Dr Katherine Davies

Lecturer in Sociology (PhD)

Academic Profile

I joined the Department of Sociological Studies in 2012. Before moving to Sheffield I held a number of research posts in The Morgan Centre for the Study of Relationships and Personal Life at The University of Manchester where I worked on 2 ‘nodes’ of the ESRC’s National Centre for Research Methods. I completed my PhD at Manchester in 2011 under the supervision of Professor Jennifer Mason and Dr Wendy Bottero.

Research

My research focuses upon the complexities of intimacy and personal relationships and I have a long standing interest in qualitatively driven methodological approaches which can capture the lived experience of these ties. My research has included a study investigating the social significance of family resemblances and a project researching how associations with friends, neighbours, colleagues and the like matter throughout the life course in both positive and negative ways (both projects were completed with colleagues at The University of Manchester). My PhD research took a relational approach to exploring how young people see themselves as ‘turning out’ in life, with a particular focus on the role of sibling relationships in shaping their ideas about their past, present and future selves.

Research areas:

• Kinship and relatedness
• Friendship, personal relationships and social change
• Sibling relationships
• Inheritance and social transmission
• Life course, youth and childhood
• Qualitative methodologies

Teaching

I currently teach and supervise students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. My teaching focuses mainly upon methodological approaches to social research. All my teaching is closely linked to my research activities and I encourage students on my courses to develop critical reflection through carrying out small pieces of research themselves as well as through engagement with empirical research and group discussion.

My teaching this year includes:

• SCS1008 ‘Introduction to Social Research’ (first year)
• SCS6002 ‘Qualitative Methods’ (postgraduate, co-convened with Bridgette Wessells)
• SCS2003 ‘Social Research Principles’ (seminar support)

I am also involved in the supervision of students taking extended essays at undergraduate level.

See our Undergraduate degree web pages.

Postgraduate Supervision

To find out more about our PhD programmes, go to:
Studying for a PhD in Sociology

Publications

Edited peer reviewed journals

Davies, K, Mason, J, and Heath, S (Guest Editors) (2011) ‘Crossing Methodological Boundaries’ Methodological Innovations Online (Link opens in new window), Special Edition 6 (3)

Peer reviewed journal articles

Heaphy, B. And Davies, K. (forthcoming) ‘Critical Friendships’, Families, Relationships and Societies

Smart, C, Davies, K Heaphy, B and Mason, J (2012) ‘Difficult Friendships and Ontological Insecurity’ The Sociological Review 60 (1)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2011.02048.x/pdf

Mason, J and Davies, K (2011) ‘Introduction to Special Issue:  Crossing Methodological Boundaries’ (Link opens in new window) Methodological Innovations Online. Special Edition on ‘Crossing Methodological Boundaries’ 6 (3)

Davies, K and Heaphy, B (2011) ‘Interactions that Matter: Researching Critical Relationships’ (Link opens in new window) Methodological Innovations Online. Special Edition on ‘Crossing Methodological Boundaries’ 6 (3)

Davies, K (2011) ‘Knocking on Doors: Recruitment and Enrichment in a Qualitative Interview-based Study’ (Link opens in new window) International Journal of Social Research Methodology 14 (4) pp 289-300

Mason, J and Davies, K (2009) ‘Coming to our Senses? A Critical Approach to Sensory Methodology’ (Link opens in new window) Qualitative Research 9 (5)

Chapters in books

Davies, K (2011) ‘Friendship and Personal Life’ in May, V (ed) The Sociology of Personal Life Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Davies, K (2011) ‘Making Sense of Family Resemblance: the Politics of Visual Perception’ in Jamieson, L, Simpson, R and Lewis, R (eds) Researching Families and Relationships: Reflections on Process Palgrave Studies in Family & Intimate Life, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Mason, J and Davies, K (2010) ‘Experimenting with Qualitative Methods: Researching Family Resemblances’ in Mason, J and Dale, A Understanding Social Research: Thinking Creatively about Method London: Sage

Working papers

Wiles, R, Prosser, J, Bagnoli, A, Clark, A, Davies, K, Holland, S and Renold, E (2008) ‘Visual Ethics: Ethical Issues in Visual Research’ ESRC National Centre for Research Methods Review Paper No. 11.

Davies, K (2008) ‘Informed Consent in Visual Research’ Real Life Methods Toolkit #01 Manchester: University of Manchester.

Davies, K (2008) ‘Door Knocking as a Method of Recruiting a Sample’ Real Life Methods Toolkit #05 Manchester: University of Manchester.

Other publications

Davies, K (2007) Review of Ebtehaj, F., Lindley, B. and Richards, M. (2006) ‘Kinship Matters’ Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law Vol. 29, Nos. 3-4

Hurrell, K. and Davies, K (2005) ‘Time Use and Childcare’ Equal Opportunities Commission Briefing

Video

Davies, K (2010) 'Creative Approaches to Public Engagement in Qualitative Research'