Posters will be on display throughout the Methods Fair. However, if you would like to talk to one of the presenters, the best time to catch them is during the lunch break.
Abstracts are organised alphabetically by first author's surname:
Akafekwa, Tabo, The University of Manchester, 'Am I A Carer? A Qualitative Study of the Identification of Unpaid Carers in Manchester, UK'
Co-authors: Professor Arpana Verma, Dr Véronique Griffith, Professor Jamie Kirkham, Dr Thomas Allen
Unpaid carers play an important role in our society and significantly contribute to health and social care systems globally. In the UK (in 2022) it was estimated that there were approximately 10.6 million carers and 65, 000 in Manchester. Without unpaid carers, for many families, care in the community would be impossible. Despite this, unpaid carers are often unseen and unsupported. Unpaid care is also a role which often intersects with other familial activities, roles or duties which adds some complexity in the identification of unpaid carers. Although unpaid care can be a rewarding experience, it can also have a significant negative impact on the health, wellbeing and aspirations of unpaid carers.
Without recognition and support many carers experience carer burnout and develop health issues themselves – as a direct result of their caring role. When people do not view themselves as carers, they are less likely to seek support and more likely to reach a point of carer burnout. This is the first PhD exploring this important issue and the overall aim of my research project is to improve the self and GP identification of carers in Manchester. The first stage of the study will interview unpaid carers using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis and the second will use reflexive thematic analysis of interviews with GPs from a constructivist perspective.
Aldossary, Hind, The University of Manchester, 'Writing as a Means of Activism: A Study of Saudi Women's Writing as a Tool for Empowerment'
My poster focuses on the impact of literature as a platform for promoting social change and women's empowerment in Saudi Arabia. It examines how Saudi women writers like Badriah Al-Besher, Laila Aljohani and Raja Alem use their narratives to voice women’s experiences, challenge societal norms, and advocate for gender equality in a traditionally conservative culture. The analysis reveals how literature serves not only as self-expression but as a potent form of resistance against gender discrimination. This research delves into themes of women’s subjugation, the critique of male dominance, and the portrayal of women's resilience and agency. It aims to illustrate the role of literature in shaping societal perceptions and catalysing social reform. It positions these Saudi women writers as pivotal figures in cultural and social activism. The study seeks to emphasise the power of writing in breaking gender barriers and reshaping public discourse about women's roles in Saudi society.
In summary, this poster highlights the empowering narratives crafted by Saudi women writers, which demonstrate how literature can be used as a tool for advocacy. Through their stories, these writers not only offer insights into the women’s experience in Saudi Arabia but also contribute to broader discussions on gender equality. This study underscores the importance of literature in empowering voices and promoting societal change, which makes it a vital element of gender discourse and activism.
Atkins, Anna, University of Birmingham, '‘Networked Career Diagram’ - A Visual Tool to Support Qualitative Research on Career Networks'
Social network career support, such as a job tip or hiring recommendation, often comes from contacts who have been network members for a long time. This means network formation processes and concrete career support instances may be years, even decades, apart.
For my qualitative research into the network-intensive field of Public Relations, I devised a ‘networked career diagram,’ a visual tool to capture descriptions of career support, how the supporter was met and how the tie was maintained. This tool was used within online semi-structured interviews with 33 mid- and late-career professionals within Public Relations. Participants were asked in advance for a CV, which I transformed into a visual timeline. For each employer change on this timeline, I asked participants whether they had received any network support to be hired. If yes, I asked when the participant met their helper, and drew a line connecting the job they were helped into and the job where they first met their supportive network member. This visual element prompted reflection on how participants first got to know supporters and how they had nurtured the tie in the intervening years. It allowed analysis of how earlier career network formation and maintenance processes are linked to concrete instances of career support later in the career.
The systematic element also helped counteract the memory, self-serving attribution and social desirability biases that can sometimes hinder data collection on career support.
Bowden, Freya, The University of Manchester, 'Measuring Vascular Response In Early Dementia'
Dementia is an escalating issue in ageing populations, with approximately 70% of all dementia cases involving a vascular component. This research project explores the impact of altered cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen supply on cognition in individuals with signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This project also explores the potential of using dynamic retinal vessel analysis (dRVA) as a complementary tool to observe larger vessel dynamics. Imaging retinal vessels, a readily accessible extension of the brain vasculature, may provide further insights into how vascular health is altered in dementia.
