Dr Marie Lavelle

2007-2011 PhD Plymouth University, Faculty of Education
2005-2007 Masters modules in Social Research Methods and Ethnography, Open University (both awarded with Distinction, study suspended until completion of my PhD)
2005 BSc (Hons) Social Science and Psychology (First class), Open University
1997 PGDip Health Sciences, Leeds Metropolitan University
1989 Registered Midwife
1986 Registered Nurse

EEC403 Children and Society

I welcome enquires from those wishing to undertake post-graduate study in my areas of research interests which include - parenting, motherhood, professionalisation of the early years workforce, motherhood and surveillance, early years social policy, auto-biographical methods or ethnography. 

'Parenting in hindsight': over the last year I have been exploring the impact of parenting from the perspective of parents. To do this I have been exploring the use of post-humanist theoretcial perspectives.

'A sociological investigation of Sure Start Children's Centres: Understanding parental Participation' (Funded by Devon County Council and HEFCE) Supervisors: Dr Norman Gabriel, Dr Julia Morgan and Professor Bill Jordan. Examined by Profs Peter Moss and Mary Jayne Kehilly.

My PhD study is an ethnographic exploration of what influences parental particpation in Sure Start Children's Centres. The study takes a wide perspectival lens to analyse everyday micro social-interactions and practices in two Children's Centres in order to gain a deeper understanding of the issues that parents and these new institutions face in encourgaing access.

Conference presentations

2007 Devon County Council Research into Practice Conference, 'It's the little things that matter: an ethnographic study of two Children's Centres'.

2008 International Child and Youth Research Network Conference, Nikosia. 'Children's Centres, improving outcomes for children: the challenge of encouraging participation. Challenging dominant discourses - my first journey into 'troubling' waters'.

2008 Oxford Research Methods Festival Poster Presentation

2009 Invited lecture - E-map Conference, Earls Court London, 'Performance The challenge of encouraging participation: A researcher’s perspective'.

2009 University of Leicester, International Postgraduate Conference, 'Making a difference: the (un)intended consequences of doing research in the ‘real’ world'.

2010 University of Plymouth Methods Conference, 'Exploring the use of qualitative outcome measures in Children’s Centres' with Verity Campball-Barr and Karen Wickett.

2010 Methods Conference, University of Plymouth 'Exploring processes: Creating a storm in a tea cup?'

2011 European Sociological Association Conference, Geneva, 'Turbulence in a Tea Cup: Sure Start Children's Centres governing families at a distance' .
http://imatis.unige.ch/conference/abstractbooks/pdfversion.php?aID=1931

2012 International Child and Youth Research Network Conference, Preston. ‘Freedom to ‘be yourself': Understanding participation andnon-participation in Sure Start Children’s Centres’

2014 Plymouth Instituteof Education Workforce Development Conference

2014 ECERAConference, Crete, 'From professional to teacher: thecontinued metamorphosis of the early years worker and From professional to teacher: the continued metamorphosis of theearly years worker'

2015 ECERA Conference, Barcelona, 'Parenting in hindsight'