Staff profiles
Ryan Powell
Research fellow, BA (Hons), MA
Phone 0114 225 3561
E-mail r.s.powell@shu.ac.uk
Ryan is a senior research fellow at CRESR with research interests in the broad areas of geographies of exclusion and urban sociology. He has over eight years of academic research experience and has worked on studies for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), Communities and Local Government (CLG), the Welsh Assembly Government, Regional Assemblies, and various local authorities and charitable organisations.
He has extensive experience in both quantitative and qualitative research techniques and has published his research findings in various academic journals. Ryan recently led studies for the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership, Blackpool Council and Leicester City Council. Other recent projects include an assessment of the Decent Homes Programme for CLG; and a large scale ESRC study on the geography of women on incapacity benefits.
Research interests
- geographies of exclusion
- 'deviance' and social control
- the governance of conduct
- Gypsy-Travellers
- labour market processes and social change
- housing, identity and inequality
- sociology of Norbert Elias
Current research projects
2011–2013 Monitoring and evaluating the impacts of the emergency budget and spending review measures for housing benefit, Department for Work and Pensions (with Institute for Fiscal Studies, Ipsos-MORI and University of Oxford).
2010–2011 Qualitative Study of Offender Employment Review, Department for Work and Pensions.
2010–2011 Hidden Coastal Communities, East Lindsey District Council.
Selected reports (2001 onwards)
Please contact me for further details about these research projects and for summaries of the findings.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S. and Powell, R. with Scott, S. (2011) The Caravan Communities of the Lincolnshire Coast (PDF 298KB). Sheffield: CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University.
Batty, E., Gore, T. and Powell, R. (2011) Participation of Women in the Labour Market in Leicester: Qualitative Follow-up Study (PDF 1.75MB). Sheffield: CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University
Beatty, C., Gore, T. and Powell, R. (2011) The Impact of Public Spending Reductions and Benefit Changes for People on Low Incomes and in Housing Need in Hampshire. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Gore, T. and Powell, R. (2010) Tackling Worklessness in Britain's Weaker Local Economies. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Beatty, C., Gore, T. and Powell, R. (2010) Participation of Women in the Labour Market in Leicester (PDF 922KB). Sheffield: CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University
Crisp, R. and Powell, R. (2010) Blackpool Working for Health ILM Evaluation. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Batty, E., Bennington, J., Cole, I., Crisp, R., Eadson, W., Fletcher, D., Flint, J., Gilbertson, J., Green, S., Hickman, P., Pearson, S., Powell, R. and Reeve, K., (2010) An Assessment of the Decent Homes Programme. Wetherby: CLG.
Green, S, Hickman, P, Foden, M, Powell, R (2010) An Evaluation of the North Staffordshire Landlord Accreditation Scheme. CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University.
Cole, I. and Powell, R. (2010) ALMOs at the Crossroads - But Which Way Home? Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Flint, J., Crawford, J., Parr, S. and Powell, R. (2009) A Process Evaluation of 'Celtic Against Drugs' and 'Rangers Positive Choices'. Edinburgh, Scottish Government.
Bashir, N., Bennington, J., Cole, I., Platts-Fowler, D., Powell, R. and Thornley, M. (2009) A Review of Tenant Participation Compacts. Wetherby, CLG.
Flint, J., Powell, R., Casey, R., Pearce, S., Moore, T. and Green, S. (2009) A Study to Examine Local Barriers to the Delivery of Affordable Housing in Rural Wales. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Houston, D., Powell, R. and Sissons, P. (2009) Women on Incapacity Benefits: A Statistical Overview. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Houston, D., Powell, R. and Sissons, P. (2008) Women on Incapacity Benefits: Qualitative Evidence. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Houston, D., Powell, R. and Sissons, P. (2008) Women on Incapacity Benefits: New Survey Evidence. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Parr, S., Powell, R. and Duffy, D. (2008) Social Fragmentation in English Housing Estates: A Review of the Evidence. London, Housing Corporation.
