RSS 1.0Social Sciences, Geography, Policing and Law
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Steps to sustainability: Dance as a learning pathway to enhance engagement with sustainabilityThis paper explores dance as a transformative learning pathway for communicating and engaging individuals with sustainable development. Growing recognition of the challenges and cultural politics involved in conveying sustainability has prompted efforts to explore alternative communication modes and ways to engage audiences. Combining a rising interest in cultural geography with performative and creative practices and methods, this paper investigates how dance can act as an alternative communicative approach, generating embodied knowledge that can change how people engage with and understand sustainable development. We argue that dance provides a unique medium for translating sustainable development concepts into lived experiences, enabling individuals to undertake personal and collective learning pathways and become more aware of global sustainability concerns. In a creative workshop, participants were invited to interpret and choreograph dance performances based on information about the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), conveying themes such as gender equality, hunger, and ocean pollution. Using participant observation, focus groups, and individual interviews, we critically reflect on a five-stage learning pathway—Information, Thinking, Creating, Performing, and Reflecting—to highlight the co-creative and transformative potential of dance in sustainability communication and nurturing sustainability-minded citizens. We outline the value of dance as a communicative and pedagogical tool, demonstrating its capacity to humanise sustainability challenges and offer innovative, embodied forms of engagement that can contribute to the cultural shifts needed for a more sustainable society.
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Create a space for belonging for students with parental responsibilityOver the past two decades, students with parental responsibility (“student-parents”) in the UK have been encouraged into university by successive governments’ Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning agendas. However, they have remained largely invisible once they arrive at university (Moreau & Kerner, 2015). Very little attention has been paid to ensuring that student-parents are made to feel that they belong within their institution, or indeed within higher education more generally. This chapter provides a research-informed insight into what we can do to foster a sense of belonging for student-parents. It introduces interventions designed to provide tailored pastoral, academic, and practical support for this committed and motivated group and provides reflections from three student-parents on how a personalised approach supported their sense of belonging during their studies at the University of Chester Law School.
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Positive psychology and positive education: a strengths-based approach to SENThis paper, originating from the ‘Power of Us!’ conference held in June 2025, reflects on the session titled: Positive psychology and positive education: a strengths-based approach to SEN, which looked at how positive psychology and positive education can be applied to better support students, and with a particular focus on those with SENs.The paper offers an insight into the session, sharing reflections from the discussions and research findings, and calls for action to create a truly inclusive educational system.
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Oil-driven consumption in rentier economies: Evidence from a proxy-based MPC model in the Gulf Cooperation CouncilThis study proposes a novel macroeconomic approach, specifically formulated to estimate the Marginal Propensity to Consume (MPC) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies, based on high-frequency commodity price and trade data. As there are no reliable household consumption datasets, U.S. imports are used as a proxy for consumption, while crude oil prices serve as an instrument for measuring income. Controls are included for the American Consumer Price Index (CPI), bilateral exchange rates, and international uncertainty, as measured by the Volatility Index (VIX). Estimation via a fixed effects pooled panel regression model, covering the period from January 1992 to April 2025, yields an estimated MPC of 0.68. Controlling for demographic variations—specifically, expatriation induced lower consumption rates—the population-weighted adjustment yields a citizen MPC close to 1.0. Additionally, simulation analysis reinforces model robustness by demonstrating uniform and proportionate import responses to crude oil price shocks. These findings have significant implications for shaping fiscal policy decisions and macroeconomic forecasting in energy-exporting economies that struggle to utilize microdata, while also serving as a valuable tool for policymakers and researchers. Moreover, this novel macroeconomic model, with its forward-looking features, has significant potential to predict the demand-side effects of energy price volatility and inform adaptive and equitable energy policy decisions in the context of the GCC region.
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An exploratory service evaluation of reported incidents of racism in inpatient mental health wards and a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU)Prompted by growing concerns about racism in healthcare, particularly towards staff, this mixed-methods service evaluation investigated the frequency, nature, and response to incidents of racism within inpatient mental health settings across an NHS Trust in North-West England. Incident reports from January 2023 to December 2024 were analysed. Quantitative data was used to examine associations between aggression-related racist incidents and factors such as ward type, perpetrator sex, and the victim–perpetrator relationship. Reflexive thematic analysis of incident narratives was conducted to explore how racism is described, understood, and managed in practice. Findings suggest that racist abuse, primarily by patients towards staff, was prevalent in high-acuity settings. Racism was frequently conceptualised as a symptom of mental illness, contributing to ambiguous or minimised documentation. Three key themes were identified: the normalisation of racist abuse, inadequate support for affected staff, and limited intervention for perpetrators. Reports often lacked anti-racist language or clear definitions of discrimination, potentially obscuring the issue. These findings underscore the need for trauma-informed, anti-racist practice and culturally sensitive staff support. Enhanced reporting mechanisms and interventions are recommended to promote psychological safety and equity in mental health care. This evaluation contributes to evidence that responses to racism must extend beyond procedural de-escalation.
