About the Project
This MSc research fee waiver project is funded by the University of Huddersfield. It is ideal for occupational therapists who want to progress their career developing research skills and with a keen interest in occupational and social justice. The aim of this research is to explore how hope is experienced and understood within marginalised groups, and how it relates to occupational identity. Examination of how hope is interpreted, enacted and adapted within the population and context is…
expected. This will support conceptual insights to inform social justice and equitable occupational therapy practice with diverse marginalised groups.
Hope has been identified to be an important factor in occupational participation with some marginalised groups. This project in the field of occupational therapy and occupational science considers hope in relation to occupational identity and whether this is transferable to other marginalised groups. This further exploration of how hope and related concepts may help to explain how individuals understand and participate in meaningful occupation during adversity. This is of importance to support equitable occupational therapy practice and enhance theoretical tools for working with diverse and marginalised groups. There is the potential to explore this concept in marginalised groups such as homelessness, survivors of domestic abuse, care leavers, long-term unemployment, neurodivergent adults facing social exclusion, and/or LGBTQ+adults. The specific population will be selected in collaboration with the student to ensure feasibility.
This is an emerging area of occupational therapy and science and therefore will offer an opportunity to contribute and influence this evolving field. This will support and inform the ongoing transformation and delivery of health and social care services as they progress towards community delivery, inclusivity and individualisation in line with government and global agendas.
We anticipate that this research will follow a qualitative methodology to support in-depth exploration of lived experience, meaning making and social processes.