Advancements in MR techniques, such as arterial spin labelling (ASL) and functional MRI (fMRI), offer new opportunities to study microvascular changes in the brain. However, despite growing evidence of reduced CBF with ageing, the link between these changes and cognitive impairment remains poorly understood. Key gaps in research include inconsistent approaches to investigating these relationships, a lack of longitudinal studies, and an incomplete understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms.
Overall, this project integrates fMRI, ASL, dRVA, and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) to detect early vascular contributions to cognitive decline, focusing on microvascular damage in the brain and retina. By mapping cerebral blood flow, oxygenation, and retinal vessel changes, it aims to identify early biomarkers of vascular dementia, potentially enabling earlier detection, personalised treatments, and timely interventions. The potential of longitudinal monitoring in this project will clarify vascular changes over time in the progression of dementia and could support the integration of retinal imaging as a non-invasive alternative in clinical practice.
Campbell, Ellie, University of Manchester, 'Co-Constructing Primary School Teachers’ Identities and Practices in England'
My research adopts Hannah Arendt’s (1958) vita activa as a theoretical framework to critically examine how primary school teachers' identities and practices are negotiated and co-constructed through the interplay of codified UK Government policy mandates and the discursive narratives of secondary school leaders in England. Arendt’s (1958) vita activa is used in two ways.
First, the three activities of the vita activa, labour, work, and action, are deployed deductively within a thematic analysis to expose how teachers and teaching are being restructured within the context of performative, high-stakes accountability policy mandates (see Ball, 2008, Clarke, 2013, Perryman and Calver, 2020) and the discursive practices of school leaders, offering new insights to what, how, and why teachers do what they do (see Greenfield, 1979; Gunter, 2020). Second, drawing on Arendt’s argument that to be fully human, one must have the freedom to participate in all three activities, this framework explores whether teachers are afforded the conditions to be fully human. In doing so, this paper advances theoretical understandings of teacher identity, exposing how policy and school leaders co-construct and mediate teacher identity formation.
By critically examining the consequences of these constructions, this paper provides valuable insights for policymakers and school leaders to foster more equitable school environments, supporting the flourishing of teachers, children, and society.
Doak, Jenny, The University of Manchester, 'What Are the Experiences of Accessing and Using Healthcare Services, and Associated Patient Safety Concerns, For Women Experiencing Homelessness in High Income Countries?'
What are the experiences of accessing and using healthcare services, and associated patient safety concerns, for women experiencing homelessness in high income countries?
Recent NICE (2022) guidance for people experiencing homelessness provided evidence for good wraparound, integrated care, however evidence is lacking in some areas. This review will be focussing on women, identified as a subgroup in need of further exploration of experiences, and perceptions as well as further evidence of potential patient safety concerns (NICE, 2022). Women tend to experience more hidden forms of homelessness (Howells et al. 2023), meaning that the barriers or difficulties they face when interacting with healthcare systems may not fit the stereotypical patterns.
Research question(s):
- To explore perceptions of safety in both a clinical sense as well as experiential and conceptual safety concerns.
- To identify gaps in provision, exploration of gaps identified.
- To investigate health concerns and identification of the perception of the health concerns specific to women experiencing homelessness of both healthcare professionals and the service users.
- To explore the quality of care for women experiencing homelessness, tying into the clinical safety elements, addressing the quality of healthcare delivery may identify particular pitfalls within healthcare delivery.
Themes will be drawn from a narrative review and synthesis of primary data. Anticipated results include integration of services, continuity of care as well as aspects of relationships between the service users and service providers.
Donohue, Lydia, The University of Manchester, 'How We Might Live: Collage of a Possible Future'
I am in my final year of a Visual Anthropology PhD at the University of Manchester, conducting a doctoral research project into communities of quiltmakers in South Manchester. I have spent the last several years (2018-2024) speaking with, stitching and immersing myself within the quilting community in Stockport and Sale, recording through sound, photography and material media the storytelling that emanates from these communities of practice.
The patchwork quilt is a material object constructed from the fragments, remnants and scraps of everyday life. As a craft practice, it is organised around many centres, put down, picked back up, returned to at a later date or forgotten about. It is partial and interrupted, temporally marked by the meander of life, faded from use, creased from being folded away.
