Directory of Experts
Details for Dr Val Williams
| Personal details | |
| Name | Dr Val Williams |
| Job title | Reader in Disability, Policy and Practice |
| Department | Norah Fry Research Centre University of Bristol |
| Contact details | This expert can be contacted via the University of Bristol Public Relations
Office. To help us deal with your request, please mention the Directory of Experts when contacting the Public Relations Office. work+44 (0)117 928 7777 email: public-relations@bristol.ac.uk |
| Qualifications | BA(Oxon), MEd(Bristol), PhD(Open) |
| Professional details | |
| Keywords | inclusive research disabled people disability communication learning difficulties research discourse analysis conversation analysis |
| Areas of expertise | Two central themes have dominated my research. These are: a) inclusive research: including disabled people as active researchers; b) analysing naturally-occurring communication. During my time at Norah Fry Research Centre, I have developed and pioneered methods for including people with learning disabilities as researchers, and have made central contributions towards theorising this new ‘paradigm’ of research. My other central interest is in communication. My thesis brought together my two central interests, as it explored and described inclusive research as a social activity, using the tools of discourse analysis (DA) and conversation analysis (CA). My more recent work on ‘Skills for Support’ (Williams et al., 2007) is recognised as significant, since it questions the nature and relationship between researcher and researched, and the practical implications of discourse research. |