Powell, R., Brown, P., Casey, R., Condie, J., Hunt, L., Niner, P. and Reeve, K. (2008) West Yorkshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Brown, P., Condie, J., Hunt, L., Powell, R., and Reeve, K. (2008) North and North East Lincolnshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment. Salford, SHUSU.
Niner, P., Brown, P., Hunt, L., Powell, R. and Reeve, K. (2008) South East Plan Partial Review: Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. Birmingham, CURS.
Niner, P., Brown, P., Hunt, L., Powell, R. and Reeve, K. (2007) Preparing Regional Spatial Strategy Reviews on Gypsies and Travellers by Regional Planning Bodies. Wetherby, CLG.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Gore, T. and Powell, R. (2007) Barrow's Incapacity Claimants. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Gore, T. and Powell, R. (2007) The Real Level of Unemployment 2007. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Gore, T., Fothergill, S., Hollywood, E., Lindsay, C., Morgan, K. and Powell, R. (2007) Coalfields and Neighbouring Cities: Economic Regeneration, Labour Markets and Governance. York, JRF.
Hickman, P., Casey, R., Green, S., Powell, R. and Robinson, D. (2007) Understanding Housing Demand: Learning from Rising Markets in Yorkshire and The Humber. York, Chartered Institute of Housing/JRF.
Powell, R. (2006) Identifying Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Need in Yorkshire and The Humber. YHA.
Flint, J., Goudie, R., Powell, R. and Robinson, D. (2006) Study into the Housing Needs of Black and Minority Ethnic Communities in the East of England. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Powell, R. and Reeve, K. (2006) Gypsies and Travellers in North and North East Lincolnshire: Accommodation Situations, Needs and Preferences. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S. and Powell, R. (2005) Twenty Years On: Has the Economy of the Coalfields Recovered? Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Bennington, J., Cole, I., Coward, S., Hickman, P., McCoulough, E., Powell, R. and Reeve, K. (2005) Understanding Housing Market Change in NDC Areas. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Gore, T., Powell, R. and Wells, P. (2003) Assessing the Contribution of Community Businesses to the Rural Economy of Yorkshire and the Humber. Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.
Academic publications (2001 onwards)
Flint, J. and Powell, R. (2011) ''They sing that song': Sectarianism and conduct in the informalised spaces of Scottish football', in Burdsey, D. (ed) Race, Ethnicity and Football: Persistent Debates and Emergent Issues, pp.191-206. London: Routledge.
Powell, R. (2011) 'Gypsy-Travellers and welfare professional discourse: On individualization and social integration', Antipode, 43(2), pp.471-493.
Powell, R. (2010) 'Spaces of informalization: Playscapes, power and the governance of behaviour', Space and Polity, 14(2)., pp189-206.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Houston, D. and Powell, R. (forthcoming, 2010) Women on Incapacity Benefits: New Survey Evidence from the UK, In: Kemp, P.A. (ed) Social Protection for a Post-Industrial World, pp115-137. Mortsel: Intersentia.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Houston, D., Powell, R. and Sissons, P. (2010) Bringing 'incapacity benefit' numbers down: To what extent do women need a different approach? Policy Studies, 31 (2), pp. 143-162.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Houston, D., Powell, R. and Sissons, P. (2009) A gendered theory of employment, unemployment and sickness. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 27 (6), pp958-974.
Powell, R. and Flint, J. (2009) (In)formalization and the civilizing process: Applying the work of Norbert Elias to housing-based anti-social behaviour interventions in the UK. Housing, Theory and Society, 26 (3), pp.159-178.
Flint, J. and Powell, R. (2009) Civilising Offensives: Education, Football and 'Eradicating' Sectarianism in Scotland, In: Millie, A. (ed) Securing Respect: Behavioural Expectations and Anti-social Behaviour in the UK, pp. 219-238. Bristol, Policy Press.
Powell, R. (2008) Understanding the stigmatization of Gypsies: Power and the dialectics of (dis)identification. Housing, Theory and Society, 25 (2), pp. 87-109.