In response to this creative practice of world-making, I argue that there must be a more creative/poetic way to write and conduct research, one redolent of the patchwork quilt. This poster presents the composite biography of the quilting communities’ diverse visual culture. I will display the saved scrapbooks of one of my interlocutors that materialise the ethnographic data of how she imagined her future through assembled images—employing it as a device to explore patchwork/assemblage as a conceptual device that narrates the vibrant and diverse community of women.
Fleitas Delgado, Maria Mercedes, The University of Manchester, 'Ward Typology For Community Resilience in England'
Co-Author: Simon Rudkin, University of Manchester
The understanding of community types is relevant to the analysis of community resilience as it ensures that resilience strategies are context-specific. This research uses Topological Data Analysis Ball Mapper (TDABM) algorithm to analyze the 2021 CENSUS data and present a typology of community resilience of England at the ward level. The study captures the complexity and interconnectedness of communities by exploring identified community resilience characteristics using the PEOPLES Framework as reference for variable selection. The TDABM approach effectively identifies distinct community profiles and highlights overlaps in community attributes. To assess the consistency and robustness of the classification, k-means clustering is applied as a comparative method. The analysis suggests the need for resilience strategies that recognize the diversity and complexity of community types. Despite data limitations at the ward level, the findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and researchers aiming to enhance community resilience across England. This research contributes a novel application of TDABM and demonstrates the value of TDABM for the Social Sciences.
Foster, Kalani, The University of Manchester, 'From Wielding the Hatchet to Planting the Seeds: Lessons from Examining the Political Ecology of Conservation Drone Use in the Peak District National Park'
Drones have become key methods of strengthening and assessing the effectiveness of conservation strategies due to their ability to quickly and cost-effectively gather environmental data. In line with this, political ecologists have begun to examine how conservation drone use is always dependent upon the socio-political context of conservation landscapes. However, this has often been from a distant, conceptual lens that speaks within the field of political ecology. Recognizing this gap, in this commentary I examine how two recent frameworks designed to examine the political ecology of drones and the data they produce can be applied to preliminary fieldwork examining the social implications of conservation drone use in the Peak District National Park. Although these frameworks are ultimately useful for examining how conservation drone use can reinforce power asymmetries, territorial reach, and unequal data governance structures, there is still work to be done in translating these insights into direct place-based recommendations for practical change.
To do this, I conclude with outlining two potential starting points for this: first, balancing, and sometimes sacrificing, critique with meaningful engagement and collaboration with conservation actors, and second, pairing political ecology analyses with other fields of thought to unpack the intersectional social implications of drone use. By considering these starting points, political ecology can become more focused and applicable for people within the landscapes in which political ecology insights are applied, although more insight is needed to examine how frameworks related but not limited to political ecology can be used to leverage place-based change.
Hernandez-Montilla, Mariana, The University of Manchester, 'Rights or Rhetoric? Three-Step Method to Track IPLCs Inclusion in Forest Restoration Policy'
How can we move beyond policy rhetoric to assess real Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities' (IPLCs) inclusion in forest landscape restoration? This poster presents a novel mixed-methods analytical framework for evaluating IPLCs inclusion in national forest restoration policies, using Mexico as a case study. Our approach integrates three complementary methods: (1) systematic policy identification across governance levels, (2) quantitative policy assessment using dual scoring indices (FLR alignment and IPLC inclusion), and (3) qualitative thematic analysis of implementation barriers and opportunities. We applied this framework to 24 policy documents (1988-2024) spanning international and national levels to assess the alignment between Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) principles and IPLCs' rights recognition.
Our findings reveal a key implementation gap: while all documents provide basic recognition through consultation and stakeholder engagement, only 28.6% achieved partner-level status, and only 7.1% granted primary control or full autonomy. These gaps manifest in three key areas: limited decision-making authority (appearing in only 42.8% of documents), challenges in adaptive management (73.3%) and monitoring mechanisms (80%), and inter-governmental coordination issues affecting 83.3% of policies. This methodology advances policy analysis by examining both the formal recognition of IPLCs rights within policy frameworks and the practical mechanisms for translating these commitments into implementation. The framework provides researchers and policymakers with an evidence-based tool for evaluating rights integration in environmental governance, with potential applications for analysing similar policy-implementation gaps where IPLCs rights intersect with conservation efforts.
