research training for operating in different areas of Environmental Psychology, with the aim of ( a) understanding psychological processes that occur between people and daily life environments, with particular attention to their physical and technological features ( environmental perceptions and attitudes, environmentally relevant or ''ecological'' behaviours, place attachment and identity, environmental satisfaction, pro-environmental intentions, participation and commitment, etc.) and (b) collaborating with other disciplinary and technical fields in charge of designing and managing these environments.

B) Curriculum on DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
This doctoral program provides research expertise in educational settings and developmental psychology. The goal of educational research is to carry out research projects related to education (vocational training and apprenticeships), teacher training, and educational policies. Research in developmental psychology aims to provide advanced knowledge of research methods and techniques. Students will learn the ability to plan, define and develop research in the study of different biological, social, and cultural aspects related to the development of children and adolescents, with special attention to the development of social skills, cognitive and emotional. Furthermore, the doctoral program provides specialised training within an innovative, interdisciplinary perspective of cultural, post-modern, socio-constructionist psychology. Psychological processes are abundant products of social and discursive interaction among participants in specific socio-cultural systems of everyday activity (teachers' families, workplaces, educational settings).

Number of positions available

Sapienza Scholarships	Affliliated Institutions or Excellence	Industrial PhD	Without scholarship
6	0	0	2

Themes, curriculum and specific competence

Sapienza scholarships: 6

Admission Procedure

Qualifications assessment	Preliminary evaluation of the titles and the evaluation of the research project for admission to the oral examination. The evaluation does not require the presence of the candidate. For selection for the PhD, the candidate must, in addition to the documents and CV indicated below, present a project and indicate mandatory the chosen curriculum (a) Social Psychology or b) Developmental Psychology and Educational Research), which can assess the candidate's propensity for research and their ability to design and organize the various phases of the project independently. The project should not exceed the maximum length of 1000 words (excluding title and bibliography), penalty of exclusion. The project presented is not an obligation for the research activities during the Ph. D. program. Before the title, the candidate must indicate in capital letters the curriculum name for which they intend to submit the research project. As shown in the evaluation criteria, it is also essential for the evaluation that applicants present their graduation grade and, for those who will obtain the degree after the deadline, also the grade point average of their master's degree exams. Candidates with a score of at least 20/35 in the overall evaluation of qualifications and project will be admitted to the oral exam.

Oral interview	The oral exam aims to deepen, through an interview, the theoretical and methodological topics addressed in the research project presented. Further discussion topics will cover the candidate's competencies, motivation, and previous curricular experiences. The oral exam is considered passed with a minimum score of 15/30. The minimum overall score for admission to the PhD program is 35/65.
language	ITALIANO

contacts and info

marco.dessi@uniroma1.it

Curriculum studiorum

Graduation date and grade of the Master's degree
detailed list of exams including completion dates and scores of Masters's degree
Graduation date and grade of the Bachelor’s degree
detailed list of exams including completion dates and scores of Bachelor's degree
History of Scholarships, Research Grants (or similar)
Certificates of Foreign Languages
Certificates of participation in post-graduate university courses
certificates of Participation in research groups
certificates of Participation in internships
Other University Awards/Degrees (e.g.: awards in competition, second degree)
Computer skills

Required documentation

§ research project

mandatory
Indications for the research project
The candidate must present a project and indicate the chosen curriculum (a) Social Psychology or b) Developmental Psychology and Educational Research), which can assess the candidate's propensity for research and his/her ability to design and organise the different phases of the project independently. This project must not exceed a maximum length of 1000 words (excluding title and bibliography), under penalty of exclusion. The project presented for the purposes of the competition does not constitute an obligation for admitted candidates to carry out research during the doctorate.

IMPORTANT: Before the title, the candidate must indicate in block letters the curriculum name for which he/she intends to do the research project.
, the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026

§ Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum

mandatory
Specify any publications and research experience, the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026

Language Skills

the candidate must know the following languages

ENGLISH

Exam Schedule

Qualifications assessment

day	01/07/2026
notes	none
publication on notice board	NO
publication on the web site	Yes
web site	https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/PSICOLOGIA-SOCIALE-DELLO-SVILUPPO-E-DELLA-RICERCA-EDUCATIVA_nD3535.aspx
date of publication	08/07/2026
contacts	marco.dessi@uniroma1.it

Oral interview

day	14/07/2026
notes	none
time	09:00
classroom	Aula "Ezio Ponzo"
address	Via dei Marsi, 78 - Terzo Piano
publication on notice board	NO
publication on the web site	Yes
web site	https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/PSICOLOGIA-SOCIALE-DELLO-SVILUPPO-E-DELLA-RICERCA-EDUCATIVA_nD3535.aspx
date of publication	14/07/2026
contacts	marco.dessi@uniroma1.it

