Georgie Parry-Crooke

Georgie Parry-Crooke

I came to the university some ten years ago on a half-time basis following a career working as a social research and evaluation practitioner. My teaching here at London Metropolitan has primarily focused on social research methodology and evaluation theory and practice. As one of a small team within the sociology area of DASS, my role has included teaching undergraduate courses with sociology and social policy students participating as well as developing postgraduate courses which attract individuals from public and voluntary sector agencies as well as international students. I have also been involved in the development of the university’s research ethics framework and maintain my interest in how research ethics can be embedded in research and research teaching.

Although I am a social research methodology lecturer, I believe that it is vital to practice what I am teaching about. Hence, I also carry out research and evaluation. My research interests have been concerned with health, mental health and women although I have undertaken work in many related areas such as with older people.

Many of the studies I have been involved in have had a social/health policy focus for example, examining services for homeless women with mental health difficulties and for women in secure settings; and assessing the needs of and options available to homeless women (which won the Tony Denison Award for Research on Single Homelessness 2001). Much of the work I do has involved professionals as well as the end recipients of services, for example, exploring the support needs of primary care staff who work with people with alcohol related problems. The evaluations I have undertaken have often been with small projects or organisations which are developing their own approaches to self-evaluation and I have a particular interest in participatory methods for social research and evaluation studies.

In February 2005, I became the Director of the Masters in Research (a research degree which welcomes students from across different disciplines to study research in their area) and I now have a role within the university’s Graduate School as well as DASS. I have always been involved in professional associations which provide an important forum for social researchers and evaluators including the Social Research Association and the UK Evaluation Society. Until recently, I was a UKES Council member and jointly produced their Guidelines to Good Practice. In 2000, I was elected as an Academician of the Academy of Learned Societies in the Social Sciences.