Research Assistant Professor, Academy of Wellness and Human Development, FASS

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4783-9121

Patricia D. Simon (Tracy) is a Research Assistant Professor, Academy of Wellness and Human Development, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Education Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology from De La Salle University and is a licensed psychologist from the Philippines. As a PhD student, she was involved in social development research on vulnerable populations. She has contributed to the design and evaluation of a remote and manualized psychological intervention for children who have been victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation. She uses both quantitative and qualitative methods in her work. As a postdoctoral fellow at The University of Hong Kong, she has worked on large scale qualitative studies and review articles on educational technologies (e.g., adaptive learning, learning management systems, and augmented reality). Her other research interests include perfectionism among students, mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations, student engagement in physical and virtual classrooms, socio-emotional competencies in higher education, psychological and educational interventions, and climate education. As some of her personal interests include theater and movement, she is exploring the possibility of applying these creative pedagogies in teaching climate change concepts, and in developing students’ character and socio-emotional competencies across educational levels.  

Academic & Professional Experience

Selected Publications: (*corresponding author)

*Simon, P.D., Jiang, J., Fryer, L.K., King, R.B., & Frondozo, C.E. (2024). An assessment of learning management system use in higher education: Perspectives from a comprehensive sample of teachers and students. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-024-09734-5

*Simon, P.D., Fryer, L.K., & Nakao, K. (2024). Assessing class participation in physical and virtual spaces: Current approaches and issues. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1306568

Nalipay, M.J.N., Yema, D.P.R., & *Simon, P.D. (2023). Teachers as agents of environmental literacy and the facilitating role of environmental psychologists. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 92, 102187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102187

Simon, P.D., Jiang, J., & Fryer, L.K. (2023). Measurement of higher education students’ and teachers’ experiences in learning management systems: A scoping review. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2023.2266154

Dela Cruz, I.C., Agpaoa, D.C.M., Archeta, M.B.B., Paris, J.G.H., & *Simon, P.D. (2023). Hope and depression among pandemic graduates. Asia Pacific Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 14(1), 55-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21507686.2023.2192952

*Simon, P.D., Pakingan, K.A., & Aruta, J.J.B.R. (2022). Measurement of Climate Change Anxiety and its Mediating Effect between Experience of Climate Change and Mitigation Actions of Filipino Youth. Educational and Developmental Psychologist. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/20590776.2022.2037390

*Simon, P.D. (2022). Preserving mental well-being and engagement of students in Philippine virtual classrooms during the COVID-19 crisis: Insights from a Filipino educator. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 67, 102915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102915

*Simon, P.D., Cu, S.M.O., De Jesus, K.E.M, Go, N.T.S., Lim, K.T.F., & Say, C.L.C. (2022). Worried about being imperfect? The mediating effect of physical appearance perfectionism between Instagram addiction and body esteem. Personality and Individual Differences, 186, 111346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111346

*Simon, P.D. (2022). A review of the mental health consequences of perfectionism among students: Implications for education researchers and practitioners in the time of COVID-19. Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 19(2), 163-183. https://doi.org/10.26262/hjp.v19i2.8547

*Simon, P.D. (2021). Parent autonomy support as moderator: Testing the expanded perfectionism social disconnection model. Personality and Individual Differences, 168, 110401. https://doi.org/10.1016.j.paid.2020.110401

Research grants:

Principal Investigator, “Pilot-study of a hope-based, single session online intervention for perfectionists,” funded by the Research and Grants Management Office of De La Salle University (June 2021 to July 2022)

Co-Investigator, ““Development and Pilot Testing of a Remote Counseling Program for Children Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation,” funded by UNICEF, Save the Children, The Asia Foundation (August 31, 2020 to May 30, 2022)

Co-Investigator, “PGH CPU and DLSU-SDRC Partnership to implement a remote counselling program for 15-Year-Old and Above OSAEC Victim-Survivors using PGH CPU Teleconsultation Services (tele-CPU),” funded by UNICEF, Save the Children, The Asia Foundation (October 2023 to January 2025)

Fellowships and Awards:

1. 8th place in the 2016 Philippine Professional Regulation Commission Board Examination for Psychologists

2. One of the 40 (out of 130 applicants) selected for the International Congress of Psychology 2020+ Emerging Psychologists’ Program

3. Selected for the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST PHL) Future Science Leaders’ Forum (FSLF) 2022

4. Selected for the Yale NUS College Global Liberal Arts Regional Scholars Fellowship 2024

5. Philippine Representative for the Workshop in Frontiers of Psychology of the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 2019

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals