Share this page:
Anke Franz

Dr Anke Franz

Section Director for Psychology

School of Psychology and Life Sciences

I am a senior lecturer in psychology, specialising in qualitative, mixed methods and critical psychology research.

I joined the psychology team at CCCU in January 2010 and took on the joint psychology lead role in September 2022.

I am also the Athena Swan lead for the School of Psychology and Life Sciences. I feel very strongly about fostering an equal and equitable environment for both staff and students, where we support everybody.  

I teach, convene and mark across a range of modules and different levels and across both undergraduate and postgraduate psychology courses. My teaching expertise lies particularly in the areas of critical psychology, feminist psychology as well as qualitative and mixed methods research methods.  

I have also successfully supervised undergraduate and MSc students in a wide range of dissertation topics and methodologies.

My research expertise ranges across several areas, however, there is particular focus on three areas:  

  1. Research in the area of gender, sexuality and broader equality issues.  
  2. Research involving assistance dogs, particularly the wellbeing of assistance dogs.  
  3. Sustainability research: For example, colleagues from Sustainability and Education and I have just completed a qualitative project funded by Kent Wildlife Trust exploring public opinions on the reintroduction of the chough in Kent.   

My research tends to be collaborative and cross-disciplinary.    

I currently supervise four PhD students across the above areas.     

Research Projects

  • An Exploratory Study into the Lived Experience of Wellbeing and Mental health in Young LGBTQ+ Adults.. Researcher(s): Mr David Flowers. Supervisor(s): Dr Anke Franz, Dr Dennis Nigbur. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Effects of pornography on sexual attitudes and behaviours of young people. Researcher(s): Ms KRISTINA MASSEY. Supervisor(s): Dr Anke Franz, Professor Alex Hassett. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Investigating the Wellbeing of Assistance Dogs.. Researcher(s): Miss Olivia Summer Irene Britton. Supervisor(s): Dr Anke Franz, Dr Carol Trim, Dr Liz Spruin. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Social norms, class and working mothers’ (WMs) choices. An investigation into the complex and multifaceted societal influences on working mothers’ choices and challenges stemming from social and gender norms.. Researcher(s): Mrs Jo Law. Supervisor(s): Dr Anke Franz, Dr Dennis Nigbur. [Postgraduate Research Project]

Some of my more recent conference presentations

Franz, A., Worrell, M. & Vögele, C. (2017). Inferring national trends in discourse research using Q methodology. Presented at the International Q methodology conference, September 2017, Glasgow.

Franz, A. (2014). Media discourse research with adolescents: A case of isomorphism or non-isomorphism? Presented at the BPS Social Psychology Section Conference, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury.

I am regularly reviewing manuscripts for journals including the following:
Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine (an open-access journal)
Journal of Mixed Methods Research
Journal of Social Policy