I am a Reader in Applied Social Science, specialising in critical social and health psychology. I joined the university in May 2008 having held previous lectureships at the University of Loughborough, Derby and Coventry.

I owe my education to the East Midlands where I obtained my degree in Psychology (1993, Loughborough University), PGCE (1995, University of Leicester) and PhD in Social Psychology (2001, Loughborough University). My PhD specialised in discursive psychology and I was lucky to be part of the Discourse and Rhetoric Group (DARG) there. I have been asked to give guest lectures and workshops on discourse analysis at a variety of universities and international conferences.

I have strong associations with the British Psychological Society. I am Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Social Psychology Section, am a committee member of the Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section of the BPS, and am a member of the Psychology of Women Section.

I am a qualitative social psychologist and I undertook my doctoral work at the internationally renowned Discourse and Rhetoric Group (DARG) at Loughborough University, under the supervision of Professor Derek Edwards, where I was fully trained in qualitative methodologies and epistemological perspectives in social science. My research work is around qualitative and critical approaches to social and health psychology. At the University of Huddersfield, I sit on the management board of the Centre for Applied Psychological Research (CAPR) and am a member of three other research centres

• Centre for Applied Childhood Studies
• Centre for Health and Social Care Research
• Centre for Research in Social Science

A dominant stream of my research work brings me into the arena of critical health Psychology and I am supervising a variety of doctoral students who are working within the health arena, using a mixture of qualitative methods. One aspect of this work has led me into the study of early parenting and new parent’s experiences. For instance I have looked at how studied how messages related to issues in pregnancy, childbirth and parenting are framed and communicated at this stage, in particular the common discourses around infant feeding. I have particular interests as a critical social psychologist in the ways in which we make sense and negotiate the world around us and am currently working on research projects around health, gender and identity.

2013

Budds, K., Locke, A. and Burr, V. (2013) ‘Risky Business: Constructing the ‘choice’ to ‘delay’ motherhood in the British press’ Feminist Media Studies . ISSN 1468-0777

2011

Robinson, W. and Locke, A. (2011) ‘Social psychology and language’. In: The Cambridge Handbook of Sociolinguistics. : Cambridge University Press. . ISBN 9780521897075

Locke, A (2011) ‘Breastfeeding: A rough guide’. In: Breastfeeding in Kirklees - Part of Everyday Life, 14th October 2011, Huddersfield, UK

Avis, J., Wright, C., Fisher, P., Swindells, S. and Locke, A. (2011) ‘Learners, Care Work and Wellbeing: VET Trainee Teachers’. In: ECER 2011 Urban Education, 12-16th September 2011, Freie Universit Berlin, Germany

Budds, K., Locke, A. and Burr, V. (2011) ‘Being a ‘good’ older mother’. In: 31st Annual conference of the Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology (SRIP), 14th - 15th September 2011, Nottingham, UK

Budds, K., Locke, A. and Burr, V. (2011) ‘“I really think I would make a better mum now”: Constructions of ‘good mothering’ in interviews with ‘older’ first-time mothers’. In: BPS Psychology of Women Section Annual Conference 2011, 13th - 15th July 2011, Windsor, UK

Locke, A. and Budds, K. (2011) ‘“I’m glad I persevered but…”: Women’s reports of early breastfeeding experiences’. In: Understanding the Social World Conference 2011, 13th - 15th July 2011, University of Huddersfield

Patterson, A., Cromby, J., Brown, S., Gross, H. and Locke, A. (2011) ‘‘It all boils down to respect doesn't it?’: Enacting a sense of community in a deprived inner-city area’ Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology , 21 (4), pp. 342-357. ISSN 1052-9284

Avis, J., Wright, C., Fisher, P., Swindells, S. and Locke, A. (2011) ‘'Am I doing enough to help them?' Learners, care work and well-being: Further Education trainee teachers’ Research in Post-Compulsory Education , 16 (1), pp. 47-58. ISSN 1359-6748

Locke, A (2011) ‘The Social Psychologising of Emotion and Gender A Critical Perspective ’. In: Sexed Sentiments. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Gender and Emotion. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Rodopi. . ISBN 9789042032415

Locke, A (2011) ‘Our bodies, ourselves - reprise. Review of Bodies of knowledge: Sexuality, reproduction and women's health in the second wave by Wendy Kline’ Journal of Health Psychology . ISSN 1359-1053