Lever, Gill, The University of Manchester, 'Trauma Informed and Neuro-Affirmative Approach to Exploring the Facilitators and Barriers Experienced by Children's Social Workers in Implementing NICE Guidelines on Self-Harm with Children in Care'
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines: Self-Harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence (2022) aim to improve the quality and care of individuals who self-harm, in all services and settings, including children in care. To date, there is an absence of research on social workers' use of the guidelines. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of social worker's implementation of NICE guidelines in England.
This research is a mixed methods study investigating children’s social workers' implementation of NICE guidelines on self-harm with children in care. Data from social workers of children in care will be collated via a large-scale online survey and semi-structured interviews to gain a deep, multifaceted understanding of views and experiences and highlight potential barriers to NICE guideline implementation in this group. A trauma informed and neuro-affirmative approach will be applied at all stages of the research and with all participants, advisors and public contributors, to mitigate barriers to participation and inclusion arising from trauma and neurodivergence. The key principles of trauma informed practice inform the research design, implementation, data analysis and dissemination of the research findings.
We aim to mitigate the risk of re-traumatisation and vicarious trauma, and reduce the influence of power dynamics, to produce higher quality data.
Ma, Zixuanxuan, The University of Manchester, 'Developing an Ethical Framework for Different Algorithms Used in Smart Construction Project Applications'
The rapid proliferation of AI-driven algorithmic technologies has transformed various industries, including the construction sector, where the integration of smart technologies enhances operational efficiency within the Industry 4.0 framework. Key advancements include Building Information Modelling (BIM), the Internet of Things (IoT), and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), all of which contribute to real-time monitoring, project optimization, and stakeholder collaboration. However, the integration of AI within construction projects presents ethical challenges, necessitating a robust ethical framework grounded in theories such as deontology, consequentialism, and virtue ethics.
Despite the growing adoption of AI, ambiguities persist in aligning AI innovations with ethical principles, particularly in interdisciplinary contexts like construction. Ethical concerns such as transparency, fairness, and accountability remain underexplored in AI-driven decision-making, further complicated by the diversity of stakeholders and the evolving nature of ethical dilemmas. Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), and Natural Language Processing (NLP) play crucial roles in AI applications in smart construction, enabling enhanced risk management, project forecasting, and automation. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of AI in optimizing design processes, cost estimation, and safety monitoring, yet the ethical implications of these applications require deeper investigation.
The research employs a qualitative methodology, incorporating a systematic literature review (SLR) and empirical data collection through questionnaires and interviews. By redefining algorithmic bias within a sociotechnical framework, this study aims to develop a conceptual model that bridges AI ethics with construction industry applications, fostering a more accountable and equitable approach to AI integration in smart infrastructure.
Georgia, Moore, Lancaster University, 'Using a Critical Thematic Approach to Social Media Analysis'
The purpose of the poster is to highlight the importance of using a critical, visual, thematic approach to social media analysis. This includes examining why a critical, visual method is necessary when conducting a thematic analysis of social media. It also includes highlighting how criticality can be embedded in thematic analysis. This is done by weaving together the elements of Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis (2006;2022), Lawless and Chen's critical thematic analysis (2019), and Rose's critical, visual methodology (1962). The poster uses examples from my research regarding the use of a critical, visual, thematic analysis into how Muslim women are framed in social media campaigns operating as part of the Prevent counter-extremism policy.
Murphy, Madeline, Lancaster University, 'The Language of Emotion and Identity in Emergencies'
Research aimed to compare language used in emergencies to normal conversations, with particular interest in social identity markers and emotion use. Natural language data was gathered from footage of emergencies and analysed in terms of emotion and social identity theory. The data were split into 3 groups- ‘zero’ responders interacting with each other, ‘zero’ and first responders talking, and first responders speaking amongst themselves. Analysis using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC)-22 software produced percentage frequencies of the use of key words relating to emotion and social identity. These frequencies were then compared to the average frequencies of word use according to LIWC’s test kitchen corpus of everyday conversations using Cohen’s d analyses. Findings suggest use of emotional and social identity related words differ significantly between emergency situations and everyday language, and to differing degrees depending on the combination of ‘zero’ and first responders involved in the interaction. Results support existing literature regarding increased levels of social identification in emergency situations compared to everyday life. They also present insights into how emotionality is different in emergencies compared to normal life, and how this may relate to social identity.
