PhD Opportunity: Digital Restorative Approaches in Wales
Today’s perpetual crisis (BLM, Brexit, Covid19, inflation…) brings injustices and the need for dialogue into focus. Restorative approaches (RA) enable individuals and communities to develop the skills to pre-empt and respond to conflict and harm, while acknowledging trauma (1,2). In Wales, RA are used to build resilience and repair relationships in schools, families and housing contexts. Within the criminal justice system, victims are entitled to Restorative Justice, a type of RA, as an alternative and/or alongside the traditional justice process. It plays a role in rehabilitation, reducing re-offending and is central to youth justice. However, RA necessitate reflection and dialogue which, in a digital society, presents challenges and opportunities.
The use of digital technology in restorative contexts (referred to as DRA) expanded during the COVID19 pandemic e.g., to facilitate mediation, virtual circles, specialist support and training (3–5). Indeed, technology has the potential to improve the sustainability and accessibility of interventions, help evidence ‘what works’, improve awareness of services and address misconceptions of RA (6–8). Beyond the traditional intervention model, technology could empower restorative communities to self-direct. Nonetheless, there are significant challenges associated with the integration of digital tools, including concerns regarding their misuse, digital exclusion, confidentiality, data security and building trust (9). Additionally, restorative practices should create opportunities for participants to connect and collaboratively re-construct their shared lived experience. Whether and how this can be achieved in a world dominated by instant and digitally mediated interaction, including online harms, needs investigation.
Using a mixed-methods socio-legal approach, this proposal sets out to meet three objectives [1] explore stakeholder experiences of the use of digital technology for the delivery of RA in England and Wales, [2] explore how co-production and trauma-informed approaches can shape DRA, plus [3] identify best practice and propose a model to aid practitioners in determining whether and how technology should be used. A baseline survey of practitioners is suggested, followed by focus groups with practitioners and community participants, to explore how and whether digital technology is used and experienced, vis-à-vis restorative principles and participants rights. Community participants may include adults engaged in Restorative Justice programmes, as well as young people taking part in school-based restorative initiatives. These methods may be complemented by an evaluation of the impact of specific technology use-cases, through a case-study approach.
The supervision team and research partners:
This project is a collaboration between a cross-disciplinary team at Swansea University and the Wales Restorative Justice Partnership (WRAP), co-funded by the ESRC Wales DTP and Health & Care Research Wales (HCRW).
Dr Correia has a foundation in Restorative Justice (RJ) and her previous work includes mixed methods and digital victimisation/exclusion. Prof. Jones’ work has shaped the field of Mobile Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience. Dr Calder has taught RJ and his areas of research expertise include childhood and social justice, and the theory and practice of co-production. This interdisciplinary supervision team proposed an approach of co-production using mixed methods.
WRAP helped identify and shape the challenges for practice and research gaps this proposal addresses and which HCRW has agreed to match-fund. They will facilitate access to data, research participants and contribute to supervision meetings on a quarterly basis, ensuring the student receives stakeholder feedback on their research and its potential relevance/application to policy and practice. The researcher will have the opportunity to access training and complete a three-month internship/shadowing with WRAP, to contribute to ongoing projects and gain a better understanding of their work. The researcher will also benefit from the opportunity to present work at stakeholder events accessible via WRAP’s wider network and develop knowledge-sharing resources for use by stakeholders.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a candidate to develop a research project aligned with the principles of co-design to [1] explore stakeholder experiences of the use of digital technology for the delivery of Restorative Approaches in England and Wales, [2] explore how co-production and trauma-informed approaches can shape Digital Restorative Practices, plus [3] identify best practice and propose a model to aid practitioners in determining whether and how technology should be used.
This is a fully-funded Economic and Social Research Council (1+3) studentship which includes a Masters degree element, progressing onto a PhD. It covers tuition fees, a living stipend, and an additional training grant. Candidates with the relevant experience at Masters level may be eligible to proceed to the (+3) PhD element directly. The successful candidate will also benefit from an excellent multi-disciplinary supervision team, and a link to practice, through close collaboration with WRAP, the Wales Restorative Approaches Partnership.
About the post
Position | PhD Opportunity: Digital Restorative Approaches in Wales
Location | Flexible
Hours | Full or Part time
Salary | This is a fully-funded Economic and Social Research Council (1+3) studentship which includes a Masters degree element, progressing onto a PhD. It covers tuition fees, a living stipend, and an additional training grant.
Information for potential applicants
For more information contact s.correia@swansea.ac.uk with any queries.
If you have general questions about postgraduate study, you may also wish to join the university’s Postgraduate Virtual Information Session, taking place on Jan 28th.
Find out how to apply HERE