2010

Locke, A. and Horton-Salway, M. (2010) ‘‘Golden age’ versus ‘bad old days’: A discursive examination of advice-giving in antenatal classes’ Journal of Health Psychology , 15 (8), pp. 1214-1224. ISSN 1359-1053

Cromby, J., Brown, S., Gross, H., Locke, A. and Patterson, A. (2010) ‘Constructing crime, enacting morality: emotion, crime and anti-social behaviour in an inner-city community’ British Journal of Criminology , 50 (5), pp. 873-895. ISSN 0007-0955

Locke, A (2010) ‘Discourse Analysis - invited pre-conference workshop’. In: 24th European Health Psychology Conference , 1st - 4th September 2010, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Wright, C., Avis, J., Fisher, P., Gifford, C., Locke, A. and Swindells, S. (2010) ‘Health, wellbeing and active citizenship’. In: British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group Annual Conference, 1st - 3rd September 2010, Durham, UK

Locke, A (2010) ‘Making 'informed choices' in antenatal care’. In: 24th European Health Psychology Conference , 1st - 4th September 2010, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Locke, A (2010) ‘'In practice the theory’s different' Dilemmas and tensions in the teaching of breastfeeding ’. In: Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section (QMiP) Annual Conference 2010, 23rd - 25th August 2010, University of Nottingham

Budds, K., Locke, A. and Burr, V. (2010) ‘'It's not like I was just sat at home waiting to have a baby for ten years.' Constructing the timing of pregnancy as a woman's choice: Implications for the 'older mother'’. In: Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section (QMiP) Annual Conference 2010, 23rd - 25th August 2010, University of Nottingham

Locke, A. and Budds, K. (2010) ‘'Learning to be a dad': Constructing the role of fathers in 'parentcraft' antenatal classes’. In: Masculine Identifications: An Interdisciplinary Conference, 10th - 11th July 2010, University of Huddersfield

Fraser, C. and Locke, A. (2010) ‘Developing father inclusivity: Concerns and practical solutions’. In: 'Hit the ground crawling', National Conference of the Fatherhood Institute, 27 April 2010, Leicester, UK

Locke, A (2010) ‘Preparing women to breastfeed: The teaching of breastfeeding in prenatal classes.’. In: Breastfeeding and feminism 2010 : Public health approaches, 20/03/2010, University of North Carolina, Greensboro

2009

Cromby, J., Brown, S., Gross, H. and Locke, A. (2009) Emotion and Crime: a mixed methods study Economic and Social Research Council

Budds, K., Locke, A., Burr, V. and King, N. (2009) ‘"Nowadays, women feel they can schedule pregnancy into their diary like they would a dentist appointment." Perspectives on delayed motherhood in British newspapers’. In: Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology conference, 8th - 9th September 2009, The Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

Cromby, J., Patterson, A., Locke, A., Brown, S. and Gross, H. (2009) ‘Drugs, cycling and "bloody makin' a racket" : a discursive study of emotional responses to crime and anti-social behaviour in a deprived inner city area.’. In: BPS social psychology conference, 15-17 September 2009, Sheffield University

Locke, A (2009) ‘Symposium on fatherhood in the media.’. In: BPS social psychology conference, 15-17 September 2009, Sheffield University

Locke, A (2009) ‘Constructing choice and risk in infant feeding: Views from an antenatal class’. In: BPS division of health psychology conference, 9th - 11th Spetember 2009, Aston University

Locke, A (2009) ‘`Natural versus taught': competing discourses in antenatal breastfeeding workshops’ Journal of Health Psychology , 14 (3), pp. 435-446. ISSN 1359-1053

Locke, A (2009) ‘A word from the editor’ Social Psychological Review , 11, pp. 1-2.

2008

Locke, A (2008) ‘Discourse analysis’. In: BPS Division of Health Psychology and European Health Psychology Society Conference, 9th - 12th September 2008, University of Bath

Locke, A (2008) ‘Constructing the role of fathers in ‘parentcraft’ antenatal classes ’. In: 2008 Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section Inaugural Conference, 2nd-4th September 2008, University of Leeds

Locke, A (2008) ‘Managing accountability in breastfeeding discourse’. In: British Psychological Society 2008 Annual Conference, 2nd - 4th April 2008, Dublin, Ireland

Locke, A (2008) ‘Managing agency for athletic performance: a discursive approach to the zone ’ Qualitative Research in Psychology , 5 (2), pp. 103-126. ISSN 1478-0887

Abell, J., Locke, A., Condor, S., Gibson, S. and Stevenson, C. (2008) ‘Trying Similarity, Doing Difference: The role of interviewer self-disclosure in interview talk with young people’. In: Interviewing II. : Sage. . ISBN 9781412928670

Brown, S. and Locke, A. (2008) ‘Social Psychology’. In: The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research in Psychology. London: Sage. . ISBN 9781412907804

Locke, A. and Billig, M. (2008) ‘The hidden routes of antiquarian psychology: Abigail Locke in conversation with Michael Billig’ Social Psychological Review , 10, pp. 20-24.