Evaluation scale

Qualifications assessment

Valutazione titoli

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 35

1.1 Voto di laurea (magistrale, specialistica o a ciclo unico – max 5 punti)
1.1 University final degree mark (Master's, Specialist or Single-cycle Degree - max 5 points)

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5

110 e lode 110 cum laude	5,0
110 110	4,0
106-109 106-109	3,0
100-105 100-105	2,0
90-99 90-99	1,0
<90 <90	0,0

Per coloro che si laureano dopo la presentazione della domanda ma comunque prima del 31 ottobre 2026
For those who graduate after the submission of tthe application but before October 31, 2026

29 - 30	5,0
28 – 28.99	4,0
27 - 27.99	3,0
26 - 26.99	2,0
25 - 25.99	1,0
<25	0,0

1.2 Esperienze di ricerca (max 3 punti)
1.2 Research experiences (Max 3 points)

Punteggio massimo/max score: 3
Con riguardo alle esperienze di ricerca la Commissione assegnerà il punteggio massimo inserito per ciascuna delle tipologie citate di seguito
With regard to Research experiences, the Commission will award the maximum score entered for each of the categories listed below

Esperienze all’estero (almeno due mesi, compreso Erasmus) Experience abroad (at least 2 months, including Erasmus)	1,5
Attività in gruppi di ricerca Activities in research groups	1,0
Corsi di formazione per la programmazione e la realizzazione di attività di ricerca Training courses for the planning and implementation of research activities	0,5

1.3 Pubblicazioni (max 2 punti)
Publications (max 2 points)

Punteggio massimo/max score: 2

Pubblicazioni su riviste indicizzate Scopus o ISI oppure riviste in fascia A o volumi Publications in Scopus or ISI-indexed journals or A-band journals or volumes	2,0
È possibile assegnare fino a un massimo di 2 punti per ciascun prodotto valutabile. All'interno della sotto-categoria, si possono valutare più prodotti, fino al raggiungimento del punteggio massimo complessivo di 2 punti previsto per le "Pubblicazioni". Up to a maximum of 2 points may be awarded for each individual assessable product. Within the sub-category, multiple products may be evaluated, up to the overall maximum of 2 points allocated to the “Publications” category.
Contributi all'interno di volumi, pubblicazioni non indicizzate Scopus o Isi oppure non Fascia A Contributions to volumes, publications not indexed in Scopus or ISI or not Fascia A	1,0
È possibile assegnare fino a un massimo di 1 punto per ciascun prodotto valutabile. All'interno della sotto-categoria, si possono valutare più prodotti, fino al raggiungimento del punteggio massimo complessivo di 2 punti previsto per le "Pubblicazioni". Up to a maximum of 1 point may be awarded for each individual assessable product. Within the sub-category, multiple products may be evaluated, up to the overall maximum of 2 points allocated to the “Publications” category.

2. Progetto (max 25 punti)
Project (max 25 points)

Punteggio massimo/max score: 25
Ai fini della selezione per il dottorato di ricerca, il candidato dovrà presentare un progetto riguardo il tema del curriculum prescelto, che possa far valutare la propensione del candidato alla ricerca e la sua capacità di progettare e organizzare in autonomia le diverse fasi del progetto. Il progetto non dovrà superare la lunghezza massima di 1000 parole (titolo e bibliografia esclusi), pena esclusione. Il progetto presentato ai fini concorsuali non costituisce obbligo, per i candidati ammessi, nello svolgimento dell'attività di ricerca nel corso del dottorato.
For the purposes of selection for the PhD, the candidate must present a project regarding the topic of the chosen curriculum, which can assess the candidate's propensity for research and his/her ability to independently design and organise the different phases of the project. The project must not exceed the maximum length of 1000 words (excluding title and bibliography), under penalty of exclusion. The project presented for the purposes of the competition does not constitute an obligation for admitted candidates to carry out research during the PhD.

Oral interview

Prova orale

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 30

Criteri di valutazione per l’esame di ammissione al Dottorato.orale
Criteri di valutazione per l’esame di ammissione al Dottorato.oral

Punteggio massimo/max score: 30

Discussione delle tematiche relative al progetto di ricerca
Discussion of topics related to the research project

30,0

Alla prova orale vengono ammessi i candidati che nel complesso della valutazione dei titoli e del progetto abbiano conseguito la votazione di almeno 20/35. La prova orale si propone di approfondire, attraverso colloquio, gli argomenti terorico-metodologici già affrontati nel progetto di ricerca presentato in fase di sottomissione della domanda, e inerente uno dei temi di interesse del curricolo prescelto. Argomenti di ulteriore discussione riguarderanno le competenze del candidato e le precedenti esperienze curricolari.
Candidates with a score of at least 20/35 in the overall evaluation of qualifications and project will be admitted to the oral exam. The oral exam aims to explore, through the interview, the theoretical-methodological topics already addressed in the research project presented during the application submission phase, inherent to one of the topics of interest of the chosen curriculum. Further discussion topics will concern the candidate's skills and previous curricular experiences.