PhD Studentships
The following areas are those to which priority will be given with regards studentship applications. If you have any queries regarding the areas outlined below, or regarding your application in general, then in the first instance please contact Dan O'Connor on 0161 247 2569 or email dan.oconnor@mmu.ac.uk. Alternatively, please email studentships@mmu.ac.uk.
As well as studentships, we also welcome general PhD applications linked to these and other areas of research, provided these are relevant to RIHSC and the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care. See more information on our wide range of PhD opportunities.
Long-Term Chronic Conditions
Many people in the UK live with long term health conditions. We interpret this term broadly to include medical or genetic conditions and physical or intellectual disability. Proposals are invited from applicants with a background in an allied health profession or a related area to explore any aspect of long term conditions, including rehabilitation, health or psychological interventions and the lived experience of people with long term conditions. Proposals involving qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods would be equally welcome.
Social Aspects of Public Health
The public health agenda in the UK is changing . It now focuses on positive aspects of people’s lives and the assets they bring to achieve change. The involvement of local people in social action for change in the direction of healthy lives is a growing part of this agenda. Proposals are invited that explore participation and participatory processes in local communities and that link with some of the existing research in the Social Change Centre of RIHSC. Research may be informed from different or a combination of disciplinary perspectives, including community psychology, sociology, social policy and proposals that include dimension of social inclusion and community cohesion will be particularly welcome.
Pain Management
The organization and delivery of health care is changing dramatically. New methods of pain management delivery are impacting upon the quality and effectiveness of pain management in health care. Research projects which explore this impact, with particular focus upon quality improvement and patient experience would be welcomed.
End of Life Care
In the early years of the 21st century Europe is undergoing a significant period of change in its attitudes towards end of life care and assisted dying. There is no clear consensus in Europe on the benefits or otherwise about assisted dying with many cultural factors having an impact on the overall attitudes of the population. Proposals are invited that explore key end of life issues from cultural, health professional and/or patient focussed perspectives.
Arts for Health
The relationship of arts to health, for health, in health or and health is an interesting arena. It focuses on the role of arts processes in contributing to health and well-being. This clearly links with the social public health agenda, and explores how participation in arts and cultural activities impacts upon health and well being. Proposals are invited that explore how participation and participatory processes within arts make a difference to individual and community well-being. It is envisaged that research links to existing research in the Social Change Centre of RIHSC. Research may focus on diverse arts activities, and may embrace different disciplinary perspectives.
Social Justice
Research in the Social Change Centre of RIHSC is concerned with critical community practice, social inclusion and social justice. Proposals are invited that explore any aspect of social justice, linking with existing work within RIHSC, and from any social science perspective. Proposals will be particularly welcome for qualitative research and it is envisaged that there will be strong public engagement aspect to the research and that the student will work with a new Professor of Social Justice within RIHSC.
Migration
The related issues of migration flows and globalization pose challenges to services and impact upon lived experience. Research may focus on ways in which migration journeys or migration experiences are linked to issues of marginalisation. Proposals are invited that address issues of migration using qualitative and participative methods. Previous research has explored migrant identity of non-dominant groups in local groups with a focus on migrant workers or migrant health issues. Research may be informed from a variety of disciplines, embracing dimensions of collaboration and impact in research.
Volunteering
In our research in social care we work closely with community partners to assess how citizens and communities can share responsibilities within a personalised system of self-directed support involving the public, private and voluntary sectors. Personalisation promises to extend choice and control, and in some versions the emphasis is on individual consumers selecting from any provider. In more radical (sometimes called deep) versions service users are not so much consumers as co-producers alongside professionals. We are interested in proposals that critically address the many challenges associated with an increasingly mixed economy of caring services, including co-production, multi-sector collaboration, social enterprise, and new roles and responsibilities for individuals, families and volunteers.
Social Work
Social Work is in a period of transition with the Social Work Reform Board and Munro recommendations seeking to redefine the profile and professionalism of social workers, de-bureaucratise practice and create more person-centred support. It is not known whether these initiatives will result in better outcomes for service users or carers whilst issues of assessing risk, service delivery, child and adult protection, fostering and adoption, immigration and disability remain high on political agendas. Proposals are invited that seek to a ‘make a difference’ for service users and carers and include participatory research approaches promoting social change and social justice.