Locke, A. and Robinson, W. (2008) ‘Putting the social back in to psychology: Abigail Locke in conversation with W.Peter Robinson’ Social Psychological Review , 10, pp. 14-19.

Locke, A (2008) ‘A word from the editor’ Social Psychological Review , 10, pp. 1-2.

2007

Goodings, L., Locke, A. and Brown, S. (2007) ‘Social networking technology: place and identity in mediated communities’ Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology , 17 (6), pp. 463-476. ISSN 10529284

Goodings, L. and Locke, A. (2007) ‘Blogging as a discursive practice’. In: Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) 8.0 Conference, 18th-20th October 2007, Vancouver, Canada

Boulter, A. and Locke, A. (2007) ‘Discursive management of identity in chronic pain patients ’. In: 2007 Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference , 12th - 14th September 2007, University of Nottingham

Locke, A (2007) ‘A word from the editor’ Social Psychological Review , 9 (2), pp. 1-1.

Locke, A (2007) ‘A word from the editor’ Social Psychological Review , 9 (1), pp. 1-1.

2006

Locke, A (2006) ‘A word from the editor’ Social Psychological Review , 8 (2), pp. 61-61.

Locke, A (2006) ‘Constructions of infant feeding techniques in antenatal teaching sessions’. In: 10th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP 10), 15th-17th June 2006, University of Bonn, Germany

Locke, A (2006) ‘'Talking parenting' - a discursive analysis of parentcraft interactions’. In: Qualitative Research and Marginalisation Conference, 3rd-5th May 2006, University of Leicester

Abell, J., Locke, A., Condor, S., Gibson, S. and Stevenson, C. (2006) ‘Trying similarity, doing difference: the role of interviewer self-disclosure in interview talk with young people ’ Qualitative Research , 6 (2), pp. 221-244. ISSN 1468-7941

Locke, A (2006) ‘A word from the editor’ Social Psychological Review , 8 (1), pp. 1-1.

2005

Boulter, A. and Locke, A. (2005) ‘Accounting for risk : a discourse analysis of smoking’. In: British psychological society social section conference, 30/08/2007-01/09/2005, University of Edinburgh

Boulter, A. and Locke, A. (2005) ‘You get cancer off curries and all sorts now’. In: Division of health psychology conference, 7-9 September 2005, Coventry University

Moore, J. and Locke, A. (2005) ‘Discussing suicidal thoughts and feelings : a practical analysis of discourse.’. In: British psychological society social section conference, 30/08/2007-01/09/2005, University of Edinburgh

Abell, J., Locke, A., Condor, S., Gibson, S. and Stevenson, C. (2005) ‘Trying similarity, doing difference.’. In: British psychological society social section conference, 30/08/2007-01/09/2005, University of Edinburgh

Locke, A (2005) ‘Book review : Putting emotion in context. Review of Emotion in social relations, authors Parkinson, B, Fischer, A and Manstead, A.’ The psychologist , 18 (8), pp. 496-496. ISSN 0952-8229

Locke, A (2005) ‘A word from the editor’ Social Psychological Review , 7 (2), pp. 53-53.