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Examining How Suspect Veracity and Culpability Effect Interviewer and Interviewee Behaviour in Homicide InterviewsThis thesis examines the effect of suspect veracity (whether a suspect provides a truthful or deceptive account) and culpability (whether the suspect was subsequently found guilty of the offence) on police interviewing practices in homicide cases. These variables are treated as analytically distinct, addressing a common limitation in existing research, which has often conflated deception with guilt. The study focuses on how suspect veracity and culpability affects interviewer conduct and suspect responses in real investigative contexts. Homicide interviews were analysed due to their evidential complexity, consequential and legal seriousness, and the demands they place on interviewers. In contrast to research based on experimental or simulated data, this thesis draws on field data to provide insight into police interviewing as it is practised. The research is based on 60 audio-recorded homicide suspect interviews, totalling 113 hours of material. Four empirical studies systematically examined the effect of veracity and culpability using content analysis and structured coding frameworks. The first two studies investigated question and statement types, and suspect responses. The third and fourth examined the type and timing of evidence disclosure and the corresponding suspect behaviour. A fifth study, using questionnaire data from police officers, explored professional perceptions of the interview practices observed in the field data. Data were analysed using both quantitative and qualitative methods, including descriptive and inferential statistics and thematic analysis. Findings indicate that veracity and culpability affected interviewer behaviour across all stages of the interview. Suspects who deceptively denied their culpability were more frequently challenged, through both questioning and increased evidence disclosure. In contrast, truthful suspects who admitted culpability were met with clarification-based questions, reflecting a more collaborative, narrative-focused approach. Furthermore, suspects who truthfully denied culpability may present interpretive challenges, as their honesty could be less apparent perhaps due to limited knowledge, cautious responses, and misplaced confidence in being believed. While recommended practices were generally followed, the limited use of open questions and variability in evidence disclosure suggest areas for further development. The thesis contributes to the field by providing empirically grounded insights into how suspect veracity and culpability affect interviewer and suspect decision-making in serious crime contexts.
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'Great expectations’ versus ‘reality checks’: UK Christian clergy spouses' experiences of divorce and separation and implications for pastoral careChallenges associated with clergy marriage and divorce have been documented, and there has been recognition of the impact of marital breakdown on clergy spouses. However, there is a paucity of work that addresses the specific support needs of Christian clergy spouses and what constitutes effective pastoral care for this population. This article presents a mixed-methods study conducted in 2023 of UK divorced and separated clergy spouses exploring their understandings of pastoral care and support experienced before, during, and post marital breakdown. Twenty-seven participants completed an online survey, and thirteen took part in a follow-up semi-structured interview. The findings illustrate that pastoral care needs are higher during and after marital breakdown, but a considerable number of participants did not receive pastoral care. Where care was received, it was rated higher when provided by family, friends, and organizations than by the church. The study also demonstrated the impact of expectations of clergy marriage on the experience of marital breakdown. Importantly, high expectations of model marriages acted as barriers to disclosing marital breakdown. The findings demonstrate a lack of adequate pastoral support. A thematic analysis yielded a series of recommendations for effective pastoral care. These were care for the person at the center, holistic and individualized care, pre-emptive care, and persistent and consistent care. Overall, the study highlighted the profound impact of expectations on clergy marriages and the need for improvement in pastoral care for clergy spouses. This improvement of care should include training on the issues highlighted in this study.
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Archaeology as alternative prison educationThis paper presents the educational focused outcomes of a set of workshops entitled 'Introduction to Archaeology’ that were delivered within a prison. The workshops were delivered as part of a project that seeks to explore the pro-social benefits and social capital (i.e. social and structural aspects that support positive identity formation) that could be developed through engagement with archaeology, specifically for those within the criminal justice system. The workshops offered a bespoke, alternative, educational offering within an adult male prison in Wales. It was designed and delivered by an archaeologist who has an established background in the field, especially in relation to community engagement and education. The social experiences of prison participants were recorded via multi—modal methods and analysed by a criminology researcher. The inter-disciplinary project did not specifically seek to consider how archaeology can offer an innovative, alternative prison education. However, the potential of the inclusive learning that it offered through exploration of artefacts, activity and discussion in small group environments, has been revealed. The paper outlines the potential of such an approach and sets out the benefits within wider literature on prison education, public archaeology and archaeology education.
