About

I am a critical Developmental Psychologist who specialises in qualitative methods. My research interests centre on (1) the ways in which the co-production of artwork in educational settings shapes children’s understanding and experiences of the visual arts, (2) children's connection to nature and (3) maternal wellbeing.

Research interests

My research interests centre on the ways in which children and young people co-create art in educational contexts and the role that different education systems have in shaping children's experiences and understandings of art.

More recently, I have been involved in a Community Psychology project with Urban Wilderness. This is an ongoing research collaboration, which seeks to understand the roles that nature and the arts have in community projects designed to support the wellbeing of children and young people.

In the area of maternal wellbeing, I have explored birth experiences and experiences of breastfeeding beyond infancy.

Recent publications

• Hallam. J., Gallagher, L., and Harvey C. (2021) ‘I don’t wanna go. I’m staying. This is my home now.’ Analysis of an intervention for connecting young people to urban nature. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Vol. 65, November 2021
• Hallam, J., Gallagher, L. and Owen K. (2021). The secret language of flowers: insights from an outdoor, arts-based intervention designed to connect primary school children to locally accessible nature. Environmental Education Research
• Jackson, J & Hallam, J (2021) ‘It’s quite a taboo subject’: an investigation of mother’s experiences of breastfeeding beyond infancy and the challenges they face, Women & Health
• Jackson, J., and Hallam, J. (2020). Against all odds—why UK mothers’ breastfeeding beyond infancy are turning to their international peers for emotional and informative support. Health care for women international
• Hallam J., Gallagher, L. and Harvey (2019). ‘We’ve been exploring and adventuring.’ An investigation into young people’s engagement with a semi-wild, disused space. The Humanistic Psychologist

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Psychology - Staffordshire University
• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching - University of Derby
• PhD - A Critical Analysis of Art Education in English Primary Schools - Staffordshire University

Recent conferences

• Hallam, J. and Gallagher, L, (2021). How can co-creative community arts practices inspire nature connection in young people? A collaboration between arts and academic practice researchers. Workshop presented at the British Ecological Society Young Nature 2021 conference, 21-24 July 2021

• Hallam, J. and Gallagher, L., (2019a). ‘I’m going to hug the tree’ Insights from a youth-led intervention designed to facilitate a connection to nature with young people in a low SES area. Paper presented at the Valuing Nature conference, Royal Society, London 28-29 October

• Hallam, J. and Gallagher, L., (2019b). ‘If we don’t tidy this up where are people going to play?’ Insights from a youth-led, community-based placemaking project. Paper presented at the Playful planet – For a child-friendly world conference. Bristol 27-29 November

• Hallam, J., Gallagher, L., Harvey, C. (2019). ‘We’ve been exploring and adventuring.’ An investigation into young people’s engagement with a semi-wild, disused space. Paper presented at the Nature Connections conference, University of Derby, 2 July

Teaching responsibilities

I teach qualitative research methods on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate modules. This teaching focuses on how we can explore people's experiences through analysing talk and written text. 

My other main teaching commitments centre on Developmental Psychology and I teach this subject area at undergraduate level.