Dr Laura Hodsdon

Membership of external committees

• Cornwall FA Inclusion Advisory Group

Research interests and expertise

My research is post-disciplinary, combining elements of social and cultural geography, sociology, organisational policy, narrative and discourse. Although perhaps disparate at first glance, there is a strong common thread: I use qualitative and quantitative social scientific methods to better understand (in)equality and identify impactful outcomes, in three domains:

Heritage and culture: normative discourse, power, and privilege

• Including hegemonic and marginalised narratives in heritage, and has included discourse analysis of visitors' responses to heritage sites and, currently, research into marginalised heritage and communities within Cornwall.

Belonging and social spaces: socio-spatial inequalities and identity

• Issues of belonging, assumptions about who "should" be where, and inter-group relations in contexts including landscape and heritage

Skills and employment: inequalities in recruitment, experience, and progression

• Building on over ten years' experience working in professional development and equality and diversity policy in higher education, interests include organisational policies and practice from a social justice and equality and inclusion perspective.

My research is underpinned by expertise in qualitative and quantitative data analysis and evaluation:

• Critical discourse analysis
• Focus groups and interviews
• Survey design and analysis
• Statistical analysis
• Equality data and policy analysis
• Evaluation and impact monitoring

Research topics

• bias
• Gender
• Narrative
• race
• social justice
• socio-spatial inequality

Current research students

Please get in touch if you're interested in undertaking PhD study in any of the following areas:

• Intangible cultural heritage, particularly relating to minoritised communities
• Implicit (unconscious) bias, privilege and power
• Discourse and normative policy and practice, particularly in heritage or organisational contexts
• Equal and inclusive representation and experience in the workplace

Consultancy and facility services

I am an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Associate for AdvanceHE.