Impact

How is our research having impact in the community?

Our School has a strong commitment to the University of Chester mission to serve and improve the communities within which we live and work. Much of our research is on the application of psychology to change and understand behaviour in the real world, and it is important to us that we see the difference that our work is making. Here are just a few examples of how our research is demonstrating a positive impact on our local, national and global communities:

Professor Nick Hulbert-Williams work in psychosocial oncology has led to a better understanding of who may be most at risk of psychological distress following a cancer diagnosis, and how we might better support them in dealing with this stressful event. We are working closely with a number of NHS Trusts and with Maggie’s Centres in the UK, with CanTeen and the PeterMac Cancer Centre in Australia, and with a number of Provincial-based Cancer Care teams across Canada to develop and implement Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based communication skills training to improve the care provided to those affected by cancer diagnosis and treatment around the world.

Associate Professor Michelle Mattison’s research into memory and police interviewing has led to greater insight of the needs of vulnerable witnesses and has led to improvements in interviewing techniques available to police officers. This research has been endorsed by The Advocate’s Gateway and presented to police officers and criminal justice practitioners across the UK, Europe and Australia. Working in collaboration with Professor Cooper the research was shortlisted as ‘International Collaboration of the Year’ by the Times Higher Education Awards (2017) and 'International Partnership' by the Educate North Awards (2018).

Professor Moira Lafferty’s research into initiation activities in sport has resulted in the development of the Challenging Hazing and Negative Group Events in Sport (CHANGES) Intervention portfolio which was shortlisted for an Educate North Award in 2016. Delivered to over 1000 student sport officers in the United Kingdom, this stream of work has resulted in partnerships with British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) and Scottish Student Sport. The research has informed National Policy and resulted in invitations to participate in work with National Governing Bodies for Sport.