- Associate Professor of Social and Political Science, UCL
Karen is an interdisciplinary social scientist who tackles real-world issues through collaborative research. She draws on mixed method approaches and has expertise in systematic reviews. At present, Karen’s ESRC funded research focuses on domestic abuse and interventions that promote, enhance, or create informal support for victim-survivors. This refers to support provided by friends, family, neighbours, or colleagues of individuals experiencing abuse.
Karen’s academic background is in Political Science, and she teaches politics to undergraduate social scientists. Karen supervises students at all levels and works with students and colleagues to develop evidence-informed initiatives that advance inclusive practices in higher education.
Relevant recent publications include:
Schucan Bird, K., Stokes, N., Tomlinson, M., Rivas, C et al., (2023) Training informal supporters to improve responses to Victim-Survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Systematic Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
Schucan Bird, K., Stokes, N., Tomlinson, M., & Rivas, C. (2023). Ethically Driven and Methodologically Tailored: Setting the Agenda for Systematic Reviews in Domestic Violence and Abuse. Journal of Family Violence.
Schucan Bird, K. L., Stokes, N., Rivas, C., & Tomlinson, M. (2022). Protocol: Informal social support interventions for improving outcomes for victim‐survivors of domestic violence and abuse: An evidence and gap map. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18 (3),
Schucan Bird, K., & Pitman, L. (2019). How diverse is your reading list? Exploring issues of representation and decolonisation in the UK. Higher Education.
Experience
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2021–presentAssociate Professor of Social and Political Science, University College London (UCL)
Education
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2006University of Essex, PhD/ Political Science
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2001University of Essex, MA Gender, Culture and Society
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2000University of York, BSc Hons Politics and Sociology
Publications
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2023Ethically driven and methodologically tailored: Setting the agenda for systematic reviews in domestic violence and abuse, Journal of Family Violence
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2022Protocol: Informal social support interventions for improving outcomes for victim-survivors of domestic violence and abuse: An evidence and gap map , Campbell Systematic Reviews
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2019The crime, mental health, and economic impacts of prearrest diversion of people with mental health problems: A systematic review, Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health
Grants and Contracts
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2021#ReachIn: A rapid review of informal Social Support Interventions for victim & survivors of domestic violence & abuse
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding Source:
- Economic and Social Research Council
Contact Karen for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Article Feed
- ORCID
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