Who am I?

I am a Lecturer in Childhood and Education Studies. I teach, I research and I use this research to feed into my teaching.  

My research is centred around exploring aspects of children and young people’s lives – their accounts of health and family life and their education - with a view to informing practice. The applied and interdisciplinary nature of my research has enabled me to share young people’s insights within fields where their views have traditionally been silenced. My research emphasises the need to listen to children and young people, involve them in their education and health care and provide greater support to them in difficult circumstances.

I began my career as a researcher on national evaluations of educational and community initiatives at the National Foundation for Educational Research and then Sheffield Hallam University.

I joined the University of Sheffield in 2006 to undertake my doctoral research for which I sought the perspectives of children and young people receiving treatment for cleft lip and/or palate, using narrative and participatory approaches. I was then a Research Associate on projects which explored young people’s perspectives of dental treatment and dental appearance and health care evaluations.

My interests in health and experience of narrative and child centred approaches led me to my role as a researcher on the Alzheimer’s Society funded study, ‘The Perceptions and Experiences of Children and Young People Who Have a Parent With Dementia’, based in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield. I continue to publish in this area and am looking to take this work forward. Most recently, I carried out research on the motivations and barriers to shared reading with pre-school children as part of an ESRC funded project.

I joined Manchester Metropolitan University in 2017. I am the unit lead for Applied Social Research and year lead for Level 6. 

How I’ll teach you

My teaching takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on sociology, disability studies, education studies, cultural studies and importantly, empirical research as well as contemporary material. I encourage students to reflect on their own experiences and expertise where relevant and appropriate. Delivery centres around interactive sessions.

I am committed to research based teaching and my extensive career has afforded me a wealth of ‘real world’ experience to draw upon, as well as knowledge and theory to support student learning and development. My teaching is informed by my substantial knowledge of research design and practice. 

Academic and professional qualifications

PhD Children’s Accounts of the Cleft Lip and Palate Care Pathway
Supervisors: Prof Allison James, Prof Barry Gibson & Prof Helen Rodd
University of Sheffield (2006-2010)

PGCert Higher Education
University of Sheffield (2007-2009)

MA Social Policy
The Open University (completed part time, via distance learning) (2002-2005)

BA (Hons) Social Policy (First Class)
University of Lincoln (1998-2001)

Previous employment

Research Associate, School of Education, University of Sheffield (2014-2017)

Research Associate, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield (2009-2014)

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield (2007-2009)

Research Associate, Centre for Regional, Economic & Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University (2004-2006)

Research Officer, National Foundation for Educational Research (2001-2004)

Why study Education and Childhood Studies?

Undergraduate courses

BA in Education Studies

BA in Early Years and Childhood Studies

Postgraduate supervision (completed/in progress)

Masters in Education

Doctororal research

Research expertise

Understanding the motivations and barriers to shared reading with young children. University of Sheffield, ESRC. PI: Dr Rachael Levy (2016-2017)

Understanding the Perceptions & Experiences of Children and Young People who have a Parent With Dementia. University of Sheffield, Alzheimer’s Society. PI: Professor Pat Sikes (2014-2017)

Information needs of children regarding orthodontic (braces) treatment. University of Sheffield/University of Central London. PI: Prof Philip Benson (2010-2013)

Incentive: improving the organisation and delivery of dental health care to patients. NIHR, University of Sheffield/University of Leeds. PI: Prof Sue Pavitt (2011-2013)

A review of special care dentistry services in Derbyshire. University of Sheffield, Derbyshire PCT. PI: Prof Peter Robinson & Dr Zoe Marshman (2010-2011)

FiCTION Trial - Filling Children's Teeth: Indicated or Not? University of Sheffield, NIHR. PIs: Prof Chris Deery, Dr Zoe Marshman and Prof Helen Rodd (2010)

Children’s Accounts of Undergoing a Dental General Anaesthetic. University of Sheffield, NHS Sheffield. PI: Dr Mel Hall (2009-2011)

Oral Health Needs Assessment of Adults and Children with Learning Disabilities. University of Sheffield, NHS Sheffield. PIs: Dr Mel Hall and Dr Jan Owens (2009-2011)

Behind the smile’ – the experiences of children making the transition to secondary school. Sheffield Hospitals Charitable Trust. PI: Dr Zoe Marshman (2009)

National Evaluation of New Deal for Communities, Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. Sheffield Hallam University. (2004-2006)

Excellence in Cities Evaluation. NFER, DfES. (2001-2003)

Academic collaborations

Publications

Hall, M., Levy, R. and Preece, J., (2018). “No-one would sleep if we didn’t have books!”: Understanding shared reading as family practice and family display. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 16(4), pp.363-377.