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Religion, spirituality and ultimate beliefAn exploration of religion, spirituality and ultimate belief in counselling and psychotherapy.
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Impact of human presence and activity on urban Eurasian red squirrels' innovative problem-solvingHumans impact wildlife positively and negatively, and increasing evidence shows that humans potentially play a major role in shaping urban wildlife cognition. However, it remains unclear which, and how specific anthropogenic factors shape animal cognitive performance. Here, across 15 urban areas in Oulu, Finland, we investigated how varied levels of human presence nearby, types of human activity (walking, dog walking, cycling, and playground activities), and distance to the nearest footpaths influenced 64 squirrels’ innovative problem-solving ability – measured as the proportion of solving success at the site level, solving outcome at the individual level as well as individuals’ first-success latency. Higher mean human presence nearby and all measured human activities significantly decreased the proportion of success at the site level. Playground activity showed the highest negative impact on both the first and subsequent visit success rate at the site level. Increased mean human presence and walking decreased the likelihood of a squirrel successfully solving the novel food-extraction problem. Increased mean human presence also decreased individuals’ first-success latency, and dog walking was the outstanding factor affecting first-success latency. These results show the negative effects of specific human-related factors on an important cognitive trait, problem-solving ability. These factors may also potentially exert selective pressure on shaping urban wildlife cognition.
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Characteristics of urban environments and novel problem-solving performance in Eurasian red squirrelsUrban environments can be deemed 'harsh' for some wildlife species, but individuals frequently show behavioural flexibility to cope with challenges and demands posed by life in the city. For example, urban animals often show better performance in solving novel problems than rural conspecifics, which helps when using novel resources under human-modified environments. However, which characteristics of urban environments fine-tune novel problem-solving performance, and their relative importance, remain unclear. Here, we examined how four urban environmental characteristics (direct human disturbance, indirect human disturbance, size of green coverage and squirrel population size) may potentially influence novel problem-solving performance of a successful 'urban dweller', the Eurasian red squirrel, by presenting them with a novel food-extraction problem. We found that increased direct human disturbance, indirect human disturbance and a higher squirrel population size decreased the proportion of solving success at the population level. At the individual level, an increase in squirrel population size decreased the latency to successfully solve the novel problem the first time. More importantly, increased direct human disturbance, squirrel population size and experience with the novel problem decreased problem-solving time over time. These findings highlight that some urban environmental characteristics shape two phenotypic extremes in the behaviour-flexibility spectrum: individuals either demonstrated enhanced learning or they failed to solve the novel problem.
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A Person-Centred Perspective on SuicideThis article explores whether suicide has the potential to be considered an expression of the actualising tendency.
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Developing an Equality Impact Assessment Framework for the HE sector: Full reportThis research project applies an evidence-based approach to understanding obstacles to effective use of Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs) across the higher education (HE) sector. It explores the benefits of co-production with staff and students to inform the development of an impact assessment framework underpinned by the staff/student voice. The project's principal aim was to review existing higher education institution practice and collate stakeholder perceived obstacles in relation to EqIAs to support the development of an evidence-based, holistic, context-driven framework for EqIAs. This aim is underpinned by principles of co-production across the HE sector. The current UK legislative framework is considered a floor not a ceiling, therefore there is the potential for the framework to be used around the world. This project, by the University of Chester alongside the University of Hertfordshire, was funded by the 2024-25 round of the Advance HE Collaborative Development Fund.
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Developing an Equality Impact Assessment Framework for the HE sector: Summary reportThis research project applies an evidence-based approach to understanding obstacles to effective use of Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs) across the higher education (HE) sector. It explores the benefits of co-production with staff and students to inform the development of an impact assessment framework underpinned by the staff/student voice. The project's principal aim was to review existing higher education institution practice and collate stakeholder perceived obstacles in relation to EqIAs to support the development of an evidence-based, holistic, context-driven framework for EqIAs. This aim is underpinned by principles of co-production across the HE sector. The current UK legislative framework is considered a floor not a ceiling, therefore there is the potential for the framework to be used around the world. This project, by the University of Chester alongside the University of Hertfordshire, was funded by the 2024-25 round of the Advance HE Collaborative Development Fund.
