Professor Samantha Punch

Professor

Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor Samantha Punch

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About me

About me

I am currently developing a new field of study: the Sociology of Mind-Sports with the card game bridge as the driving case study. This research includes an exploration of the social interactions and power dynamics of the mind-sport; the benefits of bridge; participation and learning bridge across the lifecourse; the potential links between bridge and delayed onset of dementia (in partnership with English Bridge Education and Development) and gender inequalities within the mind sport. Furthermore I have established the Global Keep Bridge Alive Network, and Bridge: A MindSport for All.

I have a keen interest in interdisciplinarity and cross-world dialogue, in particular learning across majority world and minority world childhoods. Previously I have researched the sustainable use of aquatic resources and rural livelihoods in China, Vietnam and India (EC funded, multi-partner project). With Ruth Emond and Ian McIntosh we developed food based training materials and intervention tools for carers of looked after children in Scotland (ESRC funded impact project) which follows on from a previous ESRC study of children's food practices in residential care. 

I have undertaken a follow-up study on migration and young people's livelihoods in rural Bolivia by tracking down the children from my doctoral research after a ten year gap (British Academcy funded). My PhD included two years' ethnographic fieldwork on rural childhoods in Bolivia, exploring children’s daily lives at work, home, play and school. Since then I have also carried out research on young people’s problems in Scotland, youth transitions, children's experiences of sibling relationships and birth order in the UK, and gender and household livelihoods in peri-urban Kolkata, India.

Research (8)

Sociology of Childhood Sociology of Development Sociology of Bridge and Mind Sports Qualitative methodologies Migration and youth transitions in the majority world Learning across majority world and minority world childhoods Interdisciplinary, cross-world dialogue Gender and rural livelihoods in China, Vietnam and India Children's work and household livelihoods in Latin America Sibling relationships and birth order in Bolivia and the UK Young people and food practices in residential care homes

Projects

Bridging Juniors: Learning, Education and Development in Bridge
PI: Professor Samantha Punch
Funded by: The Davenport Foundation

Bridge: A MindSport for All
PI: Professor Samantha Punch
Funded by: Donors (UK) and Donors (O.S)

Enabling Bridge to Thrive in Schools: Exploring the Benefits, Opportunities & Challenges
PI: Professor Samantha Punch
Funded by: The Davenport Foundation

Sociology of Bridge: Understanding Dynamics and Interactions of the Bridge World
PI: Professor Samantha Punch
Funded by: World Bridge Federation

Food for Thought: Food based training, assessment and intervention tools for carers of looked after young people
PI: Professor Ruth Emond
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council

Highland aquatic resources conservation and sustainable development
PI: Professor Samantha Punch
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)

Learning about alcohol: influences of the family context
PI:
Funded by: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Food Practices in an Institutional Context: Children, Care and Control
PI: Professor Samantha Punch
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council

Outputs (97)

Outputs

Website Content

Punch S, Ballinger C & Rees T (2021) Bridging Academia, Policy and Practice. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 11.06.2021. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2021/06/11/bridging-academia-policy-and-practice/


Project Report

Maclean J & Punch S (2021) Bridge: A MindSport for All Spring Webinar 2021 [BAMSA Report]. Bridge: A MindSport for All. https://bridgemindsport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bamsa-spring-webinar-2021-report.pdf


Research Report

McDonnell D, Punch S & Small C (2017) Individual Wellbeing and Bridge: An Empirical Analysis. English Bridge Education and Development (EBED). Aylesbury: English Bridge Education & Development (EBED). http://www.ebedcio.org.uk/files/docs/research/individual-wellbeing-and-bridge-an-empirical-analysis.pdf


Book Chapter

McIntosh I, Punch S & Emond R (2016) Creating Spaces to Care: Children's Rights and Food Practices in Residential Care. In: Kallio K, Mills S & Skelton T (eds.) Politics, Citizenship and Rights. Geographies of Children and Young People, 7. Singapore: Springer, pp. 39-53. http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-4585-57-6_16


Book Chapter

Sugden F & Punch S (2016) Changing Aspirations, Education, and Migration: Young People’s Declining Agroecological Knowledge in Rural Asia. In: Ansell N, Klocker N & Skelton T (eds.) Geographies of Global Issues: Change and Threat. Geographies of Children and Young People, 8. Singapore: Springer, pp. 483-499. http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-4585-95-8_1-1


Book Chapter

Punch S & Graham E (2016) Interviewing Children at Home: Exploring the Use of Individual and Focus Group Interviews. In: Evans, R H, L & Skelton T (eds.) Methodological Approaches: Geographies of Children and Young People, Volume 2. Geographies of Children and Young People, 2. Singapore: Springer, pp. 1-23. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-981-4585-89-7_26-1; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4585-89-7_26-1


Book Chapter

Punch S (2016) Exploring Children’s Agency across Majority and Minority World Contexts. In: Esser F, Baader M, Betz T & Hungerland B (eds.) Reconceptualising Agency and Childhood: New Perspectives in Childhood Studies. Routledge Research in Education, 161. London: Routledge, pp. 183-196. https://www.routledge.com/products/9781138854192


