About this Event
Body image research, like many areas of psychological science, has been shaped by longstanding structural influence that affect how appearance-related work is conceptualised, conducted, analysed, interpreted and disseminated. Recognising and addressing these influences is increasingly seen as an essential part of strengthening the quality, relevance and inclusivity of our field.
This seminar series has been developed in direct response to input from body image researchers. In an initial survey, colleagues across the field highlighted both the urgency of engaging with antiracist and intersectional approaches and a desire for greater exposure to non-traditional methods and ways of thinking to support this work.
These sessions are designed not only for those who are already working explicitly in this area, but to anyone interested in developing more rigorous, inclusive and impactful body image research, regardless of their research focus.
Indicative Programme:
An overview of the impacts of white supremacy in body image research (1.00-1.30pm)
Dr Jamie Chan (she/they) is a social psychologist and a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Brighton. Thieir research typically examines how broader social injustices shape people's body image experiences at the individual level. In recent years, Jamie has actively contributed to antiracist scholarship and discussions in appearance-related research.
They will kick off the seminar series by providing a brief overview of the historical influences of white supremacy in body image research and highlight prevailing contemporary challenges in resisting its influence in our field.
Inclusive body image research practices (1.30pm - 2.15pm)
Dr Emma Waite (she/her) is a Health Psychologist and Research Fellow based at the Centre for Appearance Research at UWE Bristol. She works within the VTCT Foundation Programme of Research, which focuses on developing psychosocial support for people impacted by visible differences. She has a particular interest in the intersection between gender, sexuality, and visible difference, as well as LGBTQIA+ health, and has recently completed her doctoral studies. Her thesis explored the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ young people with visible differences.
Dr Helena Lewis-Smith is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Centre for Appearance Research at UWE Bristol. Her work spans the exploration of sociocultural influences on body image, as well as the development and evaluation of interventions for both the general population and individuals affected by health conditions. She has a particular interest in understanding the experiences and support needs of people from minoritised groups, and in advancing more inclusive and equitable approaches within body image research and practice.
Emma and Helena will be presenting CAR's recent Guidelines for Designing and Conducting Inclusive Research, which provide practical recommendations to enhance inclusivity at each stage of the research process. This will be an interactive session, where attendees will be supported to consider how to apply the guidelines in their own field to promote inclusivity and diversity.
Co-production through patient and public involvement (PPI) with marginalised groups in the UK (2.30pm - 3.15pm)
Dr Emily Dodd is a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing and Ageing Well Theme Lead for the Centre. Emily’s research interests are in ageing well and population health in older adults, specifically, but not limited to dementia care and in improving access to health and social care services for diverse and marginalised communities. Emily’s work takes a participatory approach to involving people with lived experience throughout the whole research process.
Dr Jo White is a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing and the Centre Theme Lead for Public Involvement and Co-production in Research. She has many years’ experience in applied participatory research aimed at developing responsive health services, both in the UK and overseas, with a focus on minoritised ethnic communities. Her recent work has focused on co-production with Black communities affected by stroke.
Andrea Drysdale is a community researcher & contributor on a project about inclusivity in stroke self-management support aimed at Black-African & Afro-Caribbean people living with stroke & also for healthcare professionals. I worked very closely with Senior Research Fellows at UWE & Kingston University as well as other Black people who are living with stroke. I am also a carer for someone living with stroke for over 10 years & who has been living with vascular dementia for the past two years.
In this session, two researchers from the UWE Bristol Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing and a community researcher will reflect on and share their experiences from their public health research projects focused on reducing inequalities around dementia and stroke with members of the South Asian, Chinese and Black African and Caribbean communities, focus particularly on:
· Their experiences of putting the principles of co-production into practice with communities who have experienced racism and structural exclusion
· The ways in which they worked to embed lived experience expertise throughout the research cycle
Story completion as a research method (3.15pm-4.00pm)
Dr Nikki Hayfield is currently an Associate Director of Psychology within the School of Social Sciences at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, UK. Their expertise sits at the intersection of gender, sexualities, and social and reproductive justice. Nikki draws on a range of data generation methods, including interviews, surveys, vignettes, and story completion, which she uses alongside reflexive thematic analysis in her research. She teaches qualitative methods to various audiences and co-authored with Gareth Terry. She also regularly writes about qualitative methods with Gareth Terry, Victoria Clarke, Virginia Braun, and others. You can see her publications on her UWE Staff Page, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar.
In this talk, Nikki introduces story completion as a flexible and creative way to generate qualitative data. Drawing on her experience, including as a member of the Story Completion Research Group, she will outline what story completion offers as a method. Nikki will discuss design considerations and how story completion can be used to explore people’s perceptions and understandings, using examples to show the breadth of topics that have been researched using this approach. The session will offer an introduction to story completion suitable for researchers interested in innovative qualitative methodologies.
Facilitated discussion (4.15-5.00pm)
This is a hybrid event, with both in-person and online participation available.
Funding opportunities
A limited number of bursaries (up to £150) are available to support in-person attendance. Priority will be given to individuals without access to institutional funding, particularly those from minoritised and/or marginalised backgrounds, including doctoral and early career researchers. To apply, please submit a short statement (up to 500 words) outlining your financial need, any relevant positionality, and how attending the seminar series will support your research or career development this online form hyperlinked.
If you have any questions or if there are any issues with the event page, please email Dr Jamie Chan at [email protected].
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
City Campus at Arnolfini - UWE Bristol, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