Sikes, P. and Hall, M., (2018). The impact of parental young onset dementia on children and young people's educational careers. British Educational Research Journal, 44(4), pp.593-607.

Hall, M. & Sikes, P. (2017) ‘It would be easier if she’d died’: young people with parents with dementia articulating inadmissible stories. Qualitative Health Research. Vol. 27(8) pp.1203–1214. Open access

Sikes, P. & Hall, M. (2017) ‘Every time I see him he’s the worst he’s ever been and the best he’ll ever be’: grief and sadness in children and young people who have a parent with dementia. Mortality. Open access

Hall, M. & Sikes, P.. (2016) How do young people 'do' family where there is a diagnosis of dementia? Journal of Family, Relationships and Societies. Open access

Hall, M. & Sikes, P. (2016) ‘What the hell is going on?’ to the ‘Mushy middle ground’ to ‘getting used to a new normal’: Young people’s biographical narratives around navigating parental dementia. Illness, Crisis and Loss. Open access

Sikes, P. & Hall, M. (2016)  “It was then that I thought ‘whaat? This is not my Dad”: The implications of the ‘still the same person’ narrative for children and young people who have a parent with dementia. Dementia. Open access

Patel, N., Hodges, S.J., Hall, M., Benson, P.E., Marshman, Z. & Cunningham, S.J., (2016) Development of the Malocclusion Impact Questionnaire (MIQ) to measure the oral health-related quality of life of young people with malocclusion: part 1–qualitative inquiry. Journal of Orthodontics pp.1-7

Pavitt, S.H., Baxter, P.D., Brunton, P.A., Douglas, G.V.A., Edlin, R., Gibson, B.J., Godson, J., Hall, M., Porritt, J., Robinson, P.G., Vinall, K.A. & Hulme, C.T. (2014) The INCENTIVE protocol. An evaluation of the organisation and delivery of NHS dental health care to patients, innovation in the commissioning of primary dental care service delivery and organisation in the UK. British Medical Journal

Marshman, Z., Hall, M., Deery, C. & Rodd, H.D. (2014) 'I felt weird and wobbly': Child-reported impacts associated with a dental general anaesthetic. British Dental Journal

Flett, A.M.C., Hall, M., McCarthy, C., Marshman, Z. & Benson, P.E. (2014) Does the British Orthodontic Society orthognathic DVD aid decision-making? A qualitative study, Journal of Orthodontics

Hall, M., Gibson, B., James, A. & Rodd, H.D. (2013) Children's and adolescent's perspectives on cleft lip and/or palate. Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal Vol 50(2) pp.e18-e26

Hall, M. (2013) Summary of: The behaviour of preschool children receiving fluoride varnish application in a community setting. British Dental Journal 215, pp.340-341

Porritt, J., Buchanan, H., Hall, M., Gilchrist, F. & Marshman, Z. (2013) Assessing children’s dental anxiety: A systematic review of current measures. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology Vol. 41 pp.130–142

Rodd, H.D., Marshman, Z., Hal,l M., Gibson, B.J. & Deery, C. (2013) Video diaries to capture children’s participation in the dental GA pathway. International Journal for Quality in Healthcare

Hall, M., Gibson, B., James, A. & Rodd, H.D. (2012) Children’s experiences of participation in the cleft lip and palate care pathway. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry Nov 22(6) pp.442-50

Yesudian, G., Hall, M. & Marshman, Z. (2012) The oral health experiences of children with learning disabilities in special schools in Sheffield. Journal of Disability and Oral Health 13(2) pp.45-50

Marshman, Z., Innes, N.P., Deery, C.H., Hall, M.J., Speed, C., Douglas, G.V., Clarkson, J.E. & Rodd, H.D. (2012) The management of dental caries in primary teeth - involving service providers and users in the design of a trial. Trials  Aug 22(13)

