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Doctoral research topics for 2010-11

We have a number of prospective supervisors who are looking for doctoral researchers in specific areas. Please browse the list below and contact them via email if you have a strong interest in the topic.

Critical Theory and Participatory Governance. Jonathan Davies's research is concerned with political power at the state-society interface. His work employs critical theory (such as Bourdieu and Gramsci) in considering how and why the global explosion of participatory governance mechanisms enrol, or fail to enrol, citizens. How do we know whether citizens are empowered or subordinated in these spaces? Can participatory mechanisms be spheres of resistance? To what extent, ultimately, is participatory governance emancipatory or a form of domination? And, what are the alternatives to it? Jonathan would welcome doctoral research proposals taking up any of these issues, or other related questions. Please contact Jonathan Davies.

Public Involvement and Citizen Engagement. This is a programme of work that focuses on different ways that service users and members of the public engage with the public, private and voluntary sectors to shape and deliver publicly funded services. Public involvement and engagement is an area of policy, particularly in health and social care, that continues to be central to reform and a point of contestation between market-orientated and collectivist discourses. My own work has particularly focused on health care and health systems across the UK, Europe and OECD countries. Please contact Jonathan Tritter.

Cross-disciplinary collaboration in healthcare. This research would focus on the ways in which different forms of expertise and disciplinary knowledge are worked together. It would require adopting a qualitative and proximal ("micro") approach. Applicants should explore the relevant literature and existing studies before contacting Davide Nicolini.

The evolution of pharmacy work. This research would examine the evolution of pharmacy and/or the work and role of pharmacists in the UK. Scope exists for a quasi-historical study informed by a neo-institutional approach or for a more empirical study of the role of pharmacists in the new integrated care team approach. Applicants should explore the relevant literature and existing studies before contacting Davide Nicolini.

The role of brand intangible assets (BIA) in analyst valuations of stocks listed on the stock market. The research seeks to conceptualise and develop an econometric model of the role of BIA in stock valuation by analysing large sets of data. Interested applicants should explore relevant literature in the areas of idiosyncratic risks in finance, behavioural economics, brand equity and perhaps Austrian Economics before contacting Temi Abimbola.

Case study of 'models' of professional identity and expertise within the accountancy profession. Through a lens of professional identity formation, this research would focus on issues relating to the inter-relations between ethicality and competency within strategy and education & training across a number of sites: (large) accountancy firms, professional bodies, tutor firms and academic departments. Interested parties should explore relevant literature before contacting Fiona Anderson-Gough.

Customer misbehaviour. While services research is rich in studies of service efficiency and effectiveness, the study of deviant, dysfunctional or aberrant ÔmisbehaviourÕ by customers is relatively ignored. Research in this area could explore and model a wide range of such behaviours. Interested applicants should explore relevant literature before contacting Lloyd C. Harris.

Emotion(s) and accounting education. This research would collect and analyse data using existing theoretical frameworks of emotions to explore their impact on accounting education and consider the implications of this on the development of accounting identity. Interested applicants should explore relevant literature before contacting Louise Gracia.

Future of trade unions. This research would look at responses by trade unions to the changes in society, work and employment. It might focus on a particular set of responses (organising campaigns, provision of individual services etc.) or a particular process involved (framing collective interests and issues, articulation strategies between different levels of the union). Applicants should explore relevant literature in the area of union renewal and revitalisation before contacting Melanie Simms. Any comparative study should be supported with a clear case as to why the comparison is relevant and how it helps to build a theoretical understanding of the issues involved.