Professor McInerney is a leading expert in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. His cross-cultural research has made a unique and major contribution to the study of motivation and learning international. Since joining the HKIEd in 2008, he has been awarded two General Research Fund projects by the Research Grants Council in 2009 and 2011 respectively with a total funding of HK$2.2 million. He also brought with him to the Institute two Australian Research Council grant projects that were considered to have a high impact on educational systems.
 
In addition to the number of textbooks he has written, including Educational Psychology: Constructing Learning (Pearson 5th Edition, 2010) – a bestselling education psychology text in Australia – Professor McInerney has published over 40 research articles in refereed international journals, books and papers for conferences in the past three years. He also edits two international research series, Research on Sociocultural Influences on Motivation and Learning and International Advances in Self Research. He mentors individuals and groups of Institute staff on professional research writing, writing grant proposals and conducting effective research.