School of Applied Social Science

Mark Bhatti – Head of Sociology & Politics Division

Sociology at the University of Brighton

BA (Hons) Sociology

Joint DegreesApplied Psychology & Sociology BA(Hons)

(BPS)

Criminology & Sociology BA(Hons)

Sociology & Social Policy BA(Hons)

Politics & Sociology BA(Hons)

Erving Goffman

Sociology at the University of Brighton

Key features:

Applied

Theory based

Research led

Applied

social issues/problems

o homelessness

o internet & risk

o climate change

o protests & riots

o sex & race discrimination

o domestic violence

o obesity o drugs, health o cosmetic

surgery o suicide

Sociology• Year 1 -orientationIntroduction, Globalisation, Foundations, Social

Inequalities & Research Methods

• Year 2 – theory & applicationContemporary Sociological TheoryLife Course StudiesNew Media / Protest MovementsResearch Project & Placement

• Year 3 - specialist study options egDeath – ‘Madness’ – ‘Race’ & Racism Families – childhood- leisureReligion & Society – climate change Life-style Media – the body – mobilities

Dissertation (10,0000 words)

Dr Kyla Ellis-Sloan

Currently publishing from previous research into teenage parenting

As well as beginning new research into breast feeding advice

The Problem: Breastfeeding is currently presented as the morally correct choice for new mothers Formula feeding is presented as a morally dubious choice and potentially harmful for the health and wellbeing of babies

BUT academic research questions the evidence behind these constructions

AND there is evidence that current advice leaves breastfeeding mothers feeling pressured, guilty and lacking unbiased and full information.

Teenage Mothers, Stigma and Their 'Presentations of Self’ (published February 2014Stigma and Teenage Mothers (published March 2014Understanding Teenage Motherhood through Feminist Research: A reflection on the challenges (due for publication November 2014)Group Support for Teenage Parents: Why one-to-one is not enough (currently writing)

Areas of interest: Teenage pregnancy, sex, motherhood, parenting, families and social inequalities (particularly class and gender)

James Ormrod

THE SOCIOLOGY OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Why do people become activists?Why are people drawn to

supporting particular causes?Are activists always conscious of

their own motivations?

See Ormrod, J.S. (2014) Fantasy and Social Movements, Palgrave

Macmillan

THE SOCIOLOGY OF OUTER SPACE

How do different societies understand the universe?

In what ways is contemporary social life dependent on space

technology?Who benefits from space

technology?

See Dickens, P. & Ormrod, J.S. (2009) Cosmic Society, Routledge

SPACE-RELATED SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

See recent journal articles on the ‘pro-space movement’ (activists promoting the

exploration, development and settlement of outer space) and the ‘outer space protection

movement’

Mark Erickson – sociology of science, sociology of work, sociological theory

• Recent books– Globalization and work (2014)– Business in society (2009)– The sociology of Wilhelm

Baldamus (2010)• Current research

– Long term ethnography of molecular microbiology laboratories

– Writing 2nd edition of Science, Culture and Society (2005)

Neil Curry – Senior Lecturer in SociologyResearch interests are concerned with Developments in Marxist Theory and the relationship between Critical Realism and Sociology:

‘Filling the Void: Post-Marxism?’ Capital and Class, No 88. Spring (2006): 160-164.   'Lost in Transit: Reconceptualisng the Real' in J. Joseph., and J M. Roberts, (eds) Realism, Discourse and Deconstruction, London: Routledge (2003): 137 –150. 'Critical Realism: Beyond the Marxism/Post-Marxism divide' in A. Brown,. S. Fleetwood, and JM, Roberts (eds) Critical Realism and Marxism, (2002): 116 – 130. 

Currently working on the following projects:

‘The Meaning of Freedom Today – Bhaskar, Critical Realism and Freedom’ currently being written for Journal of Critical Realism. ‘Guerrilla Gardening and the persistence of Material Politics’ article currently being in written for Capital and Class Journal. 

Lesley Murray - ResearchResearch interests• Mobilities - Contributing to and critiquing aspects of the ‘mobilities paradigm’, • Visual sociology and visual methods• urban spaces, gender and generation– age in relation to spaces of age and

other agesCurrent projects

• Book: Representing Mobilities• Visualising therapeutic spaces research bid• Disruption project RCUK funded project (£1.3m)• Sharing urban spaces – EU Horizons 2020 bid• Intergenerational mobilities – conference papers

Recent publications

• Murray, L. and Upstone, S. 2014. Researching and Representing mobilities: transdisciplinary encounters Palgrave Macmillan (forthcoming)

• Murray, L. and Mand, K. 2013, Travelling near and far: placing children's mobile emotions. Emotion, Space and Society 9: 72-79

• Murray, L. 2012. Online opportunities for mobile and visual research methodologies, in Silva, C.N. (ed.) Online Research Methods in Urban and Planning Studies: Design and Outcomes. IGI-Global.

Natalie Pitimson My research interests centre around

the sociology of death and dying, as well as the sociology of the internet. My research draws on themes, methods and ideas present in both death and technology research.

Forthcoming publications: Pitimson, N. (2013/14) (Forthcoming) ‘Death to

All Who Press Enter Here – The Role of Social Networking sites in contemporary grief’ in Sociological Research Online

Pitimson, N. (2013/14) (Forthcoming) ‘Killing Time – Making space for death’ in Media, Culture and Society

Book contract agreed with Palgrave – Death and Society Due for completion December 2015

Jayne RaisboroughLifestyle media and reality TVObesity and healthSocial representations of ageingCosmetic surgery and the bodySexuality/genderEthical consumptionSerious leisureSocial class

My work explores how reality TV shows may help or hinderthis spread of weightism. I analyse the showsthemselves and then using innovative methods to see howaudiences make sense of them.

I am currently writing my next book called 'fat bodies’, health and the media. I am also interested in cosmetic surgery, especially anti-ageing surgery. These interests inform my teaching at first and third year.

Weightism or fatphobia are on the increase and it seems that we feel it ok to act in a prejuidical and hurtful way to people of weight

Employability• Transferrable Skills:

• Communication, writing, research, analytical, data gathering, time management, team-work, confidence, presentation, self motivating

• Job Skills:• Community Participation, Volunteer Opportunities, School

Ambassadors

• Vocation, Vocation, Vocation:• Not vocational employment pathways but offers a range of options

Career opportunities• Social Work• Social enterprises• Environmental management• Teaching• Voluntary sector• Research• Youth justice• Police• Postgraduate study• Social Services• Administration