2004

Johnson, E. and Locke, A. (2004) ‘But in a way I'm an adult : youth culture and the negotiation of identity.’ Proceedings of the British psychological society , 12 (2), pp. 135-135. ISSN 1350-472X

Duffield, D. and Locke, A. (2004) ‘Place identity in inner-city youths : "its all I know"’ Proceedings of the British psychological society , 12 (2), pp. 135-135. ISSN 1350-472X

Locke, A (2004) ‘Accounting for success and failure: A discursive psychological approach to sport talk’ Quest , 56 (3), pp. 302-320. ISSN 0033-6297

2003

Locke, A (2003) ‘At risk youths talking about crime and the police’ Proceedings of the British psychological society , 11 (2), pp. 211-211. ISSN 1350-472X

Locke, A. and Edwards, D. (2003) ‘Bill and Monica: memory, emotion and normativity in Clinton’s Grand Jury testimony ’ British Journal of Social Psychology , 42 (2), pp. 239-256. ISSN 0144-6665

Locke, A (2003) ‘"If I'm not worried, I'm nervous, does that make sense?" The use of emotion concepts by athletes in accounts of performance’ Forum: qualitative social research/Forum qualitative sozialforschung , 4 (1). ISSN 1438-5627

2002

Locke, A (2002) ‘Gendered emotion: personal, cultural or discursive?’ Feminism & Psychology , 12 (1), pp. 97-104. ISSN 0959-3535

2001

Locke, A (2001) ‘Constructions of emotional dispositions’. In: BPS Social Psychology section conference , 18th - 20th July 2001, University of Surrey

Locke, A (2001) ‘The uses of emotion concepts by athletes in accounts of performance’. In: BPS Social Psychology section conference , 18th - 20th July 2001, University of Surrey

Locke, A (2001) ‘Reconstructing female emotionality’ Social Psychological Review , 3 (2), pp. 16-26.

Locke, A (2001) The mind-field of sport : emotion, mind and accountability in athletes Doctoral thesis, University of Loughborough.

Locke, A (2001) ‘Being in the zone : notions of agency in athletic performance’ Proceedings of the British psychological society , 9 (1), pp. 83-83. ISSN 1350-472X

Locke, A (2001) ‘Notions of emotionality : reconstructing the emotional label.’ Proceedings of the British psychological society , 9 (1), pp. 39-39. ISSN 1350-472X

1999

Locke, A (1999) ‘"Monica got upset": The uses of emotion discourse by President Clinton in his cross-examination’. In: BPS Social Psychology section conference , September 1999, Lancaster University

Locke, A (1999) ‘Monica and Bill: The uses of motive and emotion discourse by President Clinton to manage stake and accountability’. In: Psy-PAG Annual conference, July 1999, Lancaster University

Doctoral Level

• Dr Lewis Goodings: Social network sites: A constructionist approach to self, identity and community in MySpace (supervised with Professor Steve Brown, University of Leicester). This was a cutting-edge piece of research that predated the widespread use of Facebook and examined how social relationships were constructed and negotiated online. The project ran from 2006-2009 and the PhD was awarded at viva in May 2010. The project was funded by a full scholarship from the Faculty of Science, Loughborough University, UK.
   
• Kirsty Budds: A qualitative analysis of the obstetric care given to first mothers over 35 (supervised with Dr Viv Burr). Due to complete Autumn 2012. This project began in January 2009 and set out to explore how ‘older mothers’ navigate the transition to motherhood. Looking at issues around perceived choice and risk. The study utilised both an in-depth media analysis and semi-structured interviews with first time older mothers. This project is currently being written up and the results are being disseminated in both high profile conferences and peer-reviewed journals. The project is part-funded through a University of Huddersfield fee-waiver PhD programme.
   
• Jayne Samples: Advancing maternal age as a risk factor in pregnancy: an exploration of women’s experiences (Supervised with Professor Bob Heyman and Professor Ruth Deery).
   
• John Owour: The impact of positive HIV diagnosis on immigrant East African men living in London and their families. A grounded theory study (supervised with Professor Bob Heyman). This three year project began in 2009 and is concerned with the perspectives of Black East African men who are HIV positive and have migrated to London. Their views and experiences will be compared with those of family members and support workers. The project will focus particularly on the issues surrounding risk and disclosure. The project is funded through a University of Huddersfield fee-waiver PhD programme.
   
• Anne Little: Individual and structural influences on physical activity take up and adherence in adults aged 65 years and over. PhD by publication. (Supervised with Professor Nigel King).
   
• Andrew Brownrigg: A phenomenological study of the transitional experiences of professional footballers (with Dr Viv Burr & Dr Alex Bridger)
   
• Martin Manby: How children cope with parental imprisonment: An exploration into factors impacting on children’s resilience (with Mr Graham Gibbs).
   
• Janis Abernathy: Intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of emotion management in carers. (Supervised with Professor Nigel King).

Masters by Research

• Iram Ali. Young Muslim women’s and their negotiations of cultural identity (supervised with Dr Grainne McMahon).

