Mount Allison Sociology

Research Interests

My primary research area is the examination of identity, specifically regarding nationalism and work. I have just completed research on what children imagine their “ideal school” to be and on how the people of Sackville imagine their “ideal library.” These two projects form part of a larger interest in exploring the role of the ‘ideal’ in the formation of identity.

I am also currently engaged in a project with Patricia Kelly-Spurles (Anthropology, Mount Allison University). This is a qualitative study