Newton, Rita, The University of Manchester, 'Across the Seasons: Ethnographic Encounters in the Garden Alongside People With Dementia'
Co-authors: John Keady (University of Manchester/Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust), Emmanuel Tsekleves (Lancaster University)
Being outdoors and engaging in the natural world is important for people with dementia. In contrast to ‘away from home’ outdoor activities, the garden at home has been an overlooked area of research attention (Newton et al., 2021). To address this gap in knowledge, and drawing upon a contemporary ethnographic approach, seven households living with dementia in the Northwest of England participated in sharing their experiences of accessing and using their garden at home. Contact with each household took place over a period of six weeks and were staged so that all seasons of the year comprised the study findings. Methods of study included participant observation, impromptu conversations, photographs, fieldwork notes and a reflexive journal. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and ethnographic typologies were collated for each participating household. This poster will reflect on the creative methods used and draw attention to the challenge in writing an authentic interpretation of the data whilst staying within the traditions of an ethnographic approach.
- Newton, R., Keady, J., Tsekleves, E., and Adams, S. (2021) ‘My father is a gardener…’: a systematic narrative review on access and use of the garden by people living with dementia. Health and Place, 68:102516.
Palange, Alessandra, University of Central Lancashire, 'Reimagining Higher Education and Student Wellbeing in a Climate Impacted World: Methodological Considerations from a Staff-Student Co-produced Research Project'
Co-Authors (composed of students and academic partners): Liz Altschuler, Edouard De Bray, Katie Fisher, Oliver Harper, Gwyneth Hughes, Isabella Lillis-Parsons, Neil Kaye, Kate Luxion, Anisha Mukerjee, Mark Newman, Alessandra Palange, Katie Quy, Theresia Schwab, Hreday Soni, Olwenn Martin, Lisa Fridkin
The poster will outline some methodological considerations of co-producing a research project within a team of academic staff and undergraduate and postgraduate students. This UCL Grand Challenges-funded project investigates student perspectives on climate change education, extracurricular activities and wellbeing within the university. It also seeks to understand students' views on the role Higher Education should play in better preparing students to live, work and study in a climate-changed world.
Each element of the research project has been co-produced to some degree. We critiqued and refined the original research questions together, co-developed the research design from scratch and collaboratively shaped the ethical considerations, survey tool, workshop plans and promotional and outreach materials.
An interesting methodological aspect of this project is the students' input on research methods. They chose to develop a survey to capture a broad range of student opinions, which, however, will also be used as key material for discussion and idea generation during a co-production inspired hackathon. This hackathon is open to all students across the university and brings student participants together to co-design and completely reimagine the university of the future.
The poster will outline our approach to co-production and the steps the staff-student team has taken to co-design the research, including the chosen methods (the survey and a hackathon). The poster will present reflections and journal entries from both student and academic partners on the co-production process, highlighting different points of view as well as lessons, challenges and opportunities that all team members have identified throughout the process.
Patil, Ishita, The University of Manchester, 'Housing Hierarchies: Caste, Racialization, and the Political Economy of Urban India'
Scholarship from the Global South has been primarily concerned with challenging the Euro-American planning framework and seeking to dismantle the hegemony of the Western approach (Parnell & Robinson, 2012; Roy, 2009). However, the question of race and racialised inequalities remains underexplored in the Global South, as the geography of racial capitalism has been largely concentrated within the Global North. My research will address this gap by examining the role of caste – a system of entrenched social hierarchy and difference in Indian society – in shaping the political economy of housing.
While I draw on literature on racial capitalism and racialisation, I distinguish between race and caste, acknowledging their distinctive historical formations while recognizing their comparable effects in shaping social and economic processes, and producing urban inequality.
This doctoral project, situated at the intersection of urban geography and political economy, contributes to debates on urban inequalities, critical caste studies, and the relationship between capital, space, and the built environment. Through this poster presentation, I aim to highlight and discuss key findings from my literature review, emphasizing the need to expand theories of racial capitalism to include caste-based displaceability in Southeastern urbanisms (Yiftachel, 2020). By centring caste as an analytical lens, my work challenges the Northern-centric focus of urban studies and racial capitalism to opens new avenues for understanding how systemic hierarchies shape housing markets, spatial segregation, and urban marginality in the Global South.