Journal Esteem

• I am on the editorial board of the journal Psychology and Health.
• I am peer reviewer for a variety of journals, including: British Journal of Social Psychology; British Journal of Clinical Psychology; British Journal of Developmental Psychology; Communication and Medicine; Gender and Language; Gender, Work and Organization; Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology; Health; International Journal of Critical Psychology; Journal of Health Psychology; Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology; Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology; Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise Psychology; Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Sport Science; Social Psychological Review.
• I have reviewed grants for: Grant reviewer for Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and European Science Foundation ECRP Scheme.
• I have reviewed book manuscripts for a variety of publishers (Routledge, Sage, Open University Press, Pearson).

Professional Body Esteem

• Chair/Chair Elect of the BPS Social Psychology Section (2011-2015)
• Editor of Social Psychological Review (2005-2009)
• Invited member of BPS Impact of Social Psychology working group (2010-2012)
• Committee member of British Psychological Society’s Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section (QMiP) (2011-2014) and part of organising committee for QMiP 2013, University of Huddersfield
• Part of BPS Working Party to rewrite British Psychological Society Code of Research Ethics (2009)
• Part of BPS Ethics Reference group (since 2006)
• Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPS)
• Chartered Scientist (CSci)

External Recognition

• Invited member of Kirklees Infant Feeding Strategy Group (since 2011)
• Invited panel speaker at conference titled ‘Understanding Parenting: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives’, Friday 7th September 2012 at the Centre for the History of Medicine, University of Warwick.
• Invited scientific committee member of 4th Conference of Applied Psychology (University of Iasi, Romania, September 2011).
• Invited to deliver workshops on ‘Discourse analysis’ at European Health Psychology Society conferences (2008, 2010).
• Organising committee member for the International Society for Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP) 8th Biennial Conference, University of Bradford, 2013.
• Organising committee for Understanding the Social World 2011 – Conference hosted at the University of Huddersfield

External examiner on PhDs and Masters

• Dr Victoria O’Key (University of Leeds, 2011): PhD Examination of ‘A discursive analysis of low income families’ talk about food’.
• Dr Suzanne Cosh (University of Adelaide, 2011): PhD Examination of ‘Elite athletes’ experiences of psychological distress and psychopathology. A discursive analysis’.
• Monja Muller (University of Southern Queensland, 2004) Master of Psychology:‘How do physiotherapists and athletes talk about pain during the first consultation’.

Previous Grant income

External

• Economic and Social Research Council £76K 2008 – 2009: ‘Emotions and crime: A mixed methods approach’. (Dr John Cromby, Loughborough University PI, with Professor Steve Brown, University of Leicester, Professor Harriet Gross, University of Lincoln).
• British Academy Overseas Conference Grant 2010 £400; to assist with travel costs for Breastfeeding and Feminism 2010: Public Health Approaches Conference; University of North Carolina, USA, March 2010.
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Postgraduate Studentship for ‘The mind-field of sport: Emotion, mind and accountability in athletes’. 1998, £24K. Award no: R00429824362.

Internal

• Institute for Health Citizenship, £65K. 2009 - 2011, University Research Funding, University of Huddersfield.
• ‘Talking parenting’: Pilot for antenatal care project: Loughborough University Faculty of Science, Small Grant Scheme £1,450, 2005.
• ‘Constructions of infant feeding in antenatal care’: Grant awarded for conference dissemination of results. Loughborough University Faculty of Science, Small Grant Scheme £1400, 2006.

Internal

• Member of Concordat Steering Group (CSG)– to implement Concordat for developing researchers at the University.
• Member of School Research Ethics Panel (SREP).
• Member of School Research and Enterprise Committee (SREC).
• Member of University level validation panels.
• Previous member of School Board (2009-2011).

External

• External examiner on MRES and MSc. Research Methods, Nottingham Trent University.
• External examiner on BSc Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University.
• Research ethics reference group British Psychological Society (since 2006).

I am module leader for an Honours level of the Psychology of Health and Wellbeing. I also contribute guest lectures to modules in Social Psychology and Qualitative Methods at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition, I teach a staff development course on ‘discourse analysis’ at the university, am a research mentor for staff who are developing their research careers, and a university facilitator for the Higher Education Academy Workshops. Much of my current teaching is based on research supervision and I work with students from undergraduate to doctoral level on research projects within the areas of critical social and health psychology, using a variety of qualitative research methodologies.