QMUC RR 2002Bb

Contents Contents 1 Preface 3 Report 2002 Research Introduction 4-5 Speech and Language Sciences Research Area 7 Physical Therapy Research Area 29 Social Sciences in Health Research Area 53 Nutrition and Food Research Area 81 Business and Management Research Area 95 Information Management Research Area 111 Media and Communication Research Area 119 Drama Research Area 133 Queen Margaret University College Research Report 2002 1 Research Report 2002 Research 2 Queen Margaret University College Research Report 2002 Research Report 2002 Research Preface Our Research Report for 2000-2002 reflects an outstanding level of achievement throughout the institution and demonstrates once again our high level of commitment to strategic and applied research particularly in areas that enhance the quality of life. Since our last report in 2000 the RAE results have been published and our achievements reflect an increase in both the quality of our research outputs and also the diversity and range of research undertaken. In RAE 2001 we returned 43% of all our staff as research active which was amongst the highest in the new university sector across the UK. We were also pleased that four of our Research Areas submitted (Speech and Language Sciences, Social Sciences in Health, Physical Therapy and Drama) achieved an improved grade from the last RAE resulting in an overall 27% increase in income compared with our previous allocation. We are increasingly developing our strategies for the commercialisation of research and this is reflected in a significant increase in our CPD activities, the growth of our TCS programmes and successful spin out companies. Research and commercial activities cover a wide variety from highly focused consultancy for external organisations, including leading UK corporate businesses, the NHS, charities and government departments, to definitive academic studies which have won staff international reputations through their publications and presentations at conferences in the UK and abroad. Since the last report the University College has continued to develop and grow as a research-led institution. Our reputation regionally, nationally and internationally is based on the high quality of research that continues to underpin teaching across the breadth of the institution. We have continued to build on our eight strategically targeted areas of research activity, while strengthening the links between the Research Areas to develop a multidisciplinary focus. Professor Joan Stringer Principal and Vice Patron Queen Margaret University College http://www.qmuc.ac.uk/research/index.htm Queen Margaret University College Research Report 2002 3 Introduction Research at Queen Margaret University College is structured around eight strategic Research Areas. This report covers activity in each of these areas for the period 1 March 2000 to 1 May 2002. Research Report 2002 Research The entry for each Research Area begins with an overview of the area by the Research Area Co-ordinator followed by a list of research active personnel in the area, the main research grants, contracts and consultancies, research outputs and finally research links established by the area. Departments, Staff and Students Departments contributing to Research Areas are listed alongside appropriate Faculty contributions. The report includes research active staff only. Research active means engaged in research (publishing research papers, working on funded research projects, supervising research students). Key words summarising the research interests of individual staff are provided in brackets after the name of the researcher. Under the heading non-current members of staff we have included research active staff employed by the Institution during the period 1 March 2000 — 1 May 2002 who have research outputs included in the report. The research students listed are those students who were registered at any time during the period covered by the report. Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancy Research grants, contracts and consultancy projects funded from external sources and above the value of £1000 are listed. Research Outputs Research outputs are listed chronologically by researcher. Authors affiliated with Queen Margaret University College are indicated in bold type. An output marked with * denotes that the publication was produced while the author was not in the employment of the University College. Research Links Research Links are listed by researcher and are categorised using the following abbreviations: A Formal funded research collaborations. For example joint research grants. B Collaborative research leading to joint outputs such as publications or conference presentations. C Supervision of research students. D Staff exchange, visiting fellows or professors (not just an informal staff visit). E Other. 4 Queen Margaret University College Research Report 2002 Further Information For further information on any aspect of research at Queen Margaret University College please refer to our website http://www.qmuc.ac.uk/research/index.htm and the following contacts: Research Strategy and Policy Report 2002 Research Professor Bill Hardcastle, Dean of Research and Convenor of the Research and Innovation Committee, 0131 317 3680, [email protected] Kim Gilchrist, Senior Research and Innovation Officer, Secretary to the Research and Innovation Committee, 0131 317 3635, [email protected] Diane McGill, Innovation Manager, 0131 317 3633, [email protected] Research Area Co-ordinators Speech and Language Sciences Dr Fiona Gibbon, Research Area Co-ordinator 0131 317 3187, [email protected] Physical Therapy Dr Phil Rowe, Research Area Co-ordinator 0131 317 3643, [email protected] Social Sciences in Health Dr Steve Pavis, Research Area Co-ordinator 0131 317 3606, [email protected] Nutrition and Food Dr Isobel Davidson, Research Area Co-ordinator 0131 317 3622, [email protected] Business and Management Paul Lynch, Research Area Co-ordinator 0131 317 3589, [email protected] Information Management Dr Virginia Cano, Research Area Co-ordinator 0131 317 3515, [email protected] Media and Communication Dr David Finkelstein, Research Area Co-ordinator 0131 317 3708, [email protected] Drama Dr Ksenija Horvat, Research Area Co-ordinator 0131 317 3553, [email protected] Information on the University College s research is also available at http://www.scottishresearch.com Queen Margaret University College Research Report 2002 5 Research Report 2002 Research 6 Queen Margaret University College Research Report 2002 Research Report 2002 Research Speech and Language Sciences Research Area Queen Margaret University College Research Report 2002 7 Research Report 2002 Research 8 Queen Margaret University College Research Report 2002 Speech and Language Sciences Research Area The period 2000-2002 has been one of high productivity, achievement and change. It was dominated by preparations for the Department s RAE 2001 submission, for which it achieved the target of a 4A rating. The Department s rating has increased steadily over the past ten years. The Department s rating improved from a 2 in 1992 to a 3a in 1996. In the most recent 2001 exercise, our rating increased again to 4A, indicating two things. First, that the research quality submitted equates to levels of Report 2002 Research national and international excellence. Second, that a high percent of staff were submitted as research active. The official RAE 2001 Panel Feedback Report made positive comments about the submission, such as: (i) over a third of publications were of international quality; (ii) the number of doctorates awarded was above average for the unit of assessment; (iii) funding increased over the assessment period; (iv) there were excellent mechanisms to promote research; (v) the submission has extensive collaboration and ambitious goals. The institution submitted a higher proportion of staff than any new university in Scotland in RAE 2001, with the Department leading the way with 100% submission of staff. The Department s significant achievement in the RAE has meant that it has retained its position as a flagship within the University College, and has made a significant contribution to the institution s recent ranking among the top eight universities in the UK in terms of value of research , which uses a measure calculated from research output per academic staff costs (Research Fortnight, 2002, 16, 18-19). This period has seen significant staff changes, with four new members of staff joining the Department. John Laver joined from Edinburgh University as Research Professor in Speech Sciences for a three-year period from 1 January 2001. John is a former Vice Principal of Edinburgh University, a leading international scholar (FBA, FRSE, CBE for contributions to phonetics) and former Chair of the Humanities Research Board of the British Academy. Three new lecturers also took up appointments: Ineke Mennen joined in 2000 from the Department of Speech, University of Newcastle; Jocelynne Watson in 2001 from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh and Robin Lickley in 2001 from the University of Edinburgh. Carmel Lum, Liz Dean and Lucy Ellis left the Department during this time. Two Research Assistants were appointed: Bryony Vernal in 2001 on the CLEFTNET project, and Joanne McCann in 2002 on a project investigating prosody in autism funded by the Scottish Executive. A new Director of Research was appointed in 2000 (Fiona Gibbon). She was responsible for the Department s RAE submission, which included further definition

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