The research at Lincoln Bishop University is diverse in its nature, of high quality, and far reaching in both its academic and public aims and ambitions.
Much of it revolves around the historic focus of the University’s portfolio, education. However, a series of other longstanding disciplines have led the way in developing distinctive research identities and cultures, especially English, History, Archaeology, Psychology, and Theology. In recent years, other subjects have established themselves with new and emergent areas of research activity, including Business, Health, and Sport.
Educational research at Lincoln Bishop is wide ranging, with leading specialisms including pre-school, school, and college practice; teacher training and development; special educational needs and inclusion; equality, diversity, and social justice in education; world religions and education; and professional practice in higher and continuing education. Research in other social science disciplines works across various fields, including exploring the interrelationships between psychology, health, sport, and well-being.
Our humanities research is also diverse, and includes the annual Archaeology field school, landscape and local history, heritage and the historic environment, military history, Victorian literature, life-writing, and regional fiction. The institution’s research infrastructure includes the University’s original College archive, archaeology and sleep labs, the library’s Lincoln Collection, and the Lincolnshire Open Research & Innovation Centre.
The research work of our academic staff forges external partnerships, and generates considerable public impact, knowledge exchange, and co-creation. Well-established activities include engagement with schools and colleges, government departments and local authorities, public and charitable sector organisations and agencies, subject associations and learned societies, and other higher education institutions. Many of our external research projects incorporate the active involvement of our students or graduates as either independent or co-researchers. The reach of our research partnerships extends across the city of Lincoln, greater Lincolnshire, and also nationally and internationally.
The research experience of our academic staff attracts doctoral students to the University. They are welcomed to our full and part-time PhD programme, and part-time EdD taught-professional doctorate. Students come from various academic and professional backgrounds, and bring with them a wide range of research topics and projects. Our research-degree provision is recognised and validated by the University of Leicester.
The University has been successfully submitting examples of its publications, impact projects, and other activity to the UK-wide Research Excellence Framework since 2008.