Stella Vickers, Department of Public Health

MSc (distinction) Psychology, BSc (Hons), PG Cert Public Health

PhD Candidate; Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit.

Contact details

Tel +64 4 918 6117
Fax +64 4 389 5319
Email stella.vickers@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Research interests and activities

I am working on a PhD exploring the social context of smoking by people experiencing moderate to severe mental illness. My work includes a mixed methods interview which explores smoking and quitting in light of the structure and characteristics of people's close social networks.

I completed a MSc by thesis in psychology in 2003 at Victoria University of Wellington and this looked at two theories of why depressed mood occurs using a largely experimental approach. Increasingly, my work has included a range of methods and I've developed interests in qualitative methods and how to mix methods to develop deeper insights.

With more than 10 years' experience as an applied researcher and evaluator, I have worked in a range of public, private, and NGO organisations. These roles included projects about tobacco control and cessation, sun safety, mental health service delivery, client outcomes, implementation of large scale policy change, and education of young people.Other research interests include: health service delivery, consumer and service user perspectives, social psychology, evaluation, implementation research, and mixed methods. I continue to do freelance project work in the health, social, and community sectors.