Dr Sarah Wilson

Senior Lecturer

Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Sarah Wilson

Contact details

About me

I am Head of Division for Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology.

I am currently developing work on representations of sociological research, including through interviews with artists. Please see my article in The Sociological Review: 'Haunting and the knowing and showing of sociological research' http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0038026118769843 I am PI for a British Academy Funded project exploring young people (Armenian- born or refugees)'s intentions to stay in Armenia and was recently part of a team evaluating the work of the Life Changes Trust in relation to children with experience of care.

My research has combined theoretical interests in the sociology of families, relationships and personal life with developing sensory (visual and audial) and artistic qualitative research methods (Young People Creating Belonging: sights, sounds and sights ESRC RES-061-25-0501). This project explored how looked after young people create (non) belonging (whether positive, negative or ambivalent) in new placements. Analysis and data produced during this project (including participants' photos, drawings, music and a video on the difficulties of 'transition' from successful care arrangements to isolating, ill-repaired flats) may be found at: http://www.researchunbound.org.uk/young-people-creating-belonging This work has led to developing interests in the use of arts-based methods with marginalised young people and in the ethical and affective communication and representation of research findings. Much of my other research work has focused on parental substance misuse, while my PhD (2003, University of Edinburgh) explored the HIV-positive mothers' experience of managing everyday living. I am an active member of the International Sociological Associations RC57 Visual Studies group. I am also a qualified non-practising solicitor (England and Wales) with experience of criminal, family, social assistance and medical law. 

I very much enjoy teaching and developing engaging teaching methods around dialogue and 'doing'. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2024). I coordinate the first year core SPCU902 Applying a Sociological Lens module and an honours module on the Sociology of Childhood (SOC9SE). I am currently supervising PhD work on Compassionate Communities (Tess Cassidy), the use of CSO Orders (Andrew Gillies) and representations of Iranians in the UK (Emily Snowling).

I have supervised the following projects to completion: ‘Collaborative Art and Transformation: an exploration of the National Galleries of Scotland outreach programme for disadvantaged young people’ (ESRC Open Collaborative PhD studentship) (Rosie Priest); Notions of Empowerment and Transformation associated with the Life Changes Trust's Work with Young People with Care Experience (Talitha Brown); The Use of Visual Methods in Teaching (Matthew Sowerby); Community Effects of Drugs in Greece and Scotland (Andriana Manta); The Use of Contempt of Court to Enforce Child Contact Orders in Scotland (Sharon McAllister);  Children's experience of maternal imprisonment (Kirsty Primrose); Opioid Substitution Programmes in Indonesian Prisons (Rita Komalasari); An ethnographic comparison of young children's experience of competition in the school environments (Germany and a Tibetan school in India) (Carla Cribari Assali); Perceptions of Risk of Harm and Social Capital in Young People’s Lives (Jennifer Pringle), and Swampy territory: The role of the palliative care social worker in safeguarding children of adults who are receiving specialist palliative care (Carole Comben).

Sociology of childhood and relationships Sociology of health and illness, particularly substance use and chronic illness in family contexts Representations of research Qualitative visual, audial and artistic methods and secondary analysis Communication and representation of research findings Biographical narratives

Divisional / Faculty Contribution

Assistant Deputy Dean Learning and Teaching (Student Experience)

Convenor Sociology Pathway Scottish ESRC Doctoral Programme

Sociology Pathway representative and then convenor for the Scottish ESRC Doctoral Training Programme (2016- 2023). The representative role was Stirling focused. The convenor role relates to all Scottish universities in the Sociology pathway.

Head of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology Division

Examining

External PhD Examiner (Edinburgh)

Louise Hill Revealing lives: A qualitative study with children and young people affected by parental alcohol problems (17 June 2011) (Social Policy: University of Edinburgh)

External PhD Examiner (Nottingham)

Nicola Turner Caring to the End: the family lives of young people with a parent at the end of life (21 October 2016) (Sociology/Health Sciences: University of Nottingham).

External PhD Examiner (Glasgow)

Sharon Greenwood, ‘I try hard not to blame my dad’: A sociological interpretation of the ‘problem’ with parental problem substance use (15 June 2018) (School of Social and Political Science: University of Glasgow)

External PhD Examiner (QMU)

Hamida Hamed Said al Harthi Exploring the Relationship between Life Experiences and Early Relapse among Imprisoned Users of Illegal Drugs in Oman: A Focused Ethnography (1 April 2021) (School of Health Sciences: Queen Margaret University).

External PhD Examiner (Sussex)

Jenny Hewitt, Exploring Young People’s Socio-Politics in Everyday Life (28 March 2022) (School of Social Work and Social Care, University of Sussex).

External PhD Examiner (Strathclyde)

Jess Anderson, Social Justice and Learner Identities in Ability-Grouped Reading in Primary School (7 June 2023) (School of Education, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences University of Strathclyde).

External PhD Examiner (Nottingham)

Cecily Pepper, Exploring The Impact Of Social Media On Care Experienced Young People’s Self-View And Mental Wellbeing: Implications For Social Media Design And Policy (25 March 2024) (University of Nottingham).

External PhD Examiner (Strathclyde)

Keri McGahy, Care Experience in the Higher Education Field: before, during and after university (20 June 2025) (University of Strathclyde).

External Examiners and Validations

External Examiner

External examiner for the BA in Childhood Studies programme at the University of Leeds.

MSc Validation Panel Member

Validation panel member for the online delivery of the MSc Contemporary Drug & Alcohol Studies in the School of Media, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland (11 May, 2018)

Other Project

Child Neglect, Resilience and Wellbeing. Adopting Arts-based Approaches.

SUII Seminar Series (with B. Daniel).

