Student profiles 

Miriam’s PhD examined the way in which care worker communication style can be altered to maximise understanding and positive behaviour in care home residents with dementia. The research used a mixed methods approach, which included interviewing care workers and other professionals to determine what communication styles or techniques facilitated understanding or cooperation and prevented communication breakdown or challenging behaviour.

The second part of the study sought to show some of these techniques in action and to measure their effects on the behaviour of people with dementia, analysing the types of sentences used by the care workers and measuring the positive and challenging behaviour of the residents to determine the effect of the altered communication styles.

Her PhD was supervised by Professor Amanda Griffiths, Dr Adam Gordon and Dr Shirley Thomas.

She said:

"The University of Nottingham has been a great place to study for my PhD. Throughout my years here I have been well supported by members of staff and my fellow students. There is an atmosphere of interdisciplinary collaboration which, in a field such as dementia, was invaluable. Being part of the Centre for Dementia within the Institute of Mental Health meant that I could see my research within the context of other dementia research being carried out and it is an inspirational forum for sharing ideas and collaborating on projects. Studying at such a prestigious university has given weight to my research at the national and international level and given me opportunities to work with some of the most well-known names in healthcare research. I would definitely recommend the University of Nottingham to anyone considering studying for a PhD."