William Harvey Building
0845 196 4101
Carol.Munn-Giddings@anglia.ac.uk

Qualifications & Memberships

• PhD in Social Policy, University of Loughborough, 2003
• MA in Social Policy and Administration (Distinction), Goldsmiths College, University of London, 1988-90
• BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies 2.1, University of North London, 1983-87
• Business Studies ONC & HNC (Distinction), 1981-1983

• Fellow of the HEA since 2003

Courses

• PhD training programme various sessions related to participatory and qualitative research
• Action Research and Social Inquiry

Contribute to:

• Dignity & Respect in Healthcare Settings
• Inputs to a variety of Modules re: Participatory Research, Action Research, Self Help Groups and User Led Organisations.

Outline of career

Carol is Professor of Participative Inquiry and Collaborative Practice in the Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education at Anglia Ruskin University.

Before joining the University Carol worked for many years as a social researcher in various health and social services settings, including the voluntary sector. She was Head of the Research Department in one of the largest Social services Departments in the Country. In these roles she undertook, facilitated and managed projects primarily related to service users' perspectives and service enhancement. She joined Anglia Ruskin University in 1995 and was Director of Research for a number of years before gaining her Professorship.

One of her specialist areas is supporting practitioners and service users in undertaking participatory forms of research including action research. Carol is one of the editorial team of the International Journal of Educational Action Research and she has published widely in this field.

Carol has also specialised in developing research related to Self-Help/Mutual Aid Groups and User Led Organisations and has worked on a number of regionally and nationally funded projects in relation to this work. She is very interested in how cultural contexts inform and shape participatory practices including self help and collaborates on a number of international projects including work with colleagues in US and Scandinavia. She also worked for several years in social and educational development projects in Ukraine.

A significant part of her current work is training and supporting Citizen Research Groups in the fields of mental health and older people's services.

Research Interest

Research expertise and interests:

1. Self-help/mutual aid groups
2. User-Run Organisations (Self-Help Organisations)
3. Practitioner, User and Carer involvement in Research
4. Participatory Inquiry
5. Action Research
6. Developing: Stress and Wellbeing at Work
7. Participatory Arts

Current & Recent External Grants Held

2010-2013

Munn-Giddings, C, Avis, M, Collis, S Effective support for community based self-help groups ( £264, 866)

2009-11

Munn-Giddings, C; McVicar, A Developing Older People as Researchers. Funded by Essex County Council (£21,000 +p.a.) now being developed with Healthwatch, Essex.

2009-2012

Secker, J; Munn-Giddings, C; Schaffer, T., SE-SURG and ARW. Involving service Users and Carers in the Commissioning Process in Essex (£500,000)

Selected Publications

McVicar, A., Munn-Giddings, C., Seebohm, P., 2013. Workplace Stress Interventions Using Participatory Action Research Designs. International Journal of Workplace Health Management 6 (part 1) pp18-37. DOI 10.1108/17538351311312303

Seebohm, P., Boyce, M., Chaudhary, S., Avis, M & Munn-Giddings, C. 2013. The contribution of self-help/mutual aid groups to mental wellbeing. Health & Social Care in the Community. DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12021.

Chaudhary, S., Avis, M., & Munn-Giddings, C. 2012. Beyond the therapeutic: A Habermasian view of self help groups? place in the public sphere. Social Theory & health. pp. 1-22.

Seebohm, P., Munn-Giddings, C & Brewer, P., 2010. What's in a name? A discussion paper on the labels and location of self-organising community groups with particular reference to mental health and Black groups. Mental Health & Social Inclusion, 14 (3), pp. 23-29.

Chaudhary, S., Avis, M & Munn-Giddings, C., 2010. The lifespan and life-cycle of self-help groups: a retrospective study of groups in Nottingham, UK. Health & Social Care in the Community, 18 (4), pp.346-354.

Munn-Giddings, C & McVicar, A., Boyce, M., O'Brien. N., 2009. Older People as Researchers ? WhyNot?. Working with Older People, 13 (4), pp 16-19.

Munn-Giddings, C., Boyce, M., Smith, L & Campbell, S., 2009. The Innovative Role of User Led Organisations. A life in the Day, 13 (3), pp. 14-20.

Borkman, T., Munn-Giddings, C., Karlsson, M., Smith, L., 2009.
Social Philosophy and Funding in Self Help Organisations: A US-UK-Swedish analysis. International Journal of Self Help and Social Care, 4 (3), pp 201-220.

Borkman, T & Munn-Giddings, C.,2008. The contribution of self-help groups and organizations to changing relations between patients/consumers and the health care system in the US and UK. In Chambre, S and Goldner, M, eds. Patients, Consumers and Civil Society: US and International Perspectives, Vol. 10 Advances in Medical Sociology, Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing.

Winter, R & Munn-Giddings, C., 2001. A Handbook for Action Research in Health and Social Care. London: Routledge.