Dr Chris Bailey BA (Hons), MA, PGCE, FHEA, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Summary
Chris is a Senior Lecturer in Education. He teaches primarily on the Education Studies and Education Autism, Disability and Special Educational Needs courses, on a range of undergraduate modules. His research is often underpinned by New Literacy Studies and, as an autistic academic, he has an interest in neurodivergent lived experience.
About
Chris' research converges around a focus on people’s lived experience of the world. This includes exploration of neurodiversity, play, literacies, pop(ular) culture; physical, virtual and hybrid space; affective and sensory experience. He is also interested in multimodal literacies and meaning making practices and has employed various visual and aural modes in his own academic work. This is exemplified by his recent monograph which uses comic strips, illustration and a focus on soundscapes as a means of exploring theory and representing the complexity of the social world. He was awarded the Wiley / UK Literacy Association Research (UKLA) in Literacy Education Award in 2017 and the UKLA Student Research Award in 2018.
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Education
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Subject:
- Education
Courses:
- Education Studies
- Education Studies with Autism
- Disability and Special Educational Needs
Modules:
- Educational Identities
- Education in the Digital Age
- Experiencing Spaces: Embodying Education Language
- Learning and Diversity Research Project
Research
- Culture and Creativity Research Institute
Chris' doctoral study focussed on the lived experience of a group of children creating a 'virtual community' in an after school Minecraft Club. This formed the basis of his monograph 'Researching Virtual Play Experiences' published by Palgrave Macmillan. This book uses written word as well as comic strips and other illustration Chris is currently working on the UKLA funded 'Ruling Passions' Project that seeks to explore the interests of autistic adults from a socio-cultural perspective.
Link 1: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-78694-6 Link 2: https://rulingpassions.wordpress.com/
Publications
Journal articles
Bailey, C.J. (2023). ‘Neurodivergent literacies’: exploring autistic adults' ‘ruling passions’ and embracing neurodiversity through classroom literacies. Literacy. http://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12320
Lee, C., Bailey, C.J., Burnett, C., & Rowsell, J. (2022). Methodological imperatives and perplexities for literacy research in uncertain times. International Studies in Sociology of Education, 31 (1-2), 1-4. http://doi.org/10.1080/09620214.2021.2008806
Hannam-Swain, S., & Bailey, C.J. (2021). Considering Covid-19: Autoethnographic reflections on working practices in a time of crisis by two disabled UK academics. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 4 (1), 100145. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2021.100145
Bailey, C. (2020). Visualising Lived Experience: Mapping the soundscape of an after-school Minecraft Club. Visual Communication. http://doi.org/10.1177/1470357220904384
Passarelli, M., Earp, J., Maria Dagnino, F., Manganello, F., Persico, D., Pozzi, F., ... Perrotta, C. (2020). The Distant Horizon: investigating the relationship between social sciences academic research and game development. Entertainment Computing, 100339. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2020.100339
Perrotta, C., Bailey, C.J., Ryder, J., Haggis-Burridge, M., & Persico, D. (2019). Games as (not) culture: a critical policy analysis of the economic agenda of Horizon 2020. Games and Culture. http://doi.org/10.1177/1555412019853899
Perrotta, C., Bailey, C.J., & Garside, C. (2017). Culture, technology and local networks: towards a sociology of ‘making’ in education. Cambridge journal of education, 48 (5), 553-569. http://doi.org/10.1080/0305764X.2017.1375459
Bailey, C.J. (2016). Free the sheep: Improvised song and performance in and around a minecraft community. Literacy, 50 (2), 62-71. http://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12076
Burnett, C., Merchant, G., Daniels, K., Taylor, R., Bailey, C., & Monkhouse, J. (2013). Zombe Apocalypse: Children's problem-solving in a virtual world. English 4-11, (48), 7-10.
