Head of College of the College of Social Science, Pro-Vice Chancellor

Professor Murphy has an MA from the University of St Andrews, an MSc in Advanced Social and Educational Research Methods from the Open University and a PhD from the University of Southampton.

Her empirical research covers a wide range of topics in health and social care, including diabetes, back pain, smoking, infant feeding, motherhood, teenage pregnancy, nutritional health, vaginal symptoms, learning disabilities, inpatient care for people with dementia, the extension of prescribing rights, previously restricted to doctors, to nurses and pharmacists and an evaluation of the Yellow Card Scheme for reporting adverse drug reactions.

These are drawn together by a common interest in the relationship between individuals, families, professionals and the state. In particular, this research has been concerned with the ways in which, in contemporary liberal states, power operates through discourses that define what is good, moral, responsible and legitimate. It explores the possibilities of resistance that exist for clients and professionals who are caught up in such discourses in relation to the delivery of health and social care. Much of this research has involved collaborations with colleagues from other disciplines.

Her methodological scholarship focuses upon the applications of social science methods to policy-relevant research. This includes extended work on the application of qualitative methods and mixed methods approaches to health policy research and an interdisciplinary collaborative study identifying optimal methods for eliciting professional and end-user requirements in the design and development of medical devices.

Contact details

• Telephone: 0116 252 2842
• Email: elizabeth.murphy@le.ac.uk