Dr David Calvey
Senior Lecturer
My profile
Biography
Three Words to Describe Me: Committed, Sceptical, Collegial.
I have spent a number of years training in different martial arts, which, injuries permitting, I intend to continue. I also intend to take up sea kayaking soon. Most of my time is blissfully taken up as a new father with my baby daughter Mabel, who is a bundle of joy.
I’m interested in undercover research in the social sciences. I have been intellectually intrigued by studies of deception for a number of years and have published and taught in this area.
I’ve also studied bouncers in the nocturnal environment as a study of a stereotype of masculinity in their role as gatekeeper/regulator of after-dark city spaces.
Another research interest is resistance and disobedience at work, both in corporate call centres and micro creative business contexts. I’ve looked into Ethnographic Methodology and forms of auto-ethnography; Ethnomethodology as a form of social theory; extreme lifestyles such as combat sports and lastly, humour studies, particularly polemic stand-up comedy.
Words of wisdom
My advice is to be passionate about what you study and put your heart and soul into the three years spent at MMU.
Academic and professional qualifications
Registered Practitioner of the Higher Education Academy, Membership No 4742, January 2006 (formerly the Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, membership from March 2000)
Education
1990-1994 PhD Sociology - University of Manchester - Thesis - ‘The Organisation of Work Culture: The Case of a High-Tech Salesforce’ (ESRC Competition Award, R00428924036)
1988-1989 MSc Management Science - UMIST - Dissertation - ‘The Labour Process Debate’. Courses followed: Industrial Relations, Organisational Psychology, Industrial Sociology, Personnel Management, Research Methodology (ESRC Committee Award, F00428711039)
1984-1987 BA (Hons) History & Sociology (2:1) - University of Manchester - Dissertation - ‘Positivism’ - Baron Boules University Memorial Prize for Final Year Sociology Work
Other academic service (administration and management)
- Year 3 Tutor, Combined Honours (1/9/01-ongoing)
- Convenor, Sociology Teaching Circle (1/10/04-ongoing)
- Convener IRG (Interaction Research Group, formerly KORG) (1/9/05-ongoing)
- Associate Lecturer Co-ordinator, Sociology Department (1/9/05-ongoing)
- Departmental Representative, Faculty Board (1/10/04-ongoing)
- Departmental Research Committee member, Sociology Department (10/1/07-ongoing)
- Member (co-opted 11/06), University Academic Ethics Committee (UAEC)
Expert reviewer for external funding bodies
Sociology, British Journal of Sociology, Discourse Studies, The Sociological Review, Contemporary Sociology, Sociological Research Online, Media, Culture and Society.
Visiting and honorary positions
1996, September, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Brisbane, University of Queensland
Membership of professional associations
Registered Practitioner of the Higher Education Academy, Membership No 4742, January 2006 (formerly the Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, membership from March 2000)
Teaching
Why do I teach?
In my professional work at MMU, my main priority is passing on intellectual knowledge in a democratic way. MMU is a genuine community university with a diverse study body rather than an elite institution of privilege.
Another motivation is the sharing of critical ideas and experiences between students and colleagues in a learning community. It’s important for students to develop types of critical thinking and citizenship that reflect on the society we live in. By doing this, they’ll take a positive and responsible role in shaping society in the future.
How I’ll teach you
My approach to teaching and learning is student-centred. Although I have an expert knowledge in Sociology, it is vital to actively listen to the student voice and connect with them. In this way, they’ll have an ownership of the knowledge and ideas they’re learning.
An empowering and trusting teaching environment enables students to progress in a cooperative yet competitive manner. I employ a playful teaching method so that the students don’t feel preached to but engaged with. We can be practical and structured about their learning without being patronising or severe.
I’d describe my teaching style as collaborative, creative, and playful.
Subject areas
Sociology
Research outputs
Organisation Theory, Critical Management Studies, Popular Cultural Studies, Ethnography, Ethnomethodology, Interactionism, Covert Social Research, Philosophical Methodology, Security work and the Night-time Economy, Gangs, Recreational Drug Cultures, Club Cultures
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Calvey, D. (2017) Covert Research The Art, Politics and Ethics of Undercover Fieldwork. Sage Publications Limited.