Book Chapter

Punch S, Emond R, McIntosh I & Lightowler C (2015) Children, Food and Care Research. In: Täubig V (ed.) Essen und Bildung. Ein vergessenes Feld erziehungswissenschaftlicher Forschung. Siegen, Germany: Beltz Juventa. http://www.beltz.de/fachmedien/paedagogik/buecher/produkt_produktdetails/29563-essen_und_bildung.html


Book Chapter

Punch S (2015) Possibilities for Learning between Childhoods and Youth in the Minority and Majority Worlds: Youth transitions as an example of cross-world dialogue. In: Wyn J & Cahill H (eds.) Handbook of Children and Youth Studies. Singapore: Springer, pp. 689-701. http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-4451-15-4_28


Book Chapter

Punch S (2013) Resilience and well-being. In: Montgomery H (ed.) Local Childhoods, Global Issues. 2nd ed. Open University Childhood Series. Bristol: Policy Press, pp. 205-252. https://policypress.co.uk/local-childhoods-global-issues


Book Chapter

Punch S & Marsh I (2013) Sociological Thinking. In: Punch S, Marsh I, Keating M & Harden J (eds.) Sociology: Making Sense of Society. 5th ed. London: Pearson, pp. 3-41. http://www.pearsoned.co.uk/bookshop/detail.asp?item=100000000408986


Book Chapter

Punch S (2013) Families and Relationships. In: Punch S, Marsh I, Keating M & Harden J (eds.) Sociology: Making Sense of Society. 5th ed. London: Pearson, pp. 453-496. http://www.pearsoned.co.uk/bookshop/detail.asp?item=100000000408986


Book Chapter

Punch S (2013) Age. In: Punch S, Marsh I, Keating M & Harden J (eds.) Sociology: Making Sense of Society. 5th ed. London: Pearson, pp. 298-333. http://www.pearsoned.co.uk/bookshop/detail.asp?item=100000000408986


Edited Book

Punch S, Marsh I, Keating M & Harden J (eds.) (2013) Sociology: Making Sense of Society, 5th ed. London: Pearson. http://www.pearsoned.co.uk/bookshop/detail.asp?item=100000000408986


Book Chapter

Punch S (2012) Gender Divisions in the Home. In: Smith S, Elsinga M, Fox OL, Seow EO, Wachter S & Dowling R (eds.) International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home, Vol 2. Oxford: Elsevier, p. 264–268. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-047163-1.00295-2


Book Review

Punch S (2012) The Right to be Properly Researched: How to do Rights-based, Scientific Research with Children. Review of: Judith Ennew, with Tatek Abebe, Rattana Bangyai, Parichart Karapituck, Anne Trine Kjørholt, Thanakorn Noonsup, with additional material from Harriot Beazley, Sharon Bessell, Patima Daengchart-Kushanoglu and Roxana Waterson (2010)
Bangkok: Knowing Children. (Boxed set of 10 paperback manuals) ISBN 9786167333007.. Childhood, 19 (1), pp. 145-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/0907568211426055


Book Review

Punch S (2012) Begging as a Path to Progress: Indigenous Women and Children and the Struggle for Ecuador's Urban Spaces. Review of: Kate Swanson, Begging as a Path to Progress: Indigenous Women and Children and the Struggle for Ecuador’s Urban Spaces, (Athens, GA, and London: University of Georgia Press, 2010), pp. xiv + 146, ISBN 978-0-8203-3180-5. Journal of Latin American Studies, 44 (1), pp. 201-202. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022216X11001337


Book Chapter

McIntosh I, Dorrer N, Punch S & Emond R (2011) 'I know we can't be a family, but as close as you can get': Displaying Families within an Institutional Context. In: Dermott E E & Seymour J (eds.) Displaying Families: A New Concept for the Sociology of Family Life. Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 175-194. http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?pid=395900


Book Chapter

Punch S (2010) Moving for a Better Life: To stay or to go?. In: Kassem D, Murphy L & Taylor E (eds.) Key Issues in Childhood and Youth Studies. London: Routledge, pp. 202-215. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415468893/


Edited Book

Marsh I, Keating M, Punch S & Harden J (eds.) (2009) Sociology: Making Sense of Society, 4th ed. London: Pearson. http://catalogue.pearsoned.co.uk/educator/product/Sociology-Making-Sense-of-Society/1405873574.page


Book Chapter

Punch S (2009) Child Labour. In: Kitchin R & Thrift N (eds.) International Encyclopedia of Human Geography. Oxford: Elsevier, pp. 45-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00080-8


Book Chapter

Punch S (2009) 'Families and Households'. In: Marsh I, Keating M, Punch S & Harden J (eds.) Sociology: Making Sense of Society. Harlow UK: Pearson Longman, pp. 445-484. http://www.transatlanticpub.com/cat/social/soci3574.html


Book Chapter

Punch S (2009) Global Divisions. In: Marsh I, Keating M, Punch S & Harden J (eds.) Sociology: Making Sense of Society. 4th ed. Harlow, UK: Pearson Longman, pp. 357-404. http://catalogue.pearsoned.co.uk/educator/product/Sociology-Making-Sense-of-Society/1405873574.page