Permanently Progressing: Building Secure Futures for Children in Scotland

I wrote this application and worked on it alongside Daniel, B., Biehal, N., Rutherford, A. Burgess, C., Whincup, H. and Hudson, B. (£400,000). (Biehal and others were based at the University of Leeds.)

The negotiation of trans-national narratives of ethnic, religious and political belonging in a context of mass migration: stories from the European periphery.

University of Stirling Connect+ (ODA funding) (£8860) (With Marina Shapira and Maria Fotopoulou). (PI)

Collaborative Art and Transformation: an exploration of the National Galleries of Scotland outreach programme for disadvantaged young people

ESRC Open Collaborative PhD studentship (student: Rosie Priest).

Representations, Governance and Lived Experiences of the ‘Drug Problem in Greece and Scotland.

PhD project, University of Stirling, Impact Studentship (2016-2017) Andriana Manta (With Tessa Parkes and Maria Fotopoulou)

Building Research Skills in Armenia

International Science Partnership Fund (with Hunter, S., Shapira, M. and Fotopoulou, M. (£14900) (PI).

Professional qualification

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

University Contribution

University Student Academic Progression Committee member

Member of the University Student Academic Progression committee (also referred to as ESEC) (2014-2015)

University Preventing and Tacking Sexual Violence and Misconduct Committee

University Preventing and Tacking Sexual Violence and Misconduct Committee member (2017- 2020)

Research projects (7)

Disrupting hierarchies and constraints in children's experience of reading in primary school
PI: Dr Jess Anderson
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
–

Should I stay or should I go: sense of belonging and intentions to stay among young, newcomers to Armenia
PI: Dr Sarah Wilson
Funded by: The British Academy
–

Creating better lives? An Evaluation of the Life Changes Trust
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Life Changes Trust
–

'Vulnerable' families in a time of pandemic
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Process Evaluation of Alcohol Brief Interventions in wider settings (Young People and Social Work)
PI:
Funded by: NHS Health Scotland
–

Young People Creating Belonging: Spaces, Sounds and Sights
PI: Dr Sarah Wilson
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
–

The Family Life Project: A qualitative longitudinal study of children's experiences of family life in the context of parental drug use
PI: Dr Sarah Wilson
Funded by: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
–

Outputs (30)

Article

Indicators of Integration: Assessing the Impact of Perceptions about Rights and Security, Public Outcomes, and Social Connections on Intentions to Stay of Newcomers in Armenia

Hunter S, Shapira M, Fotopoulou M, Wilson S & Zaslavskaya M (2024) Indicators of Integration: Assessing the Impact of Perceptions about Rights and Security, Public Outcomes, and Social Connections on Intentions to Stay of Newcomers in Armenia. Diaspora. https://doi.org/10.3138/diaspora.24.2.2024.09.25

Article

Delivery of alcohol brief interventions in community-based youth work settings: exploring feasibility and acceptability in a qualitative study

Stead M, Parkes T, Nicoll A, Wilson S, Burgess C, Eadie D, Fitzgerald N, McKell J, Reid G, Jepson R, McAteer J & Bauld L (2017) Delivery of alcohol brief interventions in community-based youth work settings: exploring feasibility and acceptability in a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 17 (1), Art. No.: 357. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4256-1

Book Chapter

Belonging in difficult family circumstances: Emotions, intimacies and consumption

Wilson S (2015) Belonging in difficult family circumstances: Emotions, intimacies and consumption. In: Casey E & Taylor Y (eds.) Intimacies, critical consumption and diverse economies. Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 126-144. http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/Intimacies-Critical-Consumption-and-Diverse-Economies/?sf1=barcode&st1=9781137429070

Book Chapter

Young People's Emotional and Sensory Experiences of 'Getting By' in Challenging Circumstances

Wilson S (2015) Young People's Emotional and Sensory Experiences of 'Getting By' in Challenging Circumstances. In: Blazek M & Kraftl P (eds.) Children's Emotions in Policy and Practice: Mapping and Making Spaces of Childhood. Studies in Childhood and Youth. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 52-67. http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/childrens-emotions-in-policy-and-practice-matej-blazek/?isb=9781137415592

Article

'Sad to say but my whole life is on that computer': reflecting on emotions, intimacies and consumption in difficult circumstances and how to make sure these issues are reflected in policy discourse

Wilson S (2014) 'Sad to say but my whole life is on that computer': reflecting on emotions, intimacies and consumption in difficult circumstances and how to make sure these issues are reflected in policy discourse. Families, Relationships and Societies, 3 (1), pp. 149-152. https://doi.org/10.1332/204674313X13814984759010

Conference Abstract

Alcohol brief interventions in youth and social work settings in Scotland

Parkes T, Stead M, Eadie D, Nicoll A, McKell J, Bauld L, Wilson S, Burgess C, Reid G, McAteer J & Jepson R (2013) Alcohol brief interventions in youth and social work settings in Scotland. International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs (INEBRIA) Meeting 2013, Rome, Italy, 18/09/2013 - 20/09/2013. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 8 (Supplement 1), p. A52. http://ascpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1940-0640-8-S1-A52; https://doi.org/10.1186/1940-0640-8-S1-A52

Book Chapter

Thinking about sociological work on personal and family life in the light of research on young people's experience of parental substance misuse

Wilson S (2013) Thinking about sociological work on personal and family life in the light of research on young people's experience of parental substance misuse. In: Ribbens MJ, Hooper C & Gillies V (eds.) Family Troubles?: Exploring changes and challenges in the family lives of children and young people. Bristol: Policy Press, pp. 163-172. http://www.policypress.co.uk/display.asp?K=9781447304432

Research centres/groups

Research themes