Sara Bosley

Sara Bosley, MA, DipCG, PhD is a Research Officer in the Research Team. She is currently working on a commissioned inquiry into adult learning and an investigation into the development of older learners’ skills in Maths and ICT. Sara has experience of all stages of the research process from design, literature review through data analysis and interpretation to academic and report writing. She has used a range of data collection techniques including face to face and telephone interviews, focus groups and surveys.

Before joining NIACE, Sara was involved in research and evaluation projects around learning, careers and workforce change, first as a research consultant and later as a Research Associate at Loughborough University and a Research Fellow at the University of Warwick. In these roles, Sara contributed to projects funded by the Department for Education and Skills, and the Department of Health. Previous projects include: Challenging Age, a study of older people’s requirements and experiences of information, advice and guidance services; the Voice of the Learner (Derbyshire), an exploration of learners’ requirements and the barriers they face in accessing learning provision; and a study online of learning dialogues between tutors and work-based learners.

Bosley. S. and Dale, J. Health Care Assistants in general practice: the practical and conceptual issues of skill mix change. British Journal of General Practice (in press).

Bosley, S. Arnold, J. and Cohen, L. (2007) The anatomy of credibility: A conceptual framework of valued career helper attributes. Journal of Vocational Behavior,  70 (1): 116-134

Arnold, J., Schalk, R., Bosley, S., and Van Overbeek, S. (2002) Graduates’ experiences of work in small organizations in the UK and the Netherlands: Better than expected. International Small Business Journal 20 (04): 477-497.

Bosley, S. and Young, S. (2006) On line learning dialogues in learning through work. Journal of Workplace Learning, 18 (6): 355-366.

Bosley, S. and Arnold, J. (2000) Small is still beautiful Career Guidance Today 8 (6): 22-25.

Bosley, S. (1994, 1999, 2001, 2002) Able to Succeed. Loughborough: CASCAiD Ltd, Loughborough University.

Bosley, S. (1997) Guidance and Computers. Open learning, module one. Loughborough: CASCAiD Ltd, Loughborough University.

Arnold, J., Loan-Clarke, J., Coombs, C., Bosley, S. and Martin, C. (2006) Push and Pull: Why Allied Health Professionals stay in, leave or return to the NHS. Views of professionals inside and outside of the NHS. A final report prepared for the Department of Health. Loughborough: Business School, Loughborough University.

Arnold, J. and Bosley, S. (2000) Graduate work experiences and psychological contracts in small enterprises. Prepared for the Centre of Enterprise, Leicester.

Bosley, S. (2001) Evaluation report of the Lifelong Learning Awards Scheme for Negotiated Learning. Prepared for the University of Derby

Bosley, S. (2002) The Voice of the Learner in Derbyshire, 2002: Report of the findings from focus groups. Prepared for Derbyshire Learning Partnership.

Bosley, S., El-Sawad, A., Hughes, D. S, Jackson, C., and Watts, A. G. (2001) Guidance and Individual Learning Accounts. Derby: Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby.

Ford, G., Watkins, B., Bosley, S., Hawthorn, R., McGowan, B. and Grattan, P. (2003) Challenging Age: Information, Advice and Guidance for Older Age groups. Sheffield: Department for Education and Skills.

Hughes, D., Bosley, S., Bowes, L. and Bysshe, S. (2002) The Economic Benefits of Guidance. Centre for Guidance Study Report. Derby: Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby.

Jackson, C., Watts, A. G., Hughes, D., Bosley, S, and El-Sawad, A. (2001) Careers Service Work with Adults: a survey. Centre for Guidance Studies Occasional Paper. Derby: Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby.

Career helpers and career hinderers: a qualitative study exploring the role of others in shaping individuals’ careers. Loughborough University, 2004.