Powell, R. (2007) Civilising offensives and ambivalence: the case of British Gypsies. People, Place and Policy Online, 1 (3), pp. 112-123.
Allen, C., Powell, R., Casey, R. and Coward, S. (2007) 'Ordinary, the same as anywhere else': notes on the management of spoiled identity in 'marginal' middle class neighbourhoods. Sociology, 41 (2), pp. 239-258.
Casey, R., Coward, S., Allen, C. and Powell, R. (2007) On the planned environment and neighbourhood life: Evidence from mixed tenure housing developments twenty years on. Town Planning Review, 78 (3), pp. 311-334.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S. and Powell, R. (2007) Twenty years on: Has the economy of the coalfields recovered? Environment and Planning A, 39 (7), pp. 1654-1675.
Gore, T., Powell, R. and Wells, P. (2006) The contribution of rural community businesses to integrated rural development: 'Local services for local people'. Cahiers d'Economie et Sociologie Rurales, 80 (3), pp. 29-52.
Recent conference and seminar papers
Please contact me for a copy of the following
Powell, R. (2011) 'Incapacity Benefit claimants and discourses of welfare dependency: Beyond the financial (dis)incentives debate'. Invited paper presented to the School of Geography and Geosciences World Seminar Series, University of St. Andrew's, UK, March.
Houston, D. and Powell, R. (2010) '(Dis)incentives to work for incapacity benefit claimants: Health, risk and discourses of dependency', Invited paper presented to the Employment Research Institute Seminar Series, Napier University, Edinburgh, UK, April.
Powell, R. and Flint, J. (2010) 'Anti-social behaviour discourse and the retreat into the present.' Paper presented to the British Sociological Association Annual Conference, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK, April.
Flint, J. and Powell, R. (2009) 'Governing Sectarianism in Scotland: Civilising Offensives and Ethno-Religious Identities in Urban Governance'. Invited paper presented to the Department of Town and Regional Planning Seminar Series, University of Sheffield, UK, December.
Powell, R. and Flint, J. (2008) '(In)formalization and the civilizing process: Applying the work of Norbert Elias to housing-based anti-social behaviour interventions in the UK.' Invited paper presented to the Cities Research Seminar Series, University of the West of England, UK, March.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Houston, D., Powell, R. and Sissons, P. (2008) Why do so many women claim disability benefits? New evidence from the UK regions. Paper presented to the Regional Studies Association Conference, University of Economics Prague, May 2008.
Beatty, C., Fothergill, S., Houston, D., Powell, R. and Sissons, P. (2007) A gendered theory of employment, unemployment and sickness. Paper presented to the Regional Studies Association Working Group Seminar on 'Employability and Labour Market Policy in European Perspective', Napier University, Edinburgh, October 2007.
Powell, R. (2007) Civilising offensives and ambivalence: British Gypsies and the state. Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the Gypsy Lore Society: 'Romani Diasporas, Romani Migrations', University of Manchester, September 2007.
Powell, R. and Flint, J. (2007) (In)formalization and the civilizing process: Applying the work of Norbert Elias to housing-based anti-social behaviour interventions in the UK. Paper presented to the European Network of Housing Researchers Conference, Rotterdam, June 2007.
Casey, R., Coward, S., Allen, C. and Powell, R. (2005) Planning for Mixed Communities? Evidence from Planned Mixed Tenure Housing Developments - Twenty Years On. Paper presented to the European Network of Housing Researchers Conference, Reykjavik, June 2005.
Allen, C., Powell, R., Casey, R. and Coward, S. (2005) Respectable and Ordinary: Social Identity in 'Lower' Middle Class Neighbourhoods. Paper presented to the Community, Work and Family Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, March 2005.
PhD supervision
Ryan is currently director of studies for the following PhD
- Spaces of informalization: Geographies of manners and behaviour at music festivals (ESRC Quota studentship)
He is also an adviser on a second PhD
- Social, political and environmental action in an individualised 'consumer society' (ESRC Quota Studentship)