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Chapters in books
Calvey, D. (2022) 'Deception, situated ethics and police ethnography.' Routledge International Handbook of Police Ethnography. Routledge,
Calvey, D. (2021) 'Covert Research.' SAGE Research Methods Foundations. SAGE Publications Limited,
Calvey, D. (2021) 'Covert Participant Observation.' The Encyclopedia of Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Volume II: Parts 5-8. pp. 386-389.
Calvey, D. (2020) 'Deception: Its Use and Abuse in the Social Sciences.' In Iphofen, R. (ed.) Handbook of Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity. New York: Springer,
Calvey, D. (2019) 'A sociological case of stand-up comedy: Censorship, offensiveness and opportunism.' The Lost Ethnographies: Methodological Insights From Projects That Never Were. Emerald Publishing,
Calvey, D. (2019) 'Covert Research.' In Atkinson, P., Delamont, S., Cernat, A., Sakshaug, J.W., Williams, R.A. (ed.) SAGE Research Methods Foundations. SAGE,
Calvey, D. (2018) 'Covert: The Fear and Fascination of a Methodological Pariah.' In Iphofen, R., Tolich, M. (ed.) The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research Ethics. SAGE Publications Limited,
Calvey, D. (2013) 'Creativity in action: Creative multimedia SMEs in Manchester.' Small and Medium Enterprises: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications. pp. 65-78.
Calvey, D. (2011) 'Creativity in action: creative multimedia SMEs in Manchester.'
Calvey, D., Russell, D., Banks, M. (2003) 'How e-learning businesses meet client and end user needs: analysing the collaborative contexts.' Educational Innovation in Economics and Business Pedagogy, Technology and Innovation VIII. Kluwer Academic Publishers,
Calvey, D. (2000) 'Getting on the door and staying there: A covert participation Observational Study of bouncers'.' Danger in the Field Risk and Ethics in Social Research. Routledge,
Calvey, D., Hughes, J., Hughes, J.A., O' Brien, J., Rodden, T., Rouncefield, M. (1997) 'On Becoming a DNP user: Some Reflections on the Developing Use of a Computer.' IRIS (Information Systems Research in Scandinavia),
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Internet publications
Calvey, D. (2018) Covert Ethnography in Criminal Justice and Criminology: The Controversial Tradition of Doing Undercover Fieldwork. doi:%2010.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.013.296.
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Journal articles
Calvey, D. (2021) 'Sensory ethnography: a creative turn.' Journal of Organizational Ethnography, 10(3) pp. 346-357.
Calvey, D. (2020) 'Being on both sides: Covert ethnography and partisanship with bouncers in the night-time economy.' Journal of Organizational Ethnography, 10(1) pp. 50-64.
Laverick, W., Joyce, P., Calvey, D., Cain, L. (2019) 'The menopause and the female police workforce.' British Journal of Community Justice, 15(2) pp. 59-81.
Calvey, D. (2019) 'The everyday world of bouncers: a rehabilitated role for covert ethnography.' Qualitative Research, 19(3) pp. 1-16.
Calvey, D. (2016) 'Images of the American City by Anselm Strauss.' Qualitative Research, 16(4) pp. 481-483.
Calvey, D. (2014) 'Anthropology in the City: Methodology and Theory.' QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, 14(2)
Calvey, D. (2013) 'Covert ethnography in criminology: A submerged yet creative tradition.' Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 25(1)
Calvey, D. (2011) ''The Enduring Legacy of Urban Ethnography: Myth and Reality' and 'Urban Ethnography: Its Traditions and its Futures'..' QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, 11(2) pp. 214-217.
Calvey, D. (2010) 'The Subject of Anthropology: Gender, Symbolism and Psychoanalysis.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 44(6) pp. 1210-1212.
Calvey, D. (2010) 'Culture and Society: An Introduction to Cultural Studies.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 44(4) pp. 784-785.
Calvey, D. (2010) 'Advertising in Modern and Postmodern Times.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 44(3) pp. 591-593.