Hannam-Swain, S., & Bailey, C. (n.d.). Considering COVID-19: Autoethnographic Reflections on Working Practices in a Time of Crisis by Two Disabled UK Academics. SSRN Electronic Journal. http://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3596104
Conference papers
Passarelli, M., Dagnino, F.M., Earp, J., Manganello, F., Persico, D., Pozzi, F., ... Haggis, M. (2019). Educational games as a motivational tool: Considerations on their potential and limitations. In Lane, H., Zvacek, S., & Uhomoibhi, J. (Eds.) CSEDU 2019 - Proceedings of the 11th international conference on computer supported education, (pp. 330-337). Scitepress: http://doi.org/10.5220/0007586503300337
Passarelli, M., Earp, J., Dagnino, F.M., Manganello, F., Persico, D., Pozzi, F., ... Perrotta, C. (2018). Library not found: The disconnect between gaming research and development. CSEDU 2018 - Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Computer Supported Education, 2 (2), 134-141. http://doi.org/10.5220/0006773601340141
Book chapters
Escott, H., Ambreen, S., Bailey, C.J., Bradley, J., Pahl, K., Rowsell, J., & Thornton, G. (2025). Caught Up in the Moment: Seeking Magic in Literacy Research. In Sailors, M., Nuñez, I., Watson, V.W.M., Hoffman, J.V., & Alvermann, D. (Eds.) Theories, Models, and Practices of Literacy 8th Edition. Routledge
Monkhouse, J., & Bailey, C. (2025). Drawing on children's digital repertoires to enable playful digital literacies in the primary classroom. In An Introduction to Diverse Literacies in Primary Classrooms. (pp. 137-148). Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781003381013-10
Bailey, C. (2022). ‘Connected to the Soul’: Autoethnography, Neurodiversity and Literacies in Times of Ongoing Change. In Cultural Studies and Transdisciplinarity in Education. (pp. 83-97). Springer Singapore: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6944-6_6
Bailey, C. (2022). Rhizomic Ethnography, Exploring the Lived Experience of an after-school Minecraft Club. In Rose, J., Jay, T., Goodall, J., Mazzoli Smith, L., & Todd, L. (Eds.) Repositioning Out-Of-School Learning Methodological Challenges and Possibilities for Researching Learning Beyond School. (1). (pp. 49-59). Emerald Group Publishing
Lee, C., & Bailey, C. (2022). Conclusion: Directions for Literacy Research in Precarious Times. In Lee, C., Bailey, C., Burnett, C., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) Unsettling Literacies:Directions for literacy research in precarious times. (pp. 195-204). Springer Singapore: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6944-6
Lee, C., & Bailey, C. (2022). Conclusion: Directions for Literacy Research in Precarious Times. In Lee, C., Bailey, C., Burnett, C., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) Unsettling Literacies:Directions for literacy research in precarious times. (pp. 195-204). Springer Singapore: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6944-6
Bailey, C.J., Burnett, C., & Merchant, G. (2017). Assembling literacies in virtual play. In Mills, K., Stornaiuolio, A., Smith, A., & Zacher Pandya, J. (Eds.) Handbook of Writing, Literacies and Education in Digital Cultures. London: Routledge
Burnett, C., & Bailey, C.J. (2014). Conceptualizing collaborations in hybrid sites : playing Minecraft together and apart in a primary classroom. In Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.) New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. (pp. 50-71). New York: Routledge
Books
Lee, C., Bailey, C., Burnett, C., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.). (2022). Unsettling Literacies: Directions for Literacy Research in Precarious Times. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/9789811669439
Bailey, C. (2021). Researching Virtual Play Experiences. Springer International Publishing. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78694-6
Burnett, C., Davies, J., Merchant, G., & Rowsell, J. (Eds.). (2014). New literacies around the Globe : policy and pedagogy. New York: Routledge.
Reports
Bailey, C., Perrotta, C., Persico, D., Haggis, M., Passarelli, M., Earp, J., ... Buijtenweg, T. (2018). Final Research Report. Gaming Horizons. (H2020 Grant Agreement No 732332). https://researchmgt.monash.edu/ws/portalfiles/portal/248763902/245623906_oa.pdf
Burnett, C., Daniels, K., & Bailey, C. (2014). The Impact of Early Years Bookgifting Programmes on Literacy Attainment: A Literature Review.
Theses / Dissertations
Bailey, C.J. (2017). Investigating the lived experience of an after-school Minecraft club. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Burnett, C., & Merchant, G.
Internet Publications
Bailey, C. (2023). Ruling Passions: A Research Informed Handbook. https://rulingpassions.wordpress.com/2023/11/07/research-informed-handbook/
Exhibitions
Bailey, C., & Haigh, A. (2023). Tell Me About Your Day. [Photography]. The Peer Hat, Manchester.
Bailey, C., & Haigh, A. (2023). Tell Me About Your Day. [Photography]. The Peer Hat, Manchester.
Presentations
Bailey, C. (2025). All becoming is minoritarian’: Embracing Minecraft, Neurodivergence and New Literacies. Presented at: UKLA 56th International Conference, Oxford / Oline
Bailey, C. (2025). Ruling Passions: Reframing Autistic ‘Special Interests’ in the Post-Affect Society. Presented at: SIOE Research Seminar Series, Sheffield Hallam University
Pluquailec, J., & Bailey, C. (2024). Against Neoliberal Neurodiversity: towards Relational Neurodiversity as a Social Justice Project. Presented at: Leeds Disability Studies Conference
Pluquailec, J., & Bailey, C. (2024). Ruling Passions for Social Justice vs. Special Interest for Social Mobility: Critiquing Capitalist Assumptions for Neurodiversity in Educational Discourses. Presented at: Desiring Autism and Neurodivergence Symposium, Ontario, Canada
Bailey, C. (2024). Spinning and Stimming: Exploring Intergenerational Neurodivergent Literacies Using Arts Based Methodologies. Presented at: Sheffield Literacies Conference, Sheffield University
Bailey, C., & Tarling, G. (2024). Exploring Neurodivergent Literacies with ADHD University Students. Presented at: UK Literacy Association 57th Annual Conference, Brighton
Bailey, C. (2023). Towards Neurodivergent Literacies. Presented at: UK Literacy Association 58th Annual Conference, Exeter, University of Exeter
Bailey, C. (2022). Ruling Passions’: Autistic Adults’ reflections on literacies and education in relation to their focussed interests. Presented at: UK Literacy Association 57th Annual Conference, University of Birmingha
Bailey, C., & Hannam-Swain, S. (2022). Considering Covid-19: Autoethnographic Reflections on working practices in a time of crisis by two disabled UK Academics. Presented at: CCDS Seminar Series CFP - Disability and Social Inclusion: Lessons from the Pandemic, Liverpool Hope University, CCDS Seminar Series CFP - Disability and Social Inclusion: Lessons from the Pandemic
Bailey, C. (2019). Live, Love, Graff: Making meaning around Sheffield Streetart. Presented at: UK Literacy Association 55th International Conference, Sheffield Hallam University
Daniels, K., Bailey, C., Merchant, G., & Burnett, C. (2018). Playful Literacies in Contemporary Places: Movement and meaning in early literacy classrooms (Symposium). Presented at: ESRC Festival of Social Science, Sheffield Hallam University
Bailey, C. (2018). Comics [and drawing] in research methodology: creativity, theory and representation. Presented at: UK Literacy Association 54th International Conference, Cardiff
Bailey, C. (2017). Space for thinking: Comic Explorations in Academic Discourse. Presented at: Comics Forum, Leeds Library
Bailey, C. (2017). The world is teeming: Possibilities for thinking with John Cage. Presented at: Valuing the Visual International Conference, University of Sheffield
Bailey, C. (2017). The Banterbury Tales: The Emergent Dimension of Virtual Play [SLAM]. Presented at: UKLA BERA Research Symposium on Digital Literacies, Sheffield Hallam University
Other publications
McGrath, L., Pearse, S., Beardon, L., Boodt, S., O'Brien, S., & Hathaway, C. (2025). Sharing the joy on International Day of Education. Sheffield Hallam Blog: https://sheffieldhallam.sharepoint.com/:u:/r/sites/staffhome/SitePages/Sharing-joy-on-International-Day-of-Education.aspx?csf=1&web=1&e=rvGhH5
Bailey, C. (2024). Educating Kemi: resisting negative narratives around neurodiversity. SIOE Blog: https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sioe/2024/10/21/educating-kemi-resisting-negative-narratives-around-neurodiversity/
Bailey, C. (2016). Comic Explorations: Comic strips in qualitative research. Blog for the Literacy Research Centre at Lancaster University: https://literacieslog.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/comic-explorations-comic-strips-in-qualitative-research/
Other activities
Postgraduate supervision
Chris supervises doctoral studies in the areas of Education, Literacy, Neurodiversity, Disability etc.