Professor Daniela Sime

Research Interests

My research aims to promote a strong social justice agenda that challenges social inequalities, especially in relation to traditionally marginalised groups, and to translate this research in changes in policy and practice. In pursuit of these aims, I draw upon theoretical and methodological insights from the new sociology of childhood, sociology of education, race and ethnicity studies and social policy. My research is particularly interested in social, cultural and educational contexts of exclusion, segregation and marginalisation - along with a concern for making research relevant to practitioners and policy makers- and falls within these themes:

Children and young people, migration, ethnicities and identity

• Impact of family migration on children’s everyday lives, including educational opportunities, well-being and relationships;
• Intergenerational relations and cultural learning in transnational families;
• Minoritised children and youth, inclusion, identity and civic participation;
• Inclusive approaches in education and public services, with a focus on Central and Eastern European groups, Roma, Gypsy Travellers;
• Methodological and ethical issues in research with young people.

Poverty and its impact on children’s opportunities

• Approaches to tackling poverty and social disadvantage, including multi-agency working;
• Reducing educational underachievement of traditionally marginalised groups;
• Impact of poverty on neighborhoods and young people as service users and their involvement in service improvement;
• Young people’s use of technologies and the technological divide;
• Approaches to involving practitioners and policy makers with research evidence and ways of supporting evidence-based practice.

Previous projects I have led as Principal Investigator over the last 15 years include:

• A project funded by the British Academy, conducted in partnership with Glasgow City Council, entitled Children on the margins: Roma migrants’ experiences of schooling and other services;

• Intergenerational learning in Polish families funded by a grant from the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice (SCIP), supported by the Scottish Government; 

• An ESRC/SFC/LARCI-funded knowledge exchange programme under the ‘Engaging with Scottish Local Authorities Scheme’ conducted in partnership with Glasgow City Council, West Dunbartonshire Council and Save the Children, entitled Co-ordinating service provision and improving life changes for children in severe poverty;

• An ESRC-funded project examining children’s experiences of migration in Scotland, entitled At Home Abroad: The life experiences of children of Eastern European migrant workers in Scotland;

• An evaluation of home-school partnerships in early years in West Dunbartonshire Council (Funders: West Dunbartonshire Council/Save the Children); 

• A scoping study on ethnic minority parents’ involvement in their children’s education (University of Strathclyde’s Research Fund); 

• A scoping study on Gypsy/Traveller children’s learning experiences and opportunities of access to formal education (Funded by Save the Children); 

• A project entitled Improving educational outcomes for children living in poverty through parental involvement in primary schools (Funded by Save the Children).

If you share my research interests and you are interested in studying for a PhD on migrant groups, social inequalities, young people’s everyday lives and participation, please get in touch.

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