Anna Terje | University of the Highlands and Islands - UHI (original) (raw)

books by Anna Terje

This report provides insight from an ethnographic study of evidence use in the everyday practice ... more This report provides insight from an ethnographic study of evidence use in the everyday practice of reforming local public services in Scotland. The data is drawn from an in - depth case study of a single local authority area and includes interviews with 20 participants in community planning including service providers, community members and research and policy officers. This case highlights the complex and diverse ways in which public services use a wide range of evidence in decision - making processes. While the findings of this study are not generalisable across all Scottish community planning partnerships (CPPs), they provide important insights into the types of knowledge and evidence that become meaningful in this context, and why. Our study suggests that CPPs operate in a context of continual change, presenting a challenge to evidence - use. Evidence is used in community planning for a wide range of reasons, but the focus is increasingly on the need to target and prioritise resources in a context characteris ed by financial constraints and pressures. Statistical tools that claim to provide a more reliable source of evidence will have limited impact on public service reform without understanding and respecting the types of knowledge that are valued in day - to - day work and the ways in which different forms of knowledge and evidence interact.Evidence use in community planning is a craft that involves valuing and interweaving different forms of evidence and knowledge – recognising that evidence becomes meaningful through communication. This shifts attention away from hierarchies of evidence to improving the nature and quality of communication and co-production of policies. The problem in policy making is not a lack of evidence, or even its variable quality, but how it is communicated and the extent to which there is an opportunity for collective learning and deliberation.

articles by Anna Terje

Background Public service practitioners on all levels aim to solve increasingly complex policy pr... more Background Public service practitioners on all levels aim to solve increasingly complex policy problems by making use of different forms of evidence. While there are many complex models of knowledge mobilisation, not enough attention is paid to the types of knowledge that are mobilised for public service reform. Ward (2017) has returned to Aristotle{\textquoteright}s knowledge types; empirical, technical and practice wisdom, to address this gap.Aims and objectives This paper applies the theoretical work of Ward (2017) and Flyvbjerg (2001) to the everyday work and practice of frontline public service providers with the aim of identifying core elements of knowledge mobilisation in the practice of public service reform in the context of local governance.Methods The data is from a case study of a Scottish local authority conducted as part of the What Works Scotland research programme. The paper derives insights from 16 qualitative interviews with service providers in housing, waste management, policing and greenspace services, and 12 observations, analysed using thematic analysis. Findings The findings suggest that empirical or technical knowledge is not sufficient on its own for sustainable solutions to localised policy problems. The practice wisdom of service providers, balancing ethical concerns with diverse perspectives, is a form of knowledge that is not fully valued or recognised in public service reform.Discussion and conclusions Future research should aim to understand how the integration of empirical, technical and practice knowledge might be achieved through more co-productive relationships between researchers, knowledge mobilisers and service providers.

inproceedings by Anna Terje

With a drive in the UK public health agenda to move towards community-based solutions and prevent... more With a drive in the UK public health agenda to move towards community-based solutions and preventative approaches to ill health, social prescribing has been positioned as supporting individual and community resilience. mPower is an INTERREG VA funded cross-border initiative, addressing demands on health and social care through seven partnerships in Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. It provides its beneficiaries (aged 65 and over, with one or more long-term condition) with a social prescribing service, with co-produced personalised Wellbeing Plans designed with Community Navigators, as well as eHealth interventions enabling self-management.This paper presents findings from the mPower evaluation, drawing on qualitative interviews with patients in Scotland. We examine the {\textquoteleft}medical encounters{\textquoteright} patients engage in with Community Navigators and how these are experienced by patients and differ from primary care encounters. Empowerment, encouraged by the collaborative creation of Wellbeing Plans, is suggested to lead to patients engaging in activities that promote social interaction and physical activity and, thus, act as preventative measures buffering the effects of aging and isolation. This enables older people to feel that they are taking control of their own health. This paper will show that while this is the desired outcome, the experience of encounters with Community Navigators may be the most valued part of the process by patients.

mPower is an INTERREG VA funded cross-border initiative, addressing demands on health and social ... more mPower is an INTERREG VA funded cross-border initiative, addressing demands on health and social care in seven partnerships across Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. It provides its beneficiaries (aged 65 and over, with one or more long-term condition) with a social prescribing service, with co-produced personalised Wellbeing Plans, as well as eHealth interventions enabling self-management. This poster draws on qualitative interviews with local mPower staff in two locations in Scotland, conducted as part of the mPower evaluation. It explores the emerging themes of community, connectedness, agency, wellbeing and empowerment among beneficiaries of the programme. These are explored through the voices of community navigators who work with beneficiaries to connect them to community resources and support them in making use of eHealth technologies. The poster presents a picture of how social prescribing and eHealth can empower beneficiaries to take control of their own health.

