Prof. Carole Truman
Biographical Information
Carole Truman is Professor of Health and Community Studies at the University of Bolton. Her interests and expertise are in the area of applied social research methodology and, in particular, how this may be used in community based research in the policy areas of health and social care. She has a local, national and international reputation for her work in research training, user-involvement, research ethics, and participatory research and evaluation and has published widely on these topics. She has conducted research on topics as diverse as community safety, sexual health, community participation, mental health and exercise. She has also undertaken research into various aspects of women's working lives and equal opportunities. In 2002, she was appointed as Visiting Professor in the School of Social Work and Family Studies at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. From 2001-7 she held a Ministerial Appointment as a Board Member of the National Probation Service for England and Wales in Greater Manchester. She is currently Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of the charity Partners of Prisoners Family Support group. She is also a Former Chair of the UK Women's Studies Association and was made an Honorary Life Member of the Feminist and Women's Studies Association (UK and Ireland) in 2008.. She is a member of the Research Advisory Group for Turning Point's Centre of Excellence in Connected Care and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Voluntary Sector Research.
Academic Interests
I am interested in applied social research in community settings and in particular, research which draws upon participatory approaches and methodologies. I have a range of expertise in research with what have often been termed 'hard to reach' groups – particularly where research may be part of wider processes of empowerment.
I am also interested in research ethics and research methodologies in applied research contexts: in particular, the relationship between those who are the subject of research and the ways in which research outcomes contribute towards the creation of 'evidence'.
I have a long-standing interest in research training, and have been part of the development team for the suite of Post-graduate research training modules which are available in the School of Health and Social Sciences. I was previously Director of PGR Research Training in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at the University of Lancaster. I am one of the project directors of the ESRC's Researcher Training Initiatives, 'Training Researchers in Ethics' based at Lancaster University. I have also been invited to deliver research training for the Government Social Research Unit and the National Research Ethics Service.
Academic Responsibilities
Research Lead in the School of Health and Social Science and Lead for the University's RAE submission in Social Policy. Member of the University Research Committee, University Professoriate, Board Of Studies for Research Degrees, School Of Health and Social Sciences Management Team, Chair of the School Progression and Awards Board for Higher Degrees. Chair of the School Research Committee. Various External Examiner Roles.
Recent Publications
2010 Questioning Research: Social Inequality and Social Research. (forthcoming) Palgrave Macmillan.
2005 The Autonomy of Professionals and the Involvement of Patients and Families Current Opinion in Psychiatry 18:572-576. September
2003 'Ethics and the Ruling Relations of Research Production' Sociological Research Online, vol. 8, no. 1, http://www.socresonline.org.uk/8/1/truman.html|
2003 'The Development of A Community Gym for People with Mental Health Problems: Influences on Accessibility' (With P.Raine and A. Southerst) Journal of Mental Health 11, 1, 43-53.
2002 'Doing Feminist Research with Men: Achieving Objectivity in a Sexual Health Needs Assessment' New Directions for Evaluation No. 96 Winter. pp 71-82.
2002 'Experience and Meaning of User Involvement – Some Explorations From A Community Mental Health Project' (With P. Raine) Health and Social Care in the Community 10(3), 136-143.
2001 'Involving Users in Evaluation: the social relations of user involvement in health research' (with P. Raine) Critical Public Health, Vol 11 No 3: September pp 215-232
2000 'Ethical, Social and Political Processes in Social Research' Bulletin de Methodologie Sociologique October 2000 No. 68. p 37.