Calvey, D. (2010) 'Barriers to Re-entry? The Labour Market for Released Prisoners in Post-industrial America.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 44(1) pp. 161-164.
Calvey, D. (2010) 'What Works in Corrections: Reducing the Criminal Activities of Offenders and Delinquents.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 44(1) pp. 161-164.
Calvey, D. (2010) 'Joint Review: D.L. MacKenzie What Works in Corrections: Reducing the Criminal Activities of Offenders and Delinquents Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006, £45.00 hbk (ISBN: 9-780521-806459), xi+391 pp. S. Bushway, M.A. Stoll and D.F. Weiman (eds) Barriers to Re-entry? The Labour Market for Released Prisoners in Post-industrial America New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2006, £37.50 hbk (ISBN: 978-0-87154-087-4), xii+336 pp.' Sociology, 44(1) pp. 161-164.
Calvey, D. (2009) 'Street Justice: Retaliation in the Criminal Underworld.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 43(3) pp. 587-588.
Calvey, D. (2008) 'The art and politics of covert research: Doing 'situated ethics' in the field.' Sociology, 42(5) pp. 905-918.
Calvey, D. (2006) 'Caribbean drugs: From criminalization to harm reduction.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 40(3) pp. 585-586.
Calvey, D. (2005) 'Hooked on heroin: Drugs and drifters in a globalized world.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 39(3) pp. 564-565.
Calvey, D. (2005) 'New technologies at work: People, screens and social virtuality.' MEDIA CULTURE & SOCIETY, 27(2) pp. 309-310.
Calvey, D. (2004) 'In search of respect: Selling crack in El Barrio, 2nd edition.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 38(5) pp. 1049-1051.
Calvey, D. (2004) 'Gangs and delinquency in developmental perspective.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 38(5) pp. 1049-1051.
Calvey, D. (2004) 'The 11 myths of media violence.' MEDIA CULTURE & SOCIETY, 26(6) pp. 901-902.
Calvey, D. (2004) 'Interactionism.' SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 38(4) pp. 842-844.
Calvey, D. (2004) 'Interpretive interactionism.' SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ONLINE, 9(3)
Calvey, D. (2004) 'Longitudinal qualitative research: Analyzing change through time.' CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY-A JOURNAL OF REVIEWS, 33(3) pp. 377-378.
Calvey, D. (2004) 'Dark Paradise: a history of opiate addiction in America.' DRUGS-EDUCATION PREVENTION AND POLICY, 11(2) pp. 185-187.
Calvey, D. (2004) 'Bouncers: Violence and governance in the night-time economy.' BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY, 55(1) pp. 149-150.
Calvey, D. (2004) 'Qualitative analysis: Practice and innovation.' CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY-A JOURNAL OF REVIEWS, 33(1) pp. 123-124.
Calvey, D. (2003) 'Ethnomethodology's program: Working out Durkheim's aphorism.' SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW, 51(3) pp. 428-430.
Russell, D., Calvey, D., Banks, M. (2003) 'Creating new learning communities: Towards effective e-learning production.' Journal of Workplace Learning, 15(1) pp. 34-44.
Calvey, D. (2002) 'Critique and radical discourses on crime..' DISCOURSE & SOCIETY, 13(4) pp. 573-574.
Banks, M., Calvey, D., Owen, J., Russell, D. (2002) 'Where the art is: Defining and managing creativity in new media SMEs.' Creativity and Innovation Management, 11(4) pp. 255-264.
Calvey, D. (1999) 'Tricks of the trade.' British Journal of Sociology, 50(1) pp. 171-173.
Calvey, D. (1999) 'Understanding gender and organizations.' BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY, 50(1) pp. 160-161.
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Conference papers
Russell, D., Calvey, D., Banks, M. (2004) 'How e-learning businesses meet client and end user needs: Analysing the collaborative contexts.' In 8th Conference on Educational Innovation in Economics and Business. 8. Nice, FRANCE, 19/6/2001 - 21/6/2001. Ottewill, R., Borredon, L., Falque, L., Macfarlane, B., Wall, A. (ed.) SPRINGER, pp. 3-17.