Dr Joanne Massey

My profile

Biography

I’d describe myself as outgoing, creative, and thoughtful.

My out of work interests include painting and drawing, Buddhism, crafts, cinema and politics   

My main research interests are young people, public space, urban regeneration, cities and culture.
 

Words of wisdom

Criminology at MMU is about the way that society deals with and legislates against crime.  It is not about serial killers, criminal profiling or forensics.  If you are interested in how institutions such as the police and courts operate or the impact of class, gender, age and ethnicity within the Criminal Justice System then this is the degree for you!  

Academic and professional qualifications

Joanne’s PhD thesis ‘Public Space and the Rebuilding of Manchester’ focused on the regeneration of an area of central Manchester (now known as the Millennium Quarter) after the 1996 IRA bombing.

Other distinctions

- member of Urban Alternatives steering group funded by De Paul Trust

- accreddited DfEE Mentor

Teaching

How I’ll teach you

My role is as an educator and researcher.  It’s important to give students a sound overview of criminology and sociology using contemporary examples. I try to draw on my own research to do this.  If students can relate knowledge to their own experience and talk about this as part of seminars this is also useful.  Our everyday lives are impacted upon by those with power such as the government, media, police and increasingly multi-national corporations.  Equipping students with a critical understanding of how these institutions work is beneficial.  
During the course of my teaching I use lectures to give an overview of a subject and seminars to explore the subject in more detail.  I expect that students do a certain amount of independent learning, such as reading, in preparation for seminars.  
I like to give the seminars over to students as much as possible, so they can direct their own learning and ask for clarification or raise questions on areas of interest.   In terms of measuring learning the assessment methods for students are as innovative as possible using techniques such as presentations and posters, alongside more conventional methods such as examinations and essays.  
The three words which best describe my approach are varied, interactive and democratic.   
 

Subject areas

Criminology

Supervision

Completed:

MA Sociology ‘Grafitti as a means of revoutionary expression’

MA Criminology ‘The effectiveness of ring only burglar alarms in Salford’

Research outputs

Joanne has worked on a number of research projects including ‘The Experience of Mid-Life and Beyond’ (ESRC/AHRC funded project for Keele University) in 2006, the ASPIRE project (women and new cultural industries), Noise Nuisance, Quality of Life and Fear of Crime (funded by Age Concern And Greater Manchester Police 2002) and a project funded by UK Sport which focused on the social impact of the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.

Research Interests

- public space

- urban regeneration

- gentrification

- popular culture

- youth culture

- communities 

- urban studies

Research Activities

2007- 2011 member of Urban Alternatives steering group funded by De Paul Trust

2006  ‘The Experience of Mid-Life and Beyond’ ESRC/AHRC funded project for Keele University. 

2002 Noise Nuisance, Quality of Life and Fear of Crime funded by Age Concern And Greater Manchester Police.  

March – June 2002 Emerging Sector Opportunities funded by ESF  

June 2001 The Sports Development Impact of the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games: Initial Baseline Research funded by UK Sport.  

August – October 2000 Cultural Industries Audit funded by Vice Chancellor MMU. 

June-July 2000 ASPIRE research on career advice for women working within the new cultural industries funded by ESF. 

March 2000 Cultural Industries Data Collection exercise funded by CIDS, Manchester City Council.