Demands on health and social care services in Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland are increasi... more Demands on health and social care services in Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland are increasing as the proportion of older people rises. Simultaneously, long-term conditions are becoming more prevalent, with older people often facing multiple conditions. This can lead to social isolation, increasing reliance on health and social care services. mPower is an INTERREG VA funded cross-border initiative, aiming to address emerging needs and demands on health and social care delivery in seven partnerships across Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland, with a focus on rural and deprived areas. The programme will provide its beneficiaries with a social prescribing service, as well as eHealth interventions enabling self-management through use of Home and Mobile Health Monitoring, Video Consultations and Digital Applications. The aim is to enable people to live safely and independently in their homes for as long as possible. The approach is preventative, supporting societal change by empowering people to self-manage their health in the community. We provide a robust and integrated evaluation framework to monitor and evaluate project delivery against targets, and quantitative and qualitative data to inform post-project mainstreaming. We will assess the effectiveness of these new strategies for delivery of care in facilitating self-management, as well as evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness and cross-border suitability of mPower in assisting people to live well at home. The framework presented in this poster outlines the qualitative and quantitative data collection the research team will undertake to inform project development, implementation and closure. We will use a range of data sources and collection methods, which are systematically mapped out in this poster. These include qualitative interviews with mPower beneficiaries and other stakeholders, event evaluation forms and stakeholder questionnaires, as well as financial and demographic data. This will allow us to evaluate the programme in line with its aims throughout its lifespan.

This paper examines unilingually Swedish spaces that the Swedish-speaking minority in two cities ... more This paper examines unilingually Swedish spaces that the Swedish-speaking minority in two cities in Finland creates and makes use of. While there has been a large amount of research on the minority, it has mostly been based on quantitative data. My doctoral research addresses questions of social location and belonging by drawing on qualitative research, providing a more multi-faceted and in-depth view of the lived experience of the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland. In this paper I will draw on ethnographic research undertaken in two cities in Finland over a period of six months. I will examine how Swedish-speakers create unilingually Swedish spaces for themselves amidst a daily life that is otherwise often experienced through the use of Finnish, the first language of the majority of the population. This will be done using data from participant observation undertaken in different free-time clubs and societies, as well as in-depth individual interviews conducted with Swedish-speakers. I will discuss the meanings unilingually Swedish spaces take on for participants, how these spaces are experienced by them, as well as reflect on how this affects the social position of Swedish-speakers in Finnish cities.

This paper explores a relational approach to policy analysis through the everyday work and practi... more This paper explores a relational approach to policy analysis through the everyday work and practice of front-line public service providers. Aristotle{\textquoteright}s theory of knowledge types is conceptualized as providing three overlapping conceptual frameworks for understanding and enacting relational practices in public policy - empirical knowledge, technical knowledge and practice wisdom. The paper explores how relational practices might be strengthened and sustained through the integration of these knowledge types. The paper derives insights from a qualitative case study of a community planning partnership in Scotland including interviews and observations of meetings between front-line service providers in housing, cleansing, policing and greenspace services; two strategic directors; and knowledge producers; and collaborative action research with public participation professionals. Building on insights from practice theory, interpretive and deliberative policy analysis, and knowledge mobilization literature, the discussion considers the challenges in practice – both methodologically and action-oriented – in taking relational processes forward. It explores how a relational approach might complement the integration of empirical knowledge with technical knowledge and practice wisdom.