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Co-production with staff and students: Principles and practices for promoting equality and changeThis document serves as a guide for implementing co-production in the development of policy and practice within HE settings. It explores how co-production can be embedded more broadly across institutions through the engagement of key stakeholders who should have opportunities to have a meaningful role as change agents or partners in driving meaningful development of policies and practices within HE. As part of the Equality Analysis Framework, it gives particular focus to how co-production can underpin an equality impact assessment process to support effective and inclusive decision-making. However, these principles encourage co-production approaches throughout institutional decision-making from the inception of policies/practices through to monitoring and evaluation. This means that co-production cultures are encouraged prior to commencing an equality impact assessment process, as detailed further in the Equality Analysis Framework through capacity building on developing and embedding cultures of co production in higher education institutions. This document seeks to assist in this capacity building. Drawing on data from student focus groups as part of the research project (Davies et al., 2025) that underpins these principles, the guide highlights the importance of inclusive collaboration that aligns with principles of social justice and contributes to broader institutional development. The discussion of co-production draws upon wider context of public sector efforts to foster cultural change. The document recognises both the potential and the challenges of co production, acknowledging that while the process can be demanding, it is a critical step toward creating more equitable, inclusive and responsive HE environments.
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Equality Analysis FrameworkThis Equality Analysis Framework is underpinned by a 6 month collaborative research project and forms part of an expanding dialogue across the HE sector in relation to EqIAs. The project has sought to understand and respond to criticisms and obstacles to the effective use of equality impact assessments (EqIAs) across the sector. It has also explored the link between the emerging focus on co-production and EqIA practice. This Equality Analysis Framework is a work in progress and the sector is encouraged to view this as a dynamic collaborative tool to support proportionate, context driven approaches as a means of ensuring more effective and inclusive decision-making processes. This Framework is intended for use by those with EDI expertise and suggests an approach to support decision makers to engage with EqIAs. A separate accessible EqIA Toolkit for decision makers on EqIAs is also available.
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Working with riskThis chapter will cover devising and using a comprehensive risk assessment
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Do Demographic and Clinical Characteristics Predict Utilisation of a Community Based Musculoskeletal Triage Service? A Retrospective Cohort StudyIntroduction: In the United Kingdom, 20 million people are affected by musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. To reduce the burden on GP surgeries, there are now MSK triage services where patients are diagnosed and managed by allied health professionals. There is limited research exploring the sociodemographic characteristics and reasons for attendance of those using the MSK triage service. Aim: To explore the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of adult patients accessing an MSK triage service within Northwest England. Method: This is a retrospective cohort study using secondary data collected between 1st January 2022 and 31st December 2024. Data were extracted from an NHS electronic patient record system, including sociographic data as well as the number of consultations and diagnosis. Results: The sample included data on 6398 patients, of which 2826 (44%) were male and 3571 female (66%). The mean age was 56.9 years, the majority (83.1%) identified as White British and 28.4% of the sample resided in areas of low deprivation. Compared with lower body diagnoses, individuals with spine‐related diagnoses had 28.7% fewer consultations and those with upper‐body diagnoses had 19.2% fewer consultations. Both differences were highly significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that establishing more clearly defined clinical pathways may enhance the efficiency of service utilisation. Improving the accessibility of the MSK triage service has the potential to enhance access for both patients and referring clinicians, thereby optimising the timeliness of care delivery. This study adds to the evolving understanding of how MSK triage services can be enhanced in the NHS primary care setting.
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A logic model to guide ‘My Grief My Way’: An intervention development study for a digital psychological support package for unmet bereavement support needsLogic models are simplified graphics that guide the development and evaluation of complex interventions. This paper describes a logic model for an online intervention to improve coping and quality of life after bereavement. A combination approach to intervention development was used. Evidence was synthesized in iterative cycles from: (i) research literature; (ii) interviews with therapists; (iii) workshops with bereaved people; (iv) workshops with bereavement support professionals; and (v) expertise of the research team. The logic model illustrated the links between: risk factors for and indicators of grief support needs, contextual considerations for online interventions, intervention components, change mechanisms, short and long term intended outcomes at the individual and organizational level, as well as broader impacts. The logic model guided the intervention development process, fostering collaboration and synthesis of multiple sources. The description of the process will be useful to other intervention developers.