Ryan, Megan, The University of Manchester, 'Women Are to be Seen and Heard: Capturing Women's Lived Experiences of Non-Consensual Synthetic Intimate Material'
Our societal landscape has witnessed the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within recent years. Whilst AI has improved in both sophistication and usability, such improvements have enabled the newest incarnation of Image-Based Sexual Abuse to thrive: the non-consensual manipulation and/or generation of women's audio-visual content depicting them saying or doing something they did not, commonly referred to as so-called 'deepfake pornography'. Despite several high profile cases involving celebrity women and statistical reports conducted by online safety organisations (SesnsityAI, 2019; Home Security Heroes, 2023; Ofcom, 2024) indicating the severity of the problem, research exploring women's lived experiences of what this thesis calls 'Non-Consensual Synthetic Intimate Material' (NSIM) is limited to unpublished bachelor's or Masters' theses (Rousay, 2023). To date, in depth qualitative research into women's lived experiences of NSIM remains empirically scarce and our understanding of this harm is underdeveloped.
This thesis is concerned with remedying this gap by exploring women-victim survivors' lived experiences of NSIM through adopting trauma-informed semi-structured interviews alongside the Arts- Based Method 'Autophotography'.This thesis has two participant groups: women NSIM victim-survivors and professionals who have worked/working directly with NSIM victim-survivors. It is hoped that to gain a deeper understanding of this harm, the use of participant produced photographs with victim-survivors presents researchers with a unique ability to 'see through the eyes of participants' (Nolan, 2006). Currently, ABM's like 'autophotography' are rarely employed within qualitative criminological research on the lived experiences of survivors of sexualised abuses like NSIM.
Shi, Mengxia, The University of Manchester, 'Transdisciplinary Methods Bridging Participatory Art and Humanistic Urban Studies'
This poster presents an emerging methodological framework integrating socially engaged art practice with humanistic urban studies to investigate site-specific participatory art’s role in post-industrial urban regeneration across China and the UK. Building on Kester’s (2011) “text-action” dialectic and Hal Foster’s (1996) reflexive ethnography, the research employs four approaches:
- Comparative experimental research contrasting artistic interventions in Taiyuan and Manchester;
- Autoethnographic field research documenting the artist-researcher’s dual role through participant observation and reflective journals;
- Traditional-Radical spatial practices exhibition spaces as data visualisation and academic discourse platforms; deindustrialised sites (factories, dormitories) as both research laboratories and community engagement platforms;
- Aesthetic-political analysis mapping case studies onto a coordinate system evaluating artistic autonomy vs. social impact
The methodology innovatively bridges participatory art and humanistic urban studies, treating participatory art as geographic fieldwork outputs and geographic research as a process of art production. Preliminary applications in projects like "We Are Watching You, Chongqing" (2022) demonstrate how artistic interventions can simultaneously provoke reflection on unequal social structure and community dialogues. Through comparative ethnographic analysis of cross-cultural case studies, this framework offers new methods for analysing different cultural-political environments for participatory art while critically reflecting on the researcher’s positionality in cross-cultural contexts.
- Kester, Grant H. The One and the Many : Contemporary Collaborative Art in a Global Context / Grant H. Kester. Durham: Duke University Press, 2011. Print.
- Foster, Hal. The Return of the Real : The Avant-Garde at the End of the Century / Hal Foster. Cambridge, Mass. ; MIT Press, 1996. Print.
Song, Yiping, The University of Manchester, 'Large Language Models (LLMs)-based Complex Ontology Alignment'
In the era of knowledge integration and the Semantic Web, ontology alignment plays a pivotal role in enabling semantic interoperability across diverse and heterogeneous knowledge sources. In recent years, with the rapid advancement of Large Language Models (LLMs), an increasing number of ontology alignment systems based on LLMs have been developed. However, these systems tend to treat LLMs merely as binary classifiers, failing to fully leverage their capabilities in long-text comprehension and reasoning within the context of ontology alignment. Moreover, current research predominantly focuses on the equivalence problem, while the subsumption problem and complex ontology alignment remain underexplored. In response, I propose a novel LLM-based ontology alignment system that incorporates external data sources to support alignment decisions. Furthermore, the model is fine-tuned using attribution-enhanced data, enabling it to better exploit the chain-of-thought reasoning and contextual learning abilities inherent to LLMs. For complex ontology alignment and the subsumption problem, I plan to conduct an in-depth exploration of the structural information within ontologies to assist LLMs in making more accurate alignment decisions.
