DPhil Supervision
My research interests are around disability (particularly learning disability and autism), qualitative research, experiences of health and social care, self advocacy, activism, patient safety and working with marginalised groups.
Research groups
Sara Ryan
BSc (Hons), PhD, PGDipLATHE, FHEA
Associate Professor
Background in sociology and anthropology with a PhD in Health and Social Care from the University of Warwick. My research focuses on learning disability, autism, social care experiences and working with marginalised groups. Current research interest also include scholar activism and patient safety issues.
Research funders include NIHR (RfPB, HS&DR and School for Primary Care Research), ESRC, General Medical Council and Wellcome Trust.
Experience in qualitative research methods, particularly in-depth interviewing, focus groups and re-analysis of existing data. Extensive learning and teaching experience on the Qualitative Research Methods module on the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care and oversee the HERG portfolio of qualitative methods courses.
My academic work has been fused with activism since the preventable death of my son Connor in 2013. I've been centrally involved in the #JusticeforLB campaign which sought to gain accountability for Connor's death and raise awareness of the impoverished treatment of learning disabled people more widely. The campaign led to the identification of systematic failings in investigating the unexpected deaths of learning disabled people and people with mental ill health. In 2016, the campaign was awarded a Liberty Human Rights award.
I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Oxford Brookes University in June 2019.
Current projects:
Supporting family and professional carers to provide appropriate care and support for older learning disabled people with behaviours that challenge others NIHR HS&DR (Co-PI)
Bridging the translation gap between learning disability policy and practice in search of flourishing lives. NIHR School for Social Care Research. (PI)
Understanding and using people’s experiences of social care to guide service improvements:could an effective and efficient co-design approach be translated from health to social care? NIHR HS&DR (PI)
Meeting the transgender challenge: improving the experience of health services for gender questioning young people and their families. NIHR HS&DR (Co-PI)
Formative Evaluation of a new resource for Social Care service users, teachers, practitioners and policy makers. NIHR School for Social Care Research. (Co-app)
Learning disabilities and mental health. 3 Guineas Trust. (Co-app)
Finding and funding social care: a qualitative study of the experiences of self-funders. NIHR RfPB. (Co-app)
Recent publications
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Love, Learning Disabilities and Pockets of Brilliance How Practitioners Can Make a Difference to the Lives of Children, Families and Adults
Book
Ryan S., (2020)
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Journal article
Smith S. et al, (2020), Quality of Life Research, 29, 999 - 1011
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Understanding disabled children's lives
Chapter
RYAN S. et al, (2020), Disabled Children a legal handbook, 1 - 55
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Understanding experiences of recruiting for, and participating in, genomics research and service transformation: the 100,000 Genomes Project, 2015-17
Report
RYAN S. et al, (2020)
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Journal article
Davies L. et al, (2020), Qualitative Health Research
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Interviews
Chapter
RYAN S. and HINTON L., (2019), Qualitative Research in Health Care, 43 - 55
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Journal article
Runswick-Cole K. and Ryan S., (2019), Disability & Society, 34, 1125 - 1139
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Journal article
Ryan S., (2019), POLITICAL QUARTERLY, 90, 224 - 228
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Journal article
Farre A. et al, (2019), International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 0
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Journal article
Stepney M. et al, (2018), Sociology of Health and Illness, 40, 1186 - 1199
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Journal article
Kirkpatrick S. et al, (2018), Health Expectations, 21, 730 - 740
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Personal reflection on an exercise (transformative, subversive or accidental?) in effective action
Chapter
Ryan SS. and Julian G., (2018), Disability and Social Media
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Journal article
Ryan S., (2018), Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 17, 58 - 68
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Social justice and social policy
Chapter
Ryan SS. and Julian G., (2018), Social Policy First Hand: An international introduction to participatory social welfare
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Justice for Laughing Boy Connor Sparrowhawk - A Death by Indifference
Book
Ryan S., (2017)
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Journal article
Williams V. and Ryan S., (2017), Palgrave Communications, 3
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Journal article
Ryan S. et al, (2017), Health Expectations, 20, 878 - 885
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Journal article
Knight F. et al, (2017), Qualitative Health Research, 27, 1675 - 1685
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Journal article
Malouf R. et al, (2017), BMJ Open, 7
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Understanding women's experiences of having a small-for-gestational-age fetus
Conference paper
Dhillon S. et al, (2017), BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, 124, 36 - 37
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Journal article
Ryan SS. et al, (2017), Health Expectations
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'My baby is growing small - help!' An exploration on Mumsnet of pregnant women's experiences of carrying a small-for-gestational-age fetus
Conference paper
Dhillon S. et al, (2016), BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, 123, 41 - 41
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Journal article
Locock L. et al, (2016), Social Science and Medicine, 154, 85 - 92
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Journal article
Searle A. et al, (2016), Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 22, 236 - 243
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Journal article
Greenhalgh T. et al, (2015), BMC Medicine, 13
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Understanding the pregnant woman's experience of carrying a small-for-gestational-age and/or growth restricted baby
Journal article
Dhillon S. et al, (2015), BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, 122, 44 - 44
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Journal article
Coulter A. et al, (2015), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017
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Journal article
Ryan S. and Ziebland S., (2015), Sociology of Health and Illness, 37, 67 - 80
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Journal article
Coulter AM. et al, (2015)
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Journal article
Ziebland S. et al, (2014), Health Services and Delivery Research, 2, 1 - 206
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Journal article
Williams V. et al, (2014), npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, 24
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Journal article
Williams V. et al, (2014), JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, 68, A20 - A20
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Journal article
Soar S. et al, (2014), Clinical Teacher, 11, 80 - 83
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Engagement and inclusivity in researching patient experiences
Chapter
Ryan S., (2013), Understanding and Using Experiences of Health and Illness
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Journal article
Coulter A. et al, (2013), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013
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Capturing Diagnostic Journeys of Life on the Autism Spectrum
Chapter
Ryan SS., (2013), Worlds of Autism Across the Spectrum of Neurological Difference
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The use of secondary qualitative analysis to establish domains of patient-centred care in people with long term conditions
Journal article
Hadi M. et al, (2012), QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH, 21, 62 - 62
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Journal article
Ryan S. and Räisänen U., (2012), Chronic Illness, 8, 214 - 224
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Journal article
Ryan S. and Salisbury H., (2012), British Journal of General Practice, 62
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Identifying Domains of Patient-Centred Care in Order to Develop and Validate a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) for People With Long-Term Conditions (MT)
Conference paper
Hadi M. et al, (2012), QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH, 20, 69 - 70
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Journal article
Ryan S., (2010), Health and Place, 16, 868 - 875
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Journal article
Pyer M. et al, (2010), CHILDRENS GEOGRAPHIES, 8, 1 - 8
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Journal article
Ryan S. and Cole KR., (2009), Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22, 43 - 53
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Journal article
Ryan S. and Räisänen U., (2008), Emotion, Space and Society, 1, 135 - 143
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Journal article
Ryan S. and Runswick-Cole K., (2008), Disability and Society, 23, 199 - 210
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Journal article
Ryan S., (2008), Health and Place, 14, 730 - 739
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Journal article
Ryan S., (2007), SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 41, 755 - 756
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Journal article
Ryan S., (2005), JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, 18, 65 - 74
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Journal article
(2003)
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Journal article
Searle A. et al, Clin Nurse Spec, 32, 121 - 128