Anton Roberts
Postgraduate Research Assistant
My profile
Biography
Before taking the position here at the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Anton already had an established career within the education system at both primary and secondary level, as well as the care leavers sector. With experience in reaching especially hard to reach, vulnerable young people, ensuring that they achieved academically to the best of their ability. Before entering into academia at the university level, he already held a senior pastoral role, while also studying for his master’s degree at Liverpool University in mental health psychology. Currently, he is continuing his work with hard to reach groups while study for his PhD here at MMU – looking at the intersection of gender/hyper-masculinity and homelessness here in Manchester. Anton is a postgraduate researcher here at the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU), working on a range of projects as required. Currently, he is involved in various programme evaluations relating to the criminal justice system around youth crime and reoffending.
Anton also assists in the day to day running of the British Journal of Community Justice, in both it’s administration and it’s publications. As a researcher here at the PERU, he also contributes to systematic reviews on homelessness and effectiveness of various talking therapies e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy in the CJS. He carries out direct qualitative and quantitative data collection and evaluations, contributes to research bids, literature reviews and report writing in a wide range of academic areas e.g. social policy, criminal justice and mental health, as well as bespoke commissioned research projects from the private sector.
Academic and professional qualifications
Combined honours degree in Philosophy and Human Geography - Manchester Metropolitan University
MSc in Psychology - University of Liverpool
Currently studying for a PhD in ‘The Gendered Nature of Homelessness Communities’ - Manchester Metropolitan University
Impact
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Gender – specifically, how hyper-masculine ideologies are manifested in our behaviour and attitudes
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Criminal Justice System – social policy implications, psychopathy and extremism
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Psychology - mental health, cognitive bias, moral development
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Participatory Research Methods - co-production
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Qualitative Research Methods - ethnographic, phenomenological, grounded and thematic
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Social Network Analysis
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Marginalised/Vulnerable Communities - homelessness
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Research Ethics
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Project Evaluations - YEF
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Systematic Reviews - Campbell
Projects
- Youth Endowment Fund
- British Journal of Community Justice
- Campbell systematic reviews
- Nuffield Foundation - CBT Evaluation
- Back On Track intervention evaluation - Routledge
- PACT - Route 2 Change Prison Programme
Teaching
Previous Teaching Experience:
‘Working with Offenders’ module - (Third year, undergrad) - Course leader Kevin Wong
‘Introduction to Social Theory’ module - (First year. undergrad) - Course leader Susan O’Shea
‘Introduction to Research Methods’ - (First year. undergrad) - Course leader Susan O’Shea & Kate Themen
Research outputs
Journal articles
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Wong K, Morris S, Wallace S, Roberts A, Gray P, Burchell E. Empire Fighting Chance: Boxing-based Mentoring. Feasibility and Pilot Trial Report. (2023)
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Wong K, Morris S, Wallace S, Roberts A, Gray P, Burchell E. Rugby Football League–Inspiring Futures Educate Mentoring Programme: Feasibility and Pilot Trial Report. (2023)
- Journal Article - Co-productive Approaches To Homelessness In England And Wales Beyond The Vagrancy Act 1824 And Public Spaces Protection Order - British Journal of Community Justice (2022)
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O’Leary, C., Teixeira, L., Coren, E., Kiss, Z., Roberts, A., Amitage, H. (2022) ‘PROTOCOL: The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for reducing problematic substance use, improving mental health, and improving housing stability for adults experiencing homelessness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.’ Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(4) pp. e1290-e1290.
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O’Leary, C., Roberts, A., Teixeira, L., Coren, E. (2022) ‘PROTOCOL: The experiences of adults experiencing homelessness when accessing and using psychosocial interventions: A systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis.’ Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(4) pp. e1289-e1289.
Blogs and Book Reviews
- Article - The Double Edge Sword of Hypermasculinity - NextGen (2022) - https://www.nextgenmen.ca/blog/violence-hypermasculinity
- Book Review - Philosophy Behind Bars: Growth and Development in Prison (2021) https://www.internetjournalofcriminology.com/book-reviews
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A. Roberts (2020). Book Review: The criminology of boxing, violence and desistance. British Journal of Community Justice. 16(1),A. Roberts (2020).
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Blog Entry: Don’t just survive, thrive…. Graduate Researcher Blog (2020).
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Reports
Szifris, K., Maruna, S., Roberts, A., Fox, C., Smith, A. Exploring the underling ideas and theories from which cognitive behavioural therapy was developed.
Wong, K., Morris, S., Wallace, S., Roberts, A., Gray, P., Burchell, E. (2023) Empire Fighting Chance: boxing based mentoring: feasibility and pilot trial report. Youth Endowment Fund.
Wong, K., Morris, S., Wallace, S., Roberts, A., Gray, P., Burchell, E. (2023) Rugby Football League – Inspiring Futures Educate Mentoring Programme: feasibility and pilot trial report. Youth Endowment Fund.
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Journal articles
O'Leary, C., Teixeira, L., Coren, E., Kiss, Z., Roberts, A., Amitage, H. (2022) 'PROTOCOL: The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for reducing problematic substance use, improving mental health, and improving housing stability for adults experiencing homelessness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.' Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(4) pp. e1290-e1290.
O'Leary, C., Roberts, A., Teixeira, L., Coren, E. (2022) 'PROTOCOL: The experiences of adults experiencing homelessness when accessing and using psychosocial interventions: A systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis.' Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(4) pp. e1289-e1289.
Roberts, A., Archer, B. (2022) 'Co-productive approaches to homelessness in England and Wales beyond the Vagrancy Act 1824 and Public Spaces Protection Orders.' British Journal of Community Justice, 18(1) pp. 4-20.
Roberts, A. (2020) 'Book Review: The criminology of boxing, violence and desistance.' British Journal of Community Justice, 16(1)
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Other
Roberts, A. (2020) Blog Entry: Don’t just survive, thrive….
Press and media
Academic Film Maker
Latest films:
‘Incels - The Truth Behind the Hate’ (2022) - Is an academic documentary film the investigates the increasing risk of incel extremism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhiOv2W1VAs
‘The Anatomy of Violence’ (2023) - This film explores the complex world of violence in our popular culture, asking how we as a society should respond to the apparent ‘epidemic’ of violence. It’s an academic documentary with a range of researchers from crime to heavy metal.