Dr Jo Ashby BSc; PhD
Head of the Department of Psychology
My profile
Biography
Head of the Department of Psychology
Academic and professional qualifications
Since graduating with a first class honours degree in Psychology at the University of Huddersfield in 2002, I have worked on numerous research projects within the field of Social and Applied Health Psychology.
I am a fully qualified teacher with a PGCE awarded in 2005. In 2007 I joined the Division of Psychology at the University of Bradford and obtained my PhD, which was funded by the NHS and aimed to investigate the delivery of a coercive treatment program for offenders with alcohol misuse problems. I publish in the area of substance misuse treatment and long term recovery.
I have gained extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods but have a particular interest in qualitative research methodology. I also have a particular interest in narrative psychology and dialogical psychology.
• Understanding the relational aspect of behaviour change
• Stories of long-term recovery from substance misuse
• Individual narratives of community treatment
Other academic service (administration and management)
Member of the Academic Board
Member of Faculty Executive Group
Member of the Substance and Addicted Behaviours (SUAB) research group
Interests and expertise
I have over 15 years of authentic leadership experience. I am particularly interested in what facilitates a fearless team ethos that enables creativity to shape what we do. I take a strengths based leadership approach to developing others and I am proud of the work we do to support career progression. As Head of a large Department I am privileged to lead a dynamic team.
We are a highly driven team and our clear vision is to be leaders in Human adaptation and to offer a transformational student experience.
I am a member of the Faculty of Health and Education’s Executive Group and a Member of the University’s Academic Board.
Teaching
Why study…
I currently supervise a range of PhD students (6 in total) who each have unique and interesting research projects ranging from forensic research regarding staff-prisoner relationships to health researh surrounding men’s health and cancer. Each project is qualitatively driven and draws on critical social psychology in order to understand in depth, people’s experiences. These projects are challenging but have the ability to bring about new and complex ideas around relational aspects of behaviour that have impactful outcomes.
Subject areas
Exploring and understanding substance misuse, treatment and behaviour change
Research outputs
My research involves taking a pragmatic approach in order to understand the complex nature of treatment and addiction and consequently has experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. I am currently involved in further research with West Yorkshire Probation Service which aims to explore the efficacy of coercive alcohol treatment involving the exploration of reoffending rates for those who received treatment.
My research interests are based within the field of social and health psychology. I have a specific interest in substance misuse and community treatment, particularly alcohol misuse, and how treatment programs have the potential to bring about positive behaviour change. Recently I conducted a research project aimed to explore the delivery of a treatment program for offenders with alcohol misuse problems. I have gained extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative research methodsbut have a particular interest in qualitative research methodology. More specifically I have explored the value of qualitative observational methods in providing unique insights into the interaction that occurs during treatment encounters. I am currently writing in the area of:
- Coercive treatment and behaviour change
- Understanding the relational aspect of behaviour change
- Reoffending rates as ‘outcome’ data for treatment efficacy
I have also worked on a wide range of funded projects related to applied health and well-being including:
- Drug Testing and Treatment Orders for offenders in West Yorkshire
- Community nursing and palliative care
- Emancipatory research involving disabled people in the Bradford community
- Understanding work-life balance and well being
- Mothers’ experiences of the ‘Birth Centre’
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Chapters in books
Wright, S., Clayson, A., Ashby, J. (2022) 'Death is not an abstract now: approaching end of life as someone using substances.' Substance Use, End-of-Life Care and Multiple Deprivation. Routledge,
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Reports
Ashby, J.L., Wilkinson, P. ‘It’s good that you are listening to our views because we’ve all got them’ The voice of disabled people: An evaluation of service provision in the Bradford Metropolitan District’..
Ashby, J., Wright, S., Galvani, S. (2018) Interviews with people at the end of life: End of Life Care for People with Alcohol and Drug Problems: Research Briefing No. 3. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Ashby, J., Wright, S., Galvani, S. (2018) RESEARCH REPORT Interviews with people at the end of life: End of Life Care for People with Alcohol and Drug Problems.
Ashby, J.L., Horrocks, C., Redfern, D., Marks, G. (2015) ‘Working practices, work-life balance and well-being: investigating employees’ experiences of the Compressed Hours Pilot Scheme’.
Ashby, J.L., Horrocks, C., Kelly, N. (2009) ‘Delivering the Alcohol Treatment Requirement in Wakefield: Phase Two’.. : http://hdl.handle.net/10454/3957.
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Journal articles
Walker, J., Ashby, J., Gredecki, N., Tarpey, E. (2017) 'Gender representations of female perpetrators of intimate partner violence.' Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 10(3) pp. 170-180.
Ashby, J., Horrocks, C. (2013) 'Coercive treatment for alcohol misuse: An interactive and relational analysis.' British Journal of Community Justice, 10(3) pp. 23-39.
Ashby, J., Horrocks, C., Kelly, N. (2011) 'Delivering the alcohol treatment requirement: Assessing the outcomes and impact of coercive treatment for alcohol misuse.' Probation Journal, 58(1) pp. 52-67.
King, N., Melvin, J., Ashby, J., Firth, J. (2010) 'Community palliative care: Role perception.' British Journal of Community Nursing, 15(2) pp. 91-98.
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Conference papers
Galvani, S., Webb, L., Yarwood, G.A., Wright, S., Dance, C., Ashby, J., Templeton, L., Clayson, A., Higgs, P. (2019) 'SYMPOSIUM: WHO CARES? PALLIATIVE AND END OF LIFE CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO USE, OR HAVE USED, SUBSTANCES.' 38. WILEY,
Ashby, J., Horrocks, C. (2010) 'Behaviour change: Offering a contextual account of 'coercive' treatment for alcohol misuse.' 25. TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, pp. 149-149.
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Other
Galvani, S., Tetley, J., Haigh, C., Webb, L., Ashby, J., Witham, G., Peacock, M., Wright, S., Templeton, L., Duncan, F. (2016) Hear me now: Family experiences of end of life care for people using alcohol and drugs.
Press and media
We are proud of our Work Integrated Learning project on pupil wellbeing.
https://mmutube.mmu.ac.uk/media/t/1_94wvczqm
We are also proud of our student support facilities and our transformative ‘Psychology Central’