Research Interests

Thesis Topic: Outcome evaluation in forensic mental health

My research interests focus on how to conduct outcome evaluations within a forensic mental health settings where there is a myriad of procedures and interventions that might influence individual change in those admitted to this type of service.

Historically the evidence base for this population has been considered lacking and needs greater and more robust development to inform interventions. The purpose of my PhD research is to provide an up to date review of the evidence base and investigate the methodological challenges involved in conducting valid evaluations. This includes exploring ways in which the ‘gold standards’ of evaluation methods might be compromised by the reality of applied research but also remedied through the use of alternative methods.

Additional research interests include: process evaluation; single case methodology; groupwork interventions.

Supervised by Dr Fiona Warren and Professor Chris Fife Schaw