Sandor Gellen

SG

Sandor Gellen

Research Associate

My profile

Biography

As a Research Associate based at the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, I specialise in evaluating programmes and projects using quantitative and small-n mixed methodologies. I currently work on projects across a number of areas including ‘What Works’ in education and in Children’s Social Care, and approaches to the co-production of public services. I’m involved in randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, and projects where alternative non-traditional methods are applied to assess impact.

I teach postgraduate students on the ‘What Works: Experiments and Systematic Reviews’ module and I am the Deputy Programme Leader on the MSc Evaluation and Policy Analysis programme at the Manchester Metropolitan University.

Academic and professional qualifications 

MSc Degree in Applied Quantitative Methods, Manchester Metropolitan University (2018)

MA Degree in Literature & Linguistics, University of Szeged (2010)

BSc Degree in Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University (2017)

Membership of professional associations

Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society

Get in touch

0161 247 1679
Geoffrey Manton Building

Projects

Recent projects

  • Reading Plus Evaluation, Co-investigator. Education Endowment Foundation. Jan 2024 – Jun 2026.
  • Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) Evaluation. Co-investigator. Education Endowment Foundation. Jan 2024 – Jun 2026.
  • Peer Assisted Learning Strategies UK (PALS) Evaluation. Co-investigator. Education Endowment Foundation.  Feb 2022 – Jun 2024.
  • The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for adults experiencing homelessness: A systematic review. Co-investigator. The Campbell Collaboration. 2022 - present
  • Evaluation of the Empowering Parents and Professionals Using Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) programme (Babies1st) – Co-investigator. What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC), 2021 – 2022.
  • Impact evaluation of Kirklees better outcomes partnership. Co-PI. Bridges Outcomes Partnership, 2022 – 2023.
  • The SEND Review evaluation, Co-investigator. Education Endowment Foundation. 2019 – 2025
  • Impact evaluation of RESCALED. Co-investigator. Porticus, 2021 – 2023.
  • Implementation and process evaluation of  the We Can Talk About Domestic Abuse programme. (Funder: WWCSC). Co-investigator. What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC), 2021 – 2023.

Teaching

I’m the Deputy Programme Leader of the MSc Evaluation and Policy Evaluation programme

In the upcoming academic year I will be delivering content on the following modules:

  • MSc Foundation of Quantitative Analysis and Data Management
  • MSc What Works: Experiments and Systematic Reviews
  • L4 Introduction to Methods for Politics and International Relations

Research outputs

Gellen, S., Fox, C. (2024) The Impact of Strengths-Based Working on Long-Term Housing Outcomes: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis. Social Work Research, https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svae015

Cook, W., Lewin, C., Gellen, S., Crompton, Z. (2024) Evaluation of Primary Science Quality Mark: A cluster randomised trial. Evaluation Protocol. Education Endowment Foundation.

Gellen, S., Wicker, K., Ainsworth, S., Morris, S., Lewin, C. (2024) Using the DreamBox Reading Plus adaptive literacy intervention to improve reading attainment, a two-armed cluster randomised trial evaluation protocol. Education Endowment Foundation.

Lewin, C., Morris, S., Ainsworth, S., Gellen, S., Wicker, K. (forthcoming) Evaluation of the Peer Assisted Learning Strategies for Reading UK (PALS-UK) intervention, a two-armed cluster randomised trial. Evaluation Report. Education Endowment Foundation.

Gellen S. (2023) Impact evaluation of the Kirklees Better Outcomes Partnership. A Qualitative Comparative Analysis. In Seminar: Sharing research on co-production, personalisation and relational services. Manchester, UK, 26 June 2023.

Gellen, S. & Morris, S. (2023) Evaluation of the Peer Assisted Learning Strategies for Reading UK (PALS-UK) intervention, a two-armed cluster randomised trial. Statistical Analysis Plan. Education Endowment Foundation.

O’Leary C, Teixeira L, Coren E, Gellen S, Roberts A, Armitage H, Kiss Z. (2022) PROTOCOL: The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for reducing problematic substance use, improving mental health, and improving housing stability for adults experiencing homelessness: a systematic review, Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(4)  DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1290

Ozan, J., Gellen, S., Fox, C., Morris, S., Cargill, R, (2022) We can talk about domestic abuse Pilot evaluation report. What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care.

Ainsworth, S., Gellen, S.,  Lewin, C., & Morris, S. (2022) Evaluation of the Peer Assisted Learning Strategies for Reading UK (PALS-UK) intervention, a two-armed cluster randomised trial. Evaluation Protocol. Education Endowment Foundation.

Fox, C., Gellen, S., Ozan, J. (2022) Interim evaluation of Kirklees Better Outcomes Partnership and Greater Manchester Better Outcomes Partnership. Bridges Outcomes Partnership.

Fox, C., Gellen, S., Morris, S., Ozan, J., Crockford, J. (2022) Impact evaluation with small cohorts: methodology guidance. Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO).

Olson, H., Gellen, S., Fox, C., Painter, G., Ozan, J. (2022) Comparing Different Approaches to Evaluating the Impact of Social Outcomes Contracts. In PMRC 2022. Phoenix, Arizona, 25/5/2022 - 28/7/2022.

Gellen, S., Ozan, J., Fox, C., (2021) GM Homes Partnership Evaluation Report. A Qualitative Comparison Analysis. Bridges Outcomes Partnership.

Adams, L., Morris, S., Svanaes, S., Beninger, K., Smith, A., Gellen, S., & Jones, H. (2021). Trial evaluation protocol: Evaluation of empowering parents and professionals using Video Interactive Guidance (VIG) programme (Babies 1st). What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care.

Gellen, S. & Lowe, R. (2021) (Re)constructing Social Hierarchies: A critical discourse analysis of an international charity’s visual appeals. Critical Discourse Studies 18(2), 280-300.

Gellen, S., Saunders, F., Simmons, L., Stannard, J., & McAllister-Gibson, C. (2020). Can video support improve attainment? Evaluating the impact of teaching videos on student performance. Learning and Teaching Journal, 2(2).

Saunders, F., Gellen, S., Stannard, J., McAllister-Gibson, C., Simmons, L., & Gibson, A. (2020). Exploring the use of teaching videos to improve educational outcomes: A cross-Faculty study. In Advance HE Annual Teaching and Learning Conference. Virtual: Advance HE.