miscs by Anna Terje

inbooks by Anna Terje

phdtheses by Anna Terje

The Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, often described as an {\textquoteleft}elite minority{\t... more The Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, often described as an {\textquoteleft}elite minority{\textquoteright}, holds a special position in the country. With linguistic rights protected by the constitution of Finland, Swedish-speakers, as a minority of only 5.3%, are often described in public discourse and in academic and statistical studies as happier, healthier and more well off economically than the Finnish-speaking majority. As such, the minority is a unique example of language minorities in Europe. Knowledge derived from qualitatively grounded studies on the topic is however lacking, meaning that there is a gap in understanding of the nature and complexity of the minority. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in four different locations in Finland over a period of 12 months, this thesis provides a theoretically grounded and empirically informed rich account of the identifications and sites of belonging of this diverse minority. The thesis makes a contribution to theoretical, methodological and empirical research on the Swedish-speaking minority, debates around identity and belonging, and ethnographic methodological approaches. Making use of novel methodology in studying Swedish-speaking Finns, this thesis moves beyond generalisations and simplifications on its nature and character. Drawing on rich ethnographic empirical material, the thesis interrogates various aspects of the lived experience of Swedish-speaking Finns by combining the concepts of belonging and identification. Some of the issues explored are the way in which belonging can be regionally specific, how Swedish-speakers create Swedish-spaces, how language use is situational and variable and acts as a marker of identity, and finally how identifications and sites of belonging among the minority are extremely varied and complex. The thesis concludes that there are various sites of belonging and identification available to Swedish-speakers, and these need to be studied and considered in order to gain an accurate picture of the lived experience of the minority. It also argues that while identifications are based on collective imagery, this imagery can vary among Swedish-speakers and identifications are multiple and situational. Finally, while language is a key commonality for the minority, the meanings attached to it are not only concerned with {\textquoteleft}Finland Swedishness{\textquoteright}, but connected to various other factors, such as the context a person grew up in and the region one lives in. The complex issues affecting the lived experience of Swedish-speaking Finns cannot be understood without the contribution of findings from qualitative research. This thesis therefore points towards a new kind of understanding of Swedish-speaking Finns, moving away from stereotypes and simplifications, shifting our gaze towards a richer perception of the minority.

conferences by Anna Terje

Social determinants of health and wellbeing include intersecting inequalities of social exclusion... more Social determinants of health and wellbeing include intersecting inequalities of social exclusion, deprivation, and (geographical) isolation. With a drive in the UK public health agenda to move towards community-based solutions and preventative approaches to ill health, social prescribing has been thought to support individual and community resilience in this context. The medicalisation critique posits that autonomy and capacity of individuals to manage their health is restricted by viewing social and societal problems through the scientific lens. This in particular affects disempowered groups, drawing attention away from the social inequalities that are at the root of reduced agency (Lupton, 1997). Critics of the medicalisation narrative have advocated for empowerment of patients through engaging in preventative social and physical measures, thus {\textquoteleft}taking control{\textquoteright} of their health. mPower is an INTERREG VA funded cross-border initiative, addressing demands on health and social care in seven partnerships across Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. It provides its beneficiaries (aged 65 and over, with one or more long-term condition) with a social prescribing service, with co-produced personalised Wellbeing Plans, as well as eHealth interventions enabling self-management. This paper presents initial findings from the mPower evaluation, drawing on qualitative interviews with Community Navigators in Scotland. Looking at processes of empowerment through narratives of front line staff connecting patients to local resources, this paper will focus on the themes of connectedness, community and agency. We will explore the role of mPower in beneficiaries{\textquoteright} engagement in practices of the self that enhance wellbeing, thus enabling increased control over their health.

Papers by Anna Terje

Critical realism, a toolkit of practical ideas, helps researchers to extend, clarify and validate... more Critical realism, a toolkit of practical ideas, helps researchers to extend, clarify and validate their work. Critical realism resolves problems and contradictions between quantitative factual research and qualitative interpretive approaches. It draws on their strengths, overcomes their limitations, and helps to connect research to policy and practice. To meet growing demand from researchers and students, the book shows how versatile critical realism can be in research across the life course and around the world, from small studies to large trials. Healthcare, health promotion and heath inequalities are all addressed. This book is based on the course at University College London, first taught by Roy Bhaskar the founder of critical realism, and later convened by the author. The aim is to help readers who are new to critical realism, or are in the fairly early stages, with their research across the whole range of health and illness disciplines and professions. Chapters consider relati...

