My research is focused on socio emotional aspects of children's lives in educational contexts, including the family, with a particular emphasis on identity. I recently completed a qualitative longitudinal study with school pupils from the ages of three to seventeen, considering how these young people construct a sense of self and how this changes during their school career. I am also interested in current debates about staff gender issues in primary and early years' education, drawing on theories of masculinities, bringing together research on the identities of male teachers and fathers.
I would be interested in receiving proposals on:
The development of identity through the school years
Parenting (especially with a focus on gender)
The home-school relationship
Gender issues in education (particularly those concerned with issues about male staff in early years education)
Early childhood
I am Director of Studies for the UG degree Psychology in Education (PiNE). I also teach on this programme, delivering courses on social development, families and parenting, and research methods with a particular focus on research with children. In addition I teach gender issues in education within the MA in Education. I supervise several PhD students with interests in socio-emotional aspects of learning and in gender.
My particular interest concerns how aspects of identity, such as gender, affect learning processes throughout a person's life.
Watch Video (Watch a video of Jo Warin talking about her research interests)
I have recently completed a qualitative longitudinal study of a sample of school pupils from the ages of three to seventeen. The focus of this research is on how these young people construct a sense of self and how this has changed during their school careers. Findings have been produced as a book, Stories of Self: tracking children's identity and wellbeing through the school years, published by Trentham, together with several journal articles (see Publications).
I am also interested in current debates about staff gender issues in primary and early years' education drawing on theories of masculinities. This interest draws together research with male teachers in early years' educational settings and research on the identities of fathers. I am collaborating with colleagues at Gothenburg University to develop further research in this area.
I am a member of the editorial board for the book 'Reflective Teaching: Effective and evidence-informed professional practice', 3rd ed. London: Continuum, and the associated web site RTweb.
I have been engaged in the following studies:
- Piloting a methodology for accessing core beliefs within identity construction. Funded by Lancaster University Small Grants Scheme, 2004-2005.
- Evaluation of Cumbria Early Excellence Centre. Evaluation of the DfEE (DfES) initiative to promote quality integrated early years services for young children and families. Funded by Cumbria LEA, 2000
- Cohabitation, Separation and Fatherhood. Funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1999-2000.
- Fathers, Work and Family Life. Funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1997-1999.
- Understanding Families?: Closeness, Authority and Independence in Mothers, Fathers and 11-16 Year Olds. Funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1999-2000.
- Raising Achievement in Inner City schools through Parental Involvement. Evaluation of Lancashire SRB funded project, 1992-6.