Stillitano, Giulia, Universidad de Huelva, 'Community-Based Participatory Research with Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth: a systematic review'
Co-author: Daniele Rucco, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) stems from a paradigm shift that, distancing itself from the traditional positivist paradigm, proposes a more democratic, egalitarian and participatory way of doing research, in which objects become subjects that collaborate in all its phases.
In the field of psychology, despite the fact that it responds appropriately to the ethical principles of the discipline and to its research aims, it is still little implemented to date (Collins et al., 2018).
In the case of transgender and gender non-conforming youth (TGNCY) is a particularly useful research paradigm to respond to the marginalization that this population suffers on the one hand, and to the adult-centrism that characterizes research with adolescents on the other.
This review provides an insight into how much researches of this kind has been conducted to date, the methodologies employed, the level of participant involvement, and makes suggestions for future implementation. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and WOS were systematically searched in November and December 2024.
Street, Louisa, Keele University, 'Sending Nudes and the Ethics of Challenging the Views of Research Participants'
My research explores the views of young people, aged thirteen to fifteen, on the law around sexual image sharing. This is an activity which is illegal for those under the age of eighteen. I opted for a Participant Action Research (PAR) based methodology to conduct this research as my experience working with young people had been that they have little opportunity to develop the skills associated with developing and sharing their views. PAR allows participants the space to do this and doesn’t assume they will have fully formed opinions prior to their engagement in research. This has proven invaluable when young people have expressed misogynistic or victim-blaming attitudes to sexual violence. This poster will explore the ways I have responded to these comments, drawing on the PAR methodology approach that views the research space as one in which both the researcher and the participants will learn something new.
Taylor-Bower, Ellen, Cambridge University, 'Giving Voice Without Speech: Developing Methods for Interviewing Non-Speaking Autistic Adults'
Co-authors: Ioana Dobre, Molly Rigby, Ellen Taylor-Bower, Dr Kate Plaisted-Grant, Dr Stephanie Archer
While it is estimated that approximately 30% of autistic people are non-speaking or partially-/minimally-speaking, the perspectives of these individuals are often absent even from research that aims to prioritise community needs and lived experience expertise. This omission is due, at least in part, to the methodological challenges of developing and/or adapting research procedures to accommodate the specific accessibility and communication needs of non-speaking individuals.
This poster presents and reflects upon a research project that focused on developing alternative methods for ‘interviewing’ non-speaking autistic adults. Taking a participatory and collaborative approach, this project used Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) methods to work with non-speaking autistic adults to collaboratively develop, test, and evaluate methods for conducting interview-style research with this community.
As many non-speaking autistic individuals already rely upon digitally-enabled alternative forms of communication (such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices and image-/symbol-based communication apps) in their daily lives, this research embraced the communication opportunities offered by these digital technologies, while also grappling with the challenges these may present for researchers.
This poster will discuss both the process and the outcomes of this project; from initial community consultation and collaborative co-design, through to the development of asynchronous, image- and text-based digital research methods. We will also offer considerations and suggestions for how these methodological developments may be further refined and utilised in research with non-speaking individuals across the social sciences and beyond.
Turner, Lorraine, The University of Manchester, 'PROMOTE: Exploratory Research Into the Perceptions of Cancer and Clinical Trials Amongst Muslim Women with Breast Cancer'
Co-Authors: Dr Sally Taylor, Professor Fiona Thistlethwaite & Professor Janelle Yorke (PhD supervisors)
Despite rapid diversification across the cancer population, many racial and ethnic minority groups are underrepresented within clinical trials. Limited research has been conducted in the UK to explore the interplay between Muslim faith and cultural influences and their experience of cancer, their health beliefs and treatment decision making, in particular clinical trial participation. There is evidence of unconscious bias amongst health care professionals (HCPs) which needs to be explored to improve clinical trial participation amongst ethnic minority groups.