BSA Annual Conference 2021: Remaking the Future, 2021

Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Event DigiFest2020, Dec 7, 2020

Sociology of Health & Illness, 2022

BSA Annual Conference 2021: Remaking the Future, 2021

Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Event DigiFest2020, Dec 7, 2020

Sociology of Health & Illness, 2022

Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, 2020

As humans, as cultures, and as humanity we confront relentless challenges—experienced in everyday... more As humans, as cultures, and as humanity we confront relentless challenges—experienced in everyday ephemeral moments and as pervasive environmental crises or manifestations of fragile economies and democracies. These challenges, and how we encounter them, play out in a dynamic, interdependent, relational space. It is a space that people make together and that remakes them. Relationality provides people a sense of how their lives are going, while also offering resources to glance forward to what may plausibly be—informed by experience—in order to act as if it were the case, and thereby increase the chance of it actually being the case. Therefore, relational policy analysis, most simply stated, accepts relationality as a key characteristic of our contemporary condition and seeks to reconfigure the policy process accordingly. The intention is to advance governance toward more sustainable futures.

The Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, often described as an ‘elite minority’, holds a special... more The Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, often described as an ‘elite minority’, holds a special position in the country. With linguistic rights protected by the constitution of Finland, Swedish-speakers, as a minority of only 5.3%, are often described in public discourse and in academic and statistical studies as happier, healthier and more well off economically than the Finnish-speaking majority. As such, the minority is a unique example of language minorities in Europe. Knowledge derived from qualitatively grounded studies on the topic is however lacking, meaning that there is a gap in understanding of the nature and complexity of the minority. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in four different locations in Finland over a period of 12 months, this thesis provides a theoretically grounded and empirically informed rich account of the identifications and sites of belonging of this diverse minority. The thesis makes a contribution to theoretical, methodological and empirical research on the Swedish-speaking minority, debates around identity and belonging, and ethnographic methodological approaches. Making use of novel methodology in studying Swedish-speaking Finns, this thesis moves beyond generalisations and simplifications on its nature and character. Drawing on rich ethnographic empirical material, the thesis interrogates various aspects of the lived experience of Swedish-speaking Finns by combining the concepts of belonging and identification. Some of the issues explored are the way in which belonging can be regionally specific, how Swedish-speakers create Swedish-spaces, how language use is situational and variable and acts as a marker of identity, and finally how identifications and sites of belonging among the minority are extremely varied and complex. The thesis concludes that there are various sites of belonging and identification available to Swedish-speakers, and these need to be studied and considered in order to gain an accurate picture of the lived experience of the minority. It also argues that while identifications are based on collective imagery, this imagery can vary among Swedish-speakers and identifications are multiple and situational. Finally, while language is a key commonality for the minority, the meanings attached to it are not only concerned with ‘Finland Swedishness’, but connected to various other factors, such as the context a person grew up in and the region one lives in. The complex issues affecting the lived experience of Swedish-speaking Finns cannot be understood without the contribution of findings from qualitative research. This thesis therefore points towards a new kind of understanding of Swedish-speaking Finns, moving away from stereotypes and simplifications, shifting our gaze towards a richer perception of the minority.

Suomen Antropologi: Journal of the Finnish Anthropological Society

This article brings together the themes of identi cation, belonging, and community. Based on ethn... more This article brings together the themes of identi cation, belonging, and community. Based on ethnographic research on a small island in Finland with a majority of Swedish-speakers, it provides a distinctive approach to the research on the minority, which has often focussed on quantitative measures of identity and ethnicity, positioned against the Finnish- speaking majority. The article carefully unpicks markers of identi cation and commonality, while illuminating contradictions and tensions within the community. The article contributes to theoretical debates on identity, belonging, and community, by bringing them together, thus illuminating the way in which identi cations, commonalities, connectedness, and groupness shape how participants view themselves and others. It also provides a knowledge contribution to existing conceptions of Swedish- speaking Finns, by providing a case study of a subset of the minority that challenges the often uncritical use of the word identity in debates...