Rate My Professor Carolyn Maxwell

Dr. Carolyn Maxwell serves as a Lecturer in the MD Education Unit within the UWA Medical School, University of Western Australia, and holds the position of Assessment Co-Coordinator in the Centre for Medical Education. Her academic journey includes a Doctor of Philosophy awarded in 2024 from the Graduate School of Education at UWA, focusing on "Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder symptomatology and mental health in Western Australian adolescents: predictive relationships and teachers’ perspectives." She also obtained a Master of Education in Educational Assessment and Measurement from UWA on December 14, 2019.

Maxwell's research interests center on developing high-quality assessment practices that are constructively aligned with teaching approaches and learning outcomes, particularly in medical education. She also investigates neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and their effects on mental health, well-being, and academic learning. Her scholarly contributions include several peer-reviewed publications. Notable works are "Mental Health Challenges of Young People with ADHD Symptoms: Teachers’ Perspectives and Strategies" published in Adolescents in 2025; "Links Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Peer Relationships and Mental Health Outcomes in Western Australian Youth" in Children in 2024; "Validity of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for Screening and Diagnosis in Western Australian Adolescents" in Diagnostics in 2024; "Cumulative Ordering as Evidence of Construct Validity for Assessments of Developmental Attributes" in the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment in 2024; and "Using Pairwise Comparison and Ordered Exemplars as a Basis for a Novel Method of Standard Setting in Narrative Writing" in Frontiers in Education in 2023. Earlier, she published "Teacher Education on Dyslexia: An Analysis of Policy and Practice in Australia and England" in Education Research and Perspectives in 2019.

In recognition of her work, Maxwell received the Australian College of Educators Prize in 2020 and the University of Western Australia International Fees Scholarship Postgraduate Scholarship in 2020. She is actively involved in postgraduate supervision, accepting PhD and other higher degree by research students, often as co-supervisor. Her research aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 4 (Quality Education), contributing to advancements in educational assessment and student mental health support.