To explore how Muslim women’s religion and cultural norms impact the perceptions and experience of breast cancer and participation in clinical trials for patients, their families and HCPs responsible for their care. The study follows a three phased mixed-methods design. Phase 1) Semi-structured interviews to explore the perceptions and experience of cancer, cancer treatment including clinical trials amongst women and their families who are Muslim (n=12-15 & 8 immediate family). Phase 2) Online survey to explore health care professionals experience of religious and cultural norms influencing patient’s perceptions of cancer, cancer treatments including clinical trials and initiatives that support participation in cancer clinical trials for ethnic minority groups. Phase 3) Community-centred participatory workshops (n=4) based on the World Café method with patients, family members and HCP to co-design a faith-based intervention that will help increase awareness, understanding and participation of cancer clinical trials (6-10 women & 5 immediate family members, 2 HCP).
Recruitment for phases 1 and 2 is underway. To date, eleven participants have been interviewed for phase 1, including one immediate family member and forty one healthcare professionals have completed the online survey. We anticipate that phases 1 and 2 will be completed by end of April 2025. Study findings will be used to co-produce appropriate, culturally & spiritually sensitive recruitment methods, cancer and research literacy and inform cultural competency training for HCP.
Varley, Alice, University of Liverpool, 'Understanding the Accessibility of Mental Healthcare Services in Liverpool: Exploring Spatial Factors and Individual Barriers'
In an effort to improve mental health inequalities, the National Health Service (NHS) has made a commitment to improving access to mental health services (2019). In order to better tailor services to meet the needs of underserved populations, it is crucial to first understand how accessible these services for different residents. This study focuses on the city of Liverpool, which has an above-average rate of depression (House of Commons, 2024), indicating that there is unmet mental health need.
This study aims to investigate both the spatial accessibility of treatment locations and the individual social barriers which impact access to services. It will combine these two aspects to create a composite accessibility score. It does so by using a floating catchment area method for the spatial element and factor analysis for the individual barriers.
This research is expected to yield valuable results presenting an opportunity to reveal how the NHS can increase the uptake of mental health services by addressing different facets of inaccessibility of mental health treatment.
- National Health Service (2019). NHS Long Term Plan. Accessible via https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/
- House of Commons (2024). Constituency data dashboard: health conditions. Accessible via https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-data-how-healthy-is-your-area/
Wanyonyi, Jackline, The University of Manchester, 'Welcoming the Stranger: From “Burdens” to Urban Development'
The research examines the potential for refugees to contribute sustainably to urban development, considering their diverse backgrounds and cultures amidst the challenges of protracted displacement. Notwithstanding, national governments often perceive refugees as “burdens” due to their perceived reliance on humanitarian aid and potential security threats especially when living outside camps. Nevertheless, many refugees opt to settle within cities, rather than in camps.
This research examines the rationale for refugee settlement in urban areas, particularly within countries enforcing encampment policies, drawing on an empirical study in Kenya. Grounded in the capability theoretical framework, it analyses the relationship between psychosocial well-being and economic well-being among refugees, comparing those in Dadaab camp and Nairobi city. Furthermore, by employing a mixed-methods approach with an explanatory sequential design, the study integrates qualitative insights to contextualize quantitative findings, offering a nuanced understanding of refugees' agency and livelihoods within formal and informal economies.
By foregrounding refugees’ agency in urban settlement processes within the right to the city framework, this research contends that enhancing refugees' well-being fosters reciprocity between refugees and host communities, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable urban environments. Through an analysis of refugees' capabilities and functionings in relation to their economic well-being, this study underscores their potential contributions to urban life. In doing so, it challenges dominant narratives that portray refugees as “burdens,” instead highlighting their role as active agents in shaping urban development.
Zhou, Luman, The University of Manchester, 'Teaching Critical Thinking: Reflections from Three Student Groups on Their Perceptions of Teaching Factors in Critical Thinking Development'
In recent years, the number of international students in the UK has surged, with Chinese students making up a significant proportion (Rear, 2017; Clark & Yu, 2021). However, their large presence does not necessarily translate into a comprehensive understanding of their learning experiences. Research on how students perceive and develop critical thinking remains limited, particularly in Europe (Lorencová et al., 2019). This scarcity of research has contributed to a gap in critical thinking pedagogy, making it unclear which teaching methods effectively support students’ critical thinking development.