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Research Profile

Prof Amanda Coffey  


Career Profile

Amanda is currently the Director of the Cardiff Node of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences: Innovation, Integration and Impact (QUALITI) (2005-8). Qualiti focuses on the innovation, integration and impact of qualitative research methods within the social sciences. The research and capacity building programme builds upon existing methodological and research capacity building strengths within the Cardiff School of Social Sciences.

Amanda joined Cardiff University in 1990, and has been a Professor in the Cardiff School of Social Sciences since 2006. During her time in Cardiff she has held a number of School and University administrative roles including chair of the School’s Quality Committee, membership of the School’s management board, learning and teaching committee, University Senate and Committee of Inquiry (unfair practice)and Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Memberships / External Activities

  • External examiner for the Open University (D844 Ethnography);
  • Editor Sociological Research On-line (with Nicola Green, 2003-6);
  • Executive editor of British Journal of Sociology of Education;
  • One of the founding editors and reviews editor for Qualitative Research;
  • Past member of the editorial board of Gender and Education;
  • Commissioning Panel, ESRC National Centre for E-Social Science (2004-5); ESRC/ASC Skills and knowledge for sustainable communities initiative (2006-7);
  • Management Board, ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (2005-2008);
  • Director of British Sociological Association/Economic and Social Research Council Postgraduate Summer School, Cardiff University (1999);
  • Visiting professor, University of Tampere, Finland (2000-2003);
  • Executive group, ESRC Teaching and Learning Research Programme, Research Capacity Building Network (2003-5).

Teaching Profile

I have taught across all levels of the School, including undergraduate (introductory and advanced), taught postgraduate and professional doctorate. My main areas of teaching expertise include qualitative research methods, gender relations and society, contemporary sociology of education, sociology of work and gender and education.

I have supervised Masters and PhD theses on a wide range of research topics. Areas of particular interest for PhD supervision include gender relations (inc. the labour market, the professions, social policy, relationships and the family); contemporary education (inc. social justice/gender issues, teachers); young people (inc. education and training, transitions, citizenship issues).

I am also happy to supervise projects that engage with and/or utilize ethnographic and qualitative approaches (inc. methodological and epistemological issues, as well as empirical studies).