Book Chapter

Punch S (2009) Researching Childhoods in Rural Bolivia. In: Tisdall K, Davis J & Gallagher M (eds.) Researching with Children and Young People: Research Design, Methods and Analysis. London: SAGE, pp. 89-96. http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book229420


Book Chapter

Punch S, McIntosh I, Emond R & Dorrer N (2009) Food and Relationships: Children's Experiences in Residential Care. In: James A, Kjørholt A & Tingstad V (eds.) Children, Food and Identity in Everyday Life. Studies in Childhood and Youth. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 149-171. http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?PID=321265


Book Chapter

Punch S (2008) "I Felt they were Ganging up on me": Interviewing Siblings at Home. In: van Blerk L & Kesby M (eds.) Doing Children’s Geographies: Methodological Issues in Research with Young People. London: Routledge, pp. 26-41. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415448208/


Book Chapter

Punch S (2008) Negotiating Migrant Identities: Young People in Bolivia and Argentina. In: Aitken S, Lund R & Kjørholt A (eds.) Global Childhood: Globalization, Development and Young People. London: Routledge, pp. 95-112. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415494885/


Book Chapter

Punch S (2008) Negotiating the Birth Order: Children's Experiences. In: Klett-Davies M (ed.) Putting Sibling Relationships on the Map: A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective. Research and Policy for the Real World. London: Family and Parenting Institute, pp. 30-49. http://www.familyandparenting.org/item/publication/49/1


Book Chapter

Robson E, Panelli R & Punch S (2007) Conclusions and Future Directions for Studying Young Rural Lives. In: Panelli R, Punch S & Robson E (eds.) Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth: Young Rural Lives. Routledge Studies in Human Geography. London: Routledge, pp. 219-228.


Book Chapter

Punch S (2007) Generational Power Relations in Rural Bolivia. In: Panelli R, Punch S & Robson E (eds.) Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth: Young Rural Lives. Routledge Studies in Human Geography, 17. Abingdon, Oxon: Taylor & Francis (Routledge UK), pp. 151-164. http://www.routledgeeducation.com/books/Global-Perspectives-on-Rural-Childhood-and-Youth-isbn9780415397032


Book Chapter

Punch S, Bell S, Costello L & Panelli R (2007) Power and Place for Rural Young People. In: Panelli R, Punch S & Robson E (eds.) Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth: Young Rural Lives. Routledge Studies in Human Geography. Abingdon, Oxon: Taylor & Francis (Routledge UK), pp. 205-218. http://www.routledgeeducation.com/books/Global-Perspectives-on-Rural-Childhood-and-Youth-isbn9780415397032


Book Chapter

Punch S (2005) The Generationing of Power: A Comparison of Child-Parent and Sibling Relations in Scotland. In: Bass L (ed.) Sociological Studies of Children and Youth. Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, Volume 10, 10. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 169-188. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1016/S1537-4661(04)10009-3; https://doi.org/10.1016/S1537-4661%2804%2910009-3


Authored Book

McIntosh I & Punch S (2005) Get Set for Sociology. Get Set for University Series. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. http://www.euppublishing.com/book/9780748620197


Book Chapter

Punch S (2004) Negotiating Autonomy: Children's Use of Time and Space in Rural Bolivia. In: Lewis V, Kellett M, Robinson C, Fraser S & Ding S S (eds.) The Reality of Research with Children and Young People. London: SAGE, pp. 94-114. http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book226261#tabview=toc


Book Chapter

Punch S (2004) Scrambling through the Ethnographic Forest: Research Commentary. In: Lewis V, Kellett M, Robinson C, Fraser S & Ding S S (eds.) The Reality of Research with Children and Young People. London: SAGE, pp. 115-119. http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book226261#tabview=samples


Book Chapter

Hallett C, Punch S & Murray C (2003) Young People and Welfare: Negotiating Pathways. In: Hallett C & Prout A (eds.) Hearing the Voices of Children: Social Policy for a New Century. London: RoutledgeFalmer, pp. 123-138. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415276429/


Book Chapter

Punch S (2001) La emigracion como estrategia para jovenes: escape o expulsion [Migration as a Youth Strategy: Escape or Explusion?]. In: Beck S, Paniagua N & Preston D (eds.) Historia, Ambiente y Sociedad en Tarija, Bolivia. La Paz, Bolivia: Instituto de Ecología, UMSA, pp. 123-144. http://bc.biblio.umsa.bo/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?op=do_search&field_name1=subject&field_value1=ECOLOGIA%20TARIJA%20BOLIVIA


Book Chapter

Punch S (2001) Negotiating Autonomy: Childhoods in Rural Bolivia. In: Alanen L & Mayall B (eds.) Conceptualising Child-Adult Relations. The Future of Childhood Series. London: Taylor & Francis (RoutledgeFalmer UK), pp. 23-36. http://www.routledge.com/books/Conceptualising-Child-Adult-Relations-isbn9780415231596


Teaching

Teaching

Teaching

SPC911 Social Differentiation

First year introductory sociology module