Marshman, Z., Baker, S.R., Bradbury, J., Hall, M. & Rodd, H.D. (2009) The impact of oral health during the educational transition. European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry Vol. 10 pp176-180

Marshman, Z. & Hall, M.J. (2008) Oral health research with children. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 18(4)  pp.235-242

Chapters in books

Hall, M., Pahl, K. & Pool, S. (2015) Visual Digital Methodologies With Children and Young People in Practice, in Stirling, E. And Yamada-Rice, D. Using Visual Methods with Children and Young People. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan

Publications

• Journal articles

  M. Hall, R. Levy, J. Preece (2018). ‘No-one would sleep if we didn’t have books!’: Understanding Shared Reading as Family Practice and Family Display. Journal of Early Childhood Research. 16(4), pp.363-377.

  MJ. Hall, P. Sikes (2018). The impact of parental young onset dementia on children and young people’s educational careers. British Educational Research Journal. 44(4), pp.593-607.

  P. Sikes, M. Hall (2017). ‘Every time I see him he’s the worst he’s ever been and the best he’ll ever be’: grief and sadness in children and young people who have a parent with dementia. Mortality. 22(4), pp.324-338.

  M. Hall, P. Sikes (2017). “It Would Be Easier If She’d Died”: Young People With Parents With Dementia Articulating Inadmissible Stories. Qualitative Health Research. 27(8), pp.1203-1214.

  P. Sikes, M. Hall "It was then that I thought 'whaat? This is not my Dad": The implications of the 'still the same person narrative for children and young people who have a parent with dementia. Dementia. 17(2), pp.180-198.

  M. Hall, P. Sikes (2016). How do young people ‘do’ family where there is a diagnosis of dementia?. Families, Relationships and Societies.

  M. Hall, P. Sikes (2016). From “What the Hell Is Going on?” to the “Mushy Middle Ground” to “Getting Used to a New Normal”. Illness, Crisis and Loss. 26(2), pp.124-144.

Invited papers

Hall, M. ‘Your Mum has dementia? My Granny has that’ - the challenge of carrying out research with young people with relation to dementia. British Sociological Association, Youth Study Group, Leeds (June 2017)

Hall, M. & Sikes, P. Children and adolescents’ perceptions and experience of living with parental dementia: findings and methodological reflections. The Centre for the Study of Childhood and Youth International Conference (July 2016)

Hall, M. & Sikes, P. The identities of young people with a parent with dementia. Alzheimer’s Disease International Conference, Budapest (April 2016)

Hall, M. Everytime I see him he’s the best he’ll ever be and the worst he’ll ever be: interpretations of time and the trajectory of dementia. Qualitative Health Research Conference, Toronto (October 2015)

Hall, M. Ethical considerations for the use of digital media for research with children and young people. The Centre for the Study of Childhood and Youth International Conference (July 2016)

Hall, M., Marshman, Z., Deery, C., Rodd, H. & Gilchrist, F. Children’s Accounts of Dental Treatment Under General Anaesthetic. International Association of Paediatric Dentistry Conference, Athens (June 2011)

Hall, M., Marshman, Z. & Owens, J. The oral health of adults with learning disabilities in Sheffield. British Society for Oral and Dental Research: University of Sheffield (2011)

Hall, M. Accounts of Congenital Conditions: cleft stories and negotiated memories. British Sociological Association, Medical Sociology Group, Durham (3rd September 2010)

Hall, M.J., Rodd,H.D., Gibson, B.J., Stern, M. & James, A. A child-centred approach to seeking children’s experiences of cleft lip and palate. International Association of Paediatric Dentistry Conference (June 2009)

Hall, M.J. (2008) Children’s Accounts of the Cleft Lip and Palate Care Pathway. Centre for the Study of Childhood and Youth 2nd International Conference, ‘Re-Presenting Childhood And Youth’, Sheffield (8th-10th July 2008)

Expert reviewer for journals and publishers

• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Research & Method in Education
• Qualitative Research Journal
• International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
• Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal
• NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Scheme
• Childhoods Today
• Journal of Illness, Crisis & Loss

Prizes and awards

Personal Tutor of the Year 2019, Student Union awards, MMU