Dr Gillian Fergie

  • Research Associate (MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit)

Biography

Gillian Fergie is a Research Associate in the Improving Healthy Public Policy Programme at the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit. She currently works on a range of projects using qualitative and mixed methods to explore people’s engagement with contemporary health issues and debates. Gillian is interested in the use of participatory research methods and community-engaged research.  Her recent work builds on her PhD, completed in January 2015, entitled “Understanding young adults’ online engagement and health experiences in the age of social media: exploring diabetes and common mental health disorders”, supervised by Dr Shona Hilton and Prof Kate Hunt.

Before joining the Improving Healthy Public Policy Programme Gillian graduated with an MA (hons) in History in 2007 and an MSc in Social Science Research in 2011, both from the University of Glasgow.  She worked as a research assistant from 2008-2010 on a project developing academic writing support for postgraduates at University College London, and maintains an interest in the practice of academic writing.

Gillian has an interest in public engagement and public involvement in research. She is also a member of the College of Social Science Research Ethics Committee.


Research interests

Research interests: e-health, social media, health inequalities, health literacy, public understandings of health, experiences of health and illness, young people.

Expertise: qualitative methods, participatory research methods, public engagement, media analysis.


Grants

Grants and Awards listed are those received whilst working with the University of Glasgow.

  • Developing a participatory approach for exploring young people's perspectives on health inequalities
    Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
    2019 - 2021
     

Teaching

Gillian teaches qualitative methods, including focus group facilitation, qualitative interviewing, online research methods and analysing qualitative data. She also runs sessions on public engagement and public involvement in research.


Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013
Number of items: 16.

2019

Buckton, C. , Fergie, G. , Leifeld, P. and Hilton, S. (2019) A discourse network analysis of UK newspaper coverage of the 'sugar tax' debate before and after the announcement of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 490. (doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6799-9) (PMID:31046718) (PMCID:PMC6498658)

Fergie, G. , Leifeld, P., Hawkins, B. and Hilton, S. (2019) Mapping discourse coalitions in the Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol debate: a discourse network analysis of UK newspaper coverage. Addiction, 114(4), pp. 741-753. (doi:10.1111/add.14514) (PMID:30475418) (PMCID:PMC6492293)

2018

Hewer, R., Smith, K. and Fergie, G. (2018) The social functionality of humor in group-based research. Qualitative Health Research, (doi:10.1177/1049732318800675) (PMID:30340445) (Early Online Publication)

Hilton, S. , Buckton, C. and Fergie, G. (2018) OP5 #Exploring Industry Influence Across Alcohol and Sugar Pricing Policies in the UK: A Discourse Network Analysis. Society for Social Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Glasgow, UK, 5 Sep 2018. A3.1-A3. (doi:10.1136/jech-2018-SSMabstracts.5)

Naven, L. et al. (2018) Right Here Right Now (RHRN) pilot study: testing a method of near-real-time data collection on the social determinants of health. Evidence and Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, 14(2), pp. 301-321. (doi:10.1332/174426417X14987303892451) (PMID:29973958) (PMCID:PMC6027954)

2017

Hilton, S. , Fergie, G. , Hawkins, B. and Leifeld, P. (2017) A Discourse Network Analysis of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol: Mapping the Discursive Communities in UK Newspaper Coverage of the Debate. Public Health Science 2017, London, UK, 24 Nov 2017. S8. (doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32943-4)

2016

Fergie, G. , Hunt, K. and Hilton, S. (2016) Social media as a space for support: Young adults' perspectives on producing and consuming user-generated content about diabetes and mental health. Social Science and Medicine, 170, pp. 46-54. (doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.10.006) (PMID:27750067) (PMCID:PMC5115652)

Patterson, C. , Emslie, C., Mason, O., Fergie, G. and Hilton, S. (2016) A content analysis of UK newspaper and online news representations of women’s and men’s ‘binge’ drinking: a challenge for communicating evidence-based messages about single-episodic drinking? BMJ Open, 6(12), e013124. (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013124) (PMID:28028047) (PMCID:PMC5223657)

Fergie, G. , Hilton, S. and Hunt, K. (2016) Young adults experiences of seeking online information about diabetes and mental health in the age of social media. Health Expectations, 19(6), pp. 1324-1335. (doi:10.1111/hex.12430) (PMID:26647109) (PMCID:PMC5139057)

Fergie, G. et al. (2016) Right Here Right Now Study: Final Report. Project Report. Glasgow Centre for Population Heath, Glasgow.

Van Bekkum, J. E., Fergie, G. and Hilton, S. (2016) Health and medical research funding agencies' promotion of public engagement within research: a qualitative interview study exploring the UK context. Health Research Policy and Systems, 14(23), (doi:10.1186/s12961-016-0093-4) (PMID:27009326) (PMCID:PMC4806422)

2015

Boydell, N. , Fergie, G. M. , McDaid, L. M. and Hilton, S. (2015) Understandings of participation in behavioural research: a qualitative study of gay and bisexual men in Scotland. PLoS ONE, 10(8), e0135001. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135001) (PMID:26252480) (PMCID:PMC4529083)

Boydell, N. , Fergie, G. , Hilton, S. and McDaid, L. (2015) “… Giving Something back to the Gay Community by Taking Part”: Gay and Bisexual Men’s Understandings of Participation in Behavioural Research. BASHH Spring Conference 2015, Glasgow, UK, 1-3 June 2015. A79. (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2015-052126.233)

2014

Boydell, N. , Fergie, G. , McDaid, L. and Hilton, S. (2014) Avoiding pitfalls and realising opportunities: reflecting on issues of sampling and recruitment for online focus groups. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 13, pp. 206-223. (doi:10.1177/160940691401300109)

2013

Fergie, G. , Hunt, K. and Hilton, S. (2013) What young people want from health-related online resources: a focus group study. Journal of Youth Studies, 16(5), pp. 579-596. (doi:10.1080/13676261.2012.744811)

Fergie, G. , Boydell-Wright, N. , McDaid, L. and Hilton, S. (2013) Reflecting on the Opportunities and Pitfalls of Online Focus Groups for Qualitative Health Research. 12th Annual Advances in Qualitative Methods Conference, Edmonton, Canada, 21-23 Jun 2013.

This list was generated on Fri Jul 19 23:05:23 2019 BST.
Jump to: Articles | Research Reports or Papers | Conference or Workshop Item
Number of items: 16.

Articles

Buckton, C. , Fergie, G. , Leifeld, P. and Hilton, S. (2019) A discourse network analysis of UK newspaper coverage of the 'sugar tax' debate before and after the announcement of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 490. (doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6799-9) (PMID:31046718) (PMCID:PMC6498658)

Fergie, G. , Leifeld, P., Hawkins, B. and Hilton, S. (2019) Mapping discourse coalitions in the Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol debate: a discourse network analysis of UK newspaper coverage. Addiction, 114(4), pp. 741-753. (doi:10.1111/add.14514) (PMID:30475418) (PMCID:PMC6492293)

Hewer, R., Smith, K. and Fergie, G. (2018) The social functionality of humor in group-based research. Qualitative Health Research, (doi:10.1177/1049732318800675) (PMID:30340445) (Early Online Publication)

Naven, L. et al. (2018) Right Here Right Now (RHRN) pilot study: testing a method of near-real-time data collection on the social determinants of health. Evidence and Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, 14(2), pp. 301-321. (doi:10.1332/174426417X14987303892451) (PMID:29973958) (PMCID:PMC6027954)

Fergie, G. , Hunt, K. and Hilton, S. (2016) Social media as a space for support: Young adults' perspectives on producing and consuming user-generated content about diabetes and mental health. Social Science and Medicine, 170, pp. 46-54. (doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.10.006) (PMID:27750067) (PMCID:PMC5115652)

Patterson, C. , Emslie, C., Mason, O., Fergie, G. and Hilton, S. (2016) A content analysis of UK newspaper and online news representations of women’s and men’s ‘binge’ drinking: a challenge for communicating evidence-based messages about single-episodic drinking? BMJ Open, 6(12), e013124. (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013124) (PMID:28028047) (PMCID:PMC5223657)

Fergie, G. , Hilton, S. and Hunt, K. (2016) Young adults experiences of seeking online information about diabetes and mental health in the age of social media. Health Expectations, 19(6), pp. 1324-1335. (doi:10.1111/hex.12430) (PMID:26647109) (PMCID:PMC5139057)

Van Bekkum, J. E., Fergie, G. and Hilton, S. (2016) Health and medical research funding agencies' promotion of public engagement within research: a qualitative interview study exploring the UK context. Health Research Policy and Systems, 14(23), (doi:10.1186/s12961-016-0093-4) (PMID:27009326) (PMCID:PMC4806422)

Boydell, N. , Fergie, G. M. , McDaid, L. M. and Hilton, S. (2015) Understandings of participation in behavioural research: a qualitative study of gay and bisexual men in Scotland. PLoS ONE, 10(8), e0135001. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135001) (PMID:26252480) (PMCID:PMC4529083)

Boydell, N. , Fergie, G. , McDaid, L. and Hilton, S. (2014) Avoiding pitfalls and realising opportunities: reflecting on issues of sampling and recruitment for online focus groups. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 13, pp. 206-223. (doi:10.1177/160940691401300109)

Fergie, G. , Hunt, K. and Hilton, S. (2013) What young people want from health-related online resources: a focus group study. Journal of Youth Studies, 16(5), pp. 579-596. (doi:10.1080/13676261.2012.744811)

Research Reports or Papers

Fergie, G. et al. (2016) Right Here Right Now Study: Final Report. Project Report. Glasgow Centre for Population Heath, Glasgow.

Conference or Workshop Item

Hilton, S. , Buckton, C. and Fergie, G. (2018) OP5 #Exploring Industry Influence Across Alcohol and Sugar Pricing Policies in the UK: A Discourse Network Analysis. Society for Social Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Glasgow, UK, 5 Sep 2018. A3.1-A3. (doi:10.1136/jech-2018-SSMabstracts.5)

Hilton, S. , Fergie, G. , Hawkins, B. and Leifeld, P. (2017) A Discourse Network Analysis of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol: Mapping the Discursive Communities in UK Newspaper Coverage of the Debate. Public Health Science 2017, London, UK, 24 Nov 2017. S8. (doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32943-4)

Boydell, N. , Fergie, G. , Hilton, S. and McDaid, L. (2015) “… Giving Something back to the Gay Community by Taking Part”: Gay and Bisexual Men’s Understandings of Participation in Behavioural Research. BASHH Spring Conference 2015, Glasgow, UK, 1-3 June 2015. A79. (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2015-052126.233)

Fergie, G. , Boydell-Wright, N. , McDaid, L. and Hilton, S. (2013) Reflecting on the Opportunities and Pitfalls of Online Focus Groups for Qualitative Health Research. 12th Annual Advances in Qualitative Methods Conference, Edmonton, Canada, 21-23 Jun 2013.

This list was generated on Fri Jul 19 23:05:23 2019 BST.


MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Top Floor, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3AX