Dr. Esther Priyadharshini’s research centres around the two areas of (i) applying/testing critical theories (post-colonial, post-structural, feminist) in educational situations, to offer critique and re-think educational organisation and identities, and (ii) advancing thinking about qualitative methodologies (discourse analysis, writing, ethnography), educational research encounters and the impact of these on knowledge production. She is interested in the dynamics of research encounters in educational sites, and the inter-twined nature of the subjectivities of researchers and their participants/subjects. 

Publications

Priyadharshini., & Watson, J., “Between aspiration and achievement: Agency and structure in young migrant lives”, Power and Education, Special Issue on Migration & Education, pp. 150-161, Vol 4, Issue 2, 2012.

Priyadharshini, E., ‘Counter-narratives in ‘naughty’ students’ accounts: Challenges for the discourse of behaviour management’, Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, pp 113-129, Vol 32, Issue 1, 2011.

Belton, T., & Priyadharshini, E., 'Boredom and Schooling: A cross-disciplinary perspective', Cambridge Journal of Education, pp. 579-595, Vol. 37, Issue 4, Dec 2007.

Blickem, C., & Priyadharshini, E., 'Patient narratives: The potential for 'patient-centred' interprofessional education?', Journal of Interprofessional Care, pp. 1-14, Vol. 21, Issue 6, Dec 2007.

Priyadharshini, E., ‘Reading the Rhetoric of Otherness in the Discourse of Business and Economics: Towards a Postdisciplinary Practice,’ in Anshuman Prasad (Ed.), Postcolonialism and Organizational Analysis, pp. 170-192, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.

Priyadharshini, E. and Robinson-Pant, A., ‘The Attractions of Teaching: An investigation into why people change careers to teach’, Journal of Education for Teaching, pp. 95-112, Vol. 29, Issue 3, 2003.

Priyadharshini, E., ‘Coming Unstuck: Thinking Otherwise about ‘Studying Up’’, Anthropology & Education Quarterly, pp.1-19, Vol. 34, Issue 4, December 2003. 

Seminars and workshops
 

Challenges from children's accounts of naughtiness at school, March 2012, the Centre for the study of childhood and youth, University of Sheffield.

‘Double-binds on ‘international researchers: A critical look at the discourse of ‘internationalism’ in educational research’ – Paper presented in June 2009 at Cambridge University as part of a joint BAICE funded workshop with UEA, May 2009.

'Impossible' Subjects: Studying truanting students", Delivered at the Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences, Almeria University, Spain, Oct 2004.

Dilemmas in feminist research: The case of covert ethnography. Delivered at the Institute of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, Nov 5th 2003.

Conformity and Resistance within the Indian 'MBA Discourse'. Delivered at the EDU-DEV seminar series at UEA, Jan 28th 2002.

Conference papers
 

Lamb P. & Priyadharshini E., “The conundrum of Cheerleading", the International conference on Sport and Society, July 2012, University of Cambridge.

Priyadharshini, E. & Watson, J., “Education, Migration & the Big Society” at Discourse, Power and Resistance Conference, April 2011, Plymouth University.

Priyadharshini, E., "Fear and Loathing in the field of educational research' at Discourse, Power and Resistance Conference, March 2010, University of Greenwich.

Priyadharshini, E., ‘Constructing an account of oneself: confession, justification, contradiction and speculation in student narrative’, BERA conference, September 2008, Edinburgh.

Priyadharshini, E., 'Reclaiming a Trickster subjectivity for researchers', Discourse, Power and Resisitance Conference 5, 20 - 22 April 2006, MMU.

Elliott, C., Perriton, L., & Priyadharshini, E., 'From Prima to Good Housekeeping: the practice of training and the reproduction of middle-class femininity', 4th International Critical Management Studies Conference, University of Cambridge, 4th - 6th July 2005.

Blickem, C., & Priyadharshini, E., 'Telling Tales: The use of narratives in the education of health professionals' ATINER conference, Athens, May 2005.

Elliott, C., Perriton, L., & Priyadharshini, E., 'Doing Gender in the Transnational Captialist Class', British Academy of Management Conference, St. Andrews Aug 30 - Sept 1 2004 - was awarded the Best Paper prize in the Gender and Management Track.

Priyadharshini, E., Perriton, L & Elliott, C., ‘Could this be a feminist ethnography? The politics and pleasures of covert research’. Conference on “Advances in Qualitative Methods”, International Institute of Qualitative Research, Banff, Canada, May 2003.

Priyadharshini, E., ‘A Methodological Response to the Phenomenon of Globalisation: The Case for an Anthropological Orientation to Research on Education’. Paper presented at the conference on “Globalisation and Challenges for Education”, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi, December 2001.

Priyadharshini, E., ‘The Rhetoric of Otherness in the Discourse of Business and Economics: A Postcolonial Perspective’. Paper presented at the ‘First International Critical Management Studies Conference,’ UMIST, Manchester, July 1999.

 

Research projects undertaken
 

• Widening Horizons (2010-11): A project funded by UEA's Outreach Opportunities Fund to understand the facilitators and impediments to accessing HE/FE amongst Central and Eastern European migrant school students in North Norfolk.
• Investigation of behaviour management strategies for the Lowestoft partnership of schools (2006-7): A study of current behaviour management strategies across the partnership in order to develop a better understanding of such practices between schools and encourage some consistency in the treatment of pupils as they pass through the various levels.
• TEACH (Training, Education and Action for coping at Home) project (2003-5): An ethnographic study of stroke services in Norwich Community Hospital. The aim was to understand the admissions & discharge processes from the point of the patients and professionals involved to deliver a more effective service and educational programme. This was a Knowledge Transfer Partnership project undertaken with Rob Walker & Christian Blickem.
• Internally funded project (2002): A covert, critical study of 'women in management/leadership' conferences organised to educate women into corporate management. This was undertaken with two other colleagues from Lancaster and York universities (Dr. Carole Elliott and Dr. Linda Perriton). The methodology of covert ethnography was experimented with.
• Attendance Research (2002): A research project undertaken for the LEA to understand poor attendance and truancy among Year 11 students in Park High School, King’s Lynn. The project was meant to understand student perspectives of truancy and used students as co-researchers.
• Change for the Better (2001): A research project undertaken for the TTA, jointly with colleagues, looking into the reasons why people changed careers to move into teaching and the process of such decision making, with a view to improving recruitment into the teaching profession.
• LTSN:BEST evaluation (2001): An internal evaluation undertaken jointly with colleagues for the Learning and Teaching Support Network: Business Education Support Team based in UEA.

Doctoral supervisions

Dr. Priyadharshini supervises doctoral research across a range of topics, in varied educational fields. Ethnography, gender and the examination of identities tend to figure in the work of the doctoral students that Esther supervises in one way or the other, and she welcomes applicants who may share her research interests. A list of theses completed with her guidance:

N.Taylor 2012 - Fear, Performance and Power: A study of simulation learning in paramedic education Ed.D

J. Sheen 2011 - Whither Health Visiting? Again... Ed.D

C. Kitcatt 2010 - Dancing Barefoot: An Exploration of Women's Experience of the Spiritual Accompaniment/Direction Relationship. EdD

C. Rylands 2010 - How Young Men Negotiate Schooling: The Role of Significant Events, Masculinities and Influence of Home. EdD

C. Blickem 2008 - Stroke Stories: The potential of patient narratives for enhancing patient-centred care. PhD

C. Horne 2007 - A journey through change: developing knowledge to inform a return to nursing curriculum through action research. EdD

J. Castañeda-Mayo 2006 - Understanding the Figure of the Mexican Woman Academic: A Story of Success and Constraint. PhD

P. McClung 2006 - Linking voice and form: the use of the “Impertinent Predicate” as perspective for leaving or staying as a special education classroom teacher. EdD

J. Moore 2006 - An exploration of lecturer as facilitator within the context of problem-based learning. EdD

A. Ross 2006 - An insider ethnographic study of a primary care trust’s experience of aiming to become a learning organisation. EdD

J. Cross 2005 - Participant narratives on the impact of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme. EdD

J. Hardie 2005 - Developing boys’ attitudes towards writing in the foundation stage. EdD