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Category: Arts and social sciences

Alone together – Mothering Sunday in the times of COVID-19

Alone together – Mothering Sunday in the times of COVID-19

In this piece psychology academics, including The Open University’s Dr Lisa Lazard and Dr Rose Capdevila look at how despite the social isolation brought about by the coronavirus, there are positive ways that people can think about connecting on social media with their mothers and loved ones on Mothering Sunday but also some of the […]

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How to spot a conspiracy theory when you see one

How to spot a conspiracy theory when you see one

Dr Jovan Byford, Head of Discipline & Senior Lecturer in Psychology at The Open University writes for The Conversation about spotting a conspiracy theory. Anyone who engages critically with the phenomenon of conspiracy theories soon encounters a conundrum. Actual conspiracies occur quite regularly. Political assassinations, scandals and cover-ups, terrorist attacks and a lot of everyday […]

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Woman driving

OU research supports police safe driving campaign

Research by an OU psychology academic has helped produce a toolkit of resources for police forces to use in a campaign for safer driving. The social media toolkit is to educate and enforce the law against mobile phone use by drivers. Dr Gemma Briggs, senior lecturer in psychology, provided evidence based on her research on […]

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Emmanuel Macron

How you can tell Emmanuel Macron is actually a populist – and why it matters

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, came to power in 2017 in the wake of the election of Donald Trump in the US and the Brexit referendum – widely seen as a period of crisis that pitted populism against liberal democracy. At the time, Macron presented himself as a defender of liberalism against the dangers […]

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Ancient spells and charms for the hapless in love

Ancient spells and charms for the hapless in love

PhD Student at The Open University, Adam Parker writes for The Conversation about ancient love spells and charms. Valentine’s Days is not all love hearts and roses for everyone. For the hapless in love, the day can be a yearly reminder of failed romances, unrequited love and the seemingly unending search for the illusive “one”. Such […]

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Interior of Imam Mosque at Naqhsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, Iran

Cultural sites and war crimes, explaining the connection

As tensions between Iran and the US continue, the OU’s Professor Derek Matravers takes a closer look at at why criticism was levelled at President Trump earlier this month, for his threats to Iran’s cultural sites. Derek Matravers is Professor of Philosphy at The Open University and his research activity includes his involvement in directing […]

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Veganism has always been more about living an ethical life than just avoiding meat and dairy

Veganism has always been more about living an ethical life than just avoiding meat and dairy

Dr Matthew Cole, Lecturer in Criminology at The Open University joins Dr Kate Stewart from Nottingham Trent University to write for The Conversation about the origins of Veganism being more than just diet. “Ethical veganism” has been ruled to be a philosophical belief in the UK in an employment tribunal. During a case brought by […]

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Stuart Hall

Sixty years ago: Stuart Hall arrives to renew the Left

Alan Shipman looks back to 1960 when the late Stuart Hall (former Professor of Sociology at the OU) first emerged as a leading Left thinker and pioneering social scientist. January 1960 began with a fresh challenge for Stuart Hall, a young teacher from Jamaica still adjusting to London life after finishing his English Literature studies. […]

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couple looking in estate agents

No Brexit boost for affordable housing

The Open University’s Alan Shipman, Lecturer in Economics, takes a look ahead to how the housing market will fare in the coming year. House price forecasts remain relatively optimistic for 2020, for those who regard their four walls as an investment and not just a place to live. After an average increase of just 0.7% […]

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Shopping bag

Bargain hunters: how shops make us buy

The post-Christmas sales are in full swing but how do shops persuade us to spend? Have some fund finding out more about what shops do to make us buy with the interactive tool below developed by our sociologists. And if you’ve enjoyed eating your way through the Christmas holidays and and want to know more […]

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