Ruth Austin

Profile

I am a PhD researcher in Sociology and Social Policy. I started my academic journey at the University of Leeds in 2016 as a Social Science Foundation student. Having successfully completed this I moved on to the Social Policy and Crime degree. My final year dissertation was a study on child sexual abuse (CSA) in children’s residential homes. I was awarded a First Class for this degree. In 2020 I moved on to the Social Research MA, were I explored CSA within religious institutions, finishing with a distinction.

In 2022 I was awarded the University of Leeds Faculty of Social Sciences Doctoral Scholarships for researchers from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority communities PhD Studentship. I am currently conducting a mixed method study, examining how children and young people use the internet in relation to online risky behaviours. With a view to also understand how parents and teachers perceive the potential risk to children in online spaces. The aim is to generate empirical data which will support online safety strategies for children, parents, educators and interested stakeholders.

Teaching Experience

• SLSP2020 Crime and Regulation
• SLSP1181 Crime and Society
• SLSP2010 Research Methods

Research interests

• Intersectionality
• Child safeguarding, specifically online child abuse and internet harms
• Institutional child abuse
• Looked after children and care leavers
• Quantitative research methods

Qualifications

• MA Social Research
• Degree in Social Policy and Crime