Centre for Applied Psychological Research

Introduction

The Centre for Applied Psychological Research (CAPR) aims to promote and develop the use of psychological theories and principles in real world settings.  We carry out work that is not only academically credible and rigorous, but that can also inform practice and policy. As psychologists, our focus is on the way people behave and the nature of their experience, recognising that this is always shaped by the social worlds they inhabit.  We believe that psychological research can shine a light on the problems people face individually and collectively, and point a way towards solutions.

Whilst we have an emphasis on “real world” empirical research, we are also very much involved in methodological and theoretical work to underpin this.  We are known internationally for our development of innovative qualitative research methods in applied research.  In addition, we are noted for a pragmatic approach to research design, believing that the methods used should follow the nature of the problems being addressed. 

CAPR members are engaged in research in a wide range of topic areas, with particular strengths in the following:

• Health and well-being – including living with chronic illness, improving community healthcare services, palliative care provision, breastfeeding and mothering, obesity prevention and management, health behaviour change, health and well-being in older persons, the psychological and social impact of "green exercise".
• Qualitative and critical approaches.   We have developed new approaches such as Template Analysis and the Pictor Technique for exploring collaborative working.  Theoretically, we have interests in phenomenology, personal construct theory, discourse analysis, psychogeography and narrative psychology.
• Education – including educational transitions, child development and knowledge acquisition, improving the experience of undergraduate education, diagrammatic reasoning in undergraduate students
• The Arts and popular culture – including construing women’s identities through footwear, ethics and reality television, experience of artistic production, responses to violent and sexual material on television and in computer games