Westminster Diversity in Education Research Group

The WiDER Group at the University of Westminster developed from a collective interest in the difficulties and dilemmas facing university students who identify as members of minority groups, for example as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Black, Asian or mixed race. We use a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the lived experience of students with a particular focus on the complex relationships between individuals, groups, institutions and their wider social and cultural context. We draw on a range of theoretical frameworks including critical and feminist psychological perspectives.

Group Members

Current Project

Mapping Exclusion in Undergraduate Psychology: Towards a Common Architecture of the Minority Student Experience

This project aims to document and analyse the experiences of minority students (black and ethnic minority, lesbian, gay and bisexual students) who have studied/are studying psychology at University/HE level. Using a qualitative approach, informed by Grounded Theory techniques, students will be interviewed concerning their experiences in relation to 1) their expectations, 2) the curriculum, 3) their personal and social environment and 4) learning and teaching (departmental) environment. There is a particular focus on psychology’s treatment of race, ethnicity and sexuality/sexual identity within its subject matter and the ways in which students relate to the discipline in general, and the department in particular. Findings will be disseminated and presented as a foundation for intervention strategies, including increasing staff and student awareness, curriculum design, staff training and other strategies for inclusive learning and teaching practices.

This project has been funded by the Higher Education Academy (Psychology Network) Link: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/3787.htm.

Publications

Hodges, I (2009) Towards More Inclusive University Teaching and Learning Practices for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Psychology Students. Lesbian and Gay Psychology Review. Vol. 10 (1).

Hodges, I. & Pearson, C. (2008). Silent Minority: Exploring British Gay Men's Experience of the Nature and Content of Psychology as a Discipline, Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 5(1), 33-57

Conference Presentations

Hodges, I. & Pearson, C. (2006) Psychology at the Crossroads: Gay and Bi Men's Accounts of Learning and Teaching in U.K. Psychology Departments. Poster presented at the 4th Annual Conference on Teaching & Learning, Galway, Ireland.

Hodges, I. & Pearson, C. (2005) Out From The Margins: Exploring Gay Men's Accounts of Learning and Teaching in U.K. Psychology Departments. Paper presented at the BPS Annual Conference, Manchester, UK.

Hodges, I. & Pearson, C. (2004) Exploring Gay Men's Experience of Undergraduate Psychology. Paper Presented at the Quality of Life and Psychology Conference, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Jobanputra, S. (2006) How do Ethnic Minority students experience psychology in Higher Education? Poster presented at the 4th Annual Conference on Teaching and Learning: Challenge of Diversity Conference, Galway, Ireland. 8-9 June

Jobanputra, S. (2006) Invited Seminar given on Diversity issues for new lecturers. Higher Education Academy 1 day conference on Handling Diversity: Teaching psychology to a diverse student group. University of York, January 11.

Jobanputra, S. (2005) 'Racism and Psychology: Learning from Black Students'. Paper presented at the International Critical Psychology Conference, Durban, South Africa, June 28-July 1

Jobanputra, S. (2005) 'Psychology and Racism: A study of black students' experiences'. Paper to be presented at the BPS Quinquennial Conference, Manchester, March 30-April 2

Pearson, C., and Smith, S. (2006) Diversity in Higher Education: Lesbian & Bisexual psychology undergraduate's experiences of studying psychology. Poster presentation at the Challenge of Diversity Conference, Galway, Ireland. 8-9 June.

Smith, S., Pearson, C. (2005) Diversity in Higher Education: Lesbian Psychology Undergraduate's Experiences of Studying Psychology. Widening Participation Symposium. Paper presented at the BPS Quinquennial Conference, Manchester, 30 March-1 April.

Smith, S., Jesson, A., Hodges, I., Jobanputra, S. & Pearson, C. (2006) Mapping Exclusion in Undergraduate Psychology: Towards a Common Architecture of the Minority Student Experience. Paper presented at the 4th Annual Conference on Teaching & Learning, Galway, Ireland.

Powerpoint presentations

How do Ethnic Minority Students Experience Psychology in Higher Education?

Experiences of Lesbian and Bi psychology undergraduates

Experiences of Gay and Bi psychology undergraduates

Towards a common architecture of the minority student experience

Sue Smith

Sue Smith was a lecturer in various branches of psychology and module leader for the Psychology of Women at the University of Westminster for 6 years and also contributed to an MA distance learning programme in Applied Social Research.

She is now a Licensed Homeopathic Practitioner based in Nottingham, but has maintained her research interests in psychology and extended these into the field of homeopathy, specialising in women’s health and well-being.

Her publications to date are:

Smith, S., Jessen, A., Hodges, I., Jobanputra, S. & Pearson, C. (2006) Mapping Exclusion in Undergraduate Psychology: Towards a Common Architecture of the Minority Student Experience. Paper presented at the 4th Annual Conference on Teaching and Learning: Challenge of Diversity Conference, Galway, Ireland 8-9 June 2006

Pearson, C.and Smith, S (2006). Diversity in Higher Education: Lesbian & Bisexual psychology undergraduate's experiences of studying psychology. Poster presentation at the Challenge of Diversity Conference, Galway, Ireland. 8-9 June 2006

Smith, Sue & Pearson, Carol (2005): Diversity in Higher Education: Lesbian Psychology Undergraduate’s Experiences of Studying Psychology. Widening Participation Symposium. Paper presented at the BPS Quinquennial Conference, Manchester, 30 March-1April 2005.

Smith, Sue (2004): Review of Paludi, Michelle A (2002): The Psychology of Women (Second Edition), Prentice Hall, in Lesbian & Gay Psychology Review Vol 5, Part 3, Nov 2004

Smith, Sue (2002): Review of Minas, Anne (2000): Gender Basics: Feminist Perspectives on Women and Men (2nd edition), Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole, in Lesbian & Gay Psychology Review Vol 3, Part 2, Jul 2002

Smith, Sue (2001): Review of Munt, Sally R (ed) (1998): butch / femme: inside lesbian gender, London, Cassell, in Lesbian & Gay Psychology Review Vol 2, Part 3, Nov 2001

Smith, Sue (2000): ‘Why Sections are both relevant and necessary’ The Psychologist Vol 13, 8 p 392

Smith, Sue (1998): Review of Feminism and Sexuality: A Reader, Jackson S & Scott S (eds) (1996), in Feminist Forum, Women's Studies International Forum Vol 20, 7 (1998)

Smith, Sue (1997): Review of Feminist Foremothers in Women's Studies, Psychology and Mental Health, Phyllis Chesler, Esther Rothblum, Ellen Cole (eds) (1995), Harrington Park Press, in Feminist Forum, Women's Studies International Forum Vol 19, 6 (1996)

Smith, Sue (1996): Report on New Sexual Agendas Conference, July 1995 in Feminist Forum, Women's Studies International Forum Vol 18, 5/6, pp I‑III

Smith, Sue (1995): Review of Female Sexuality: Psychology, Biology & Social Context, by Choi P & Nicolson P (eds) (1994) in Feminism & Psychology Vol 5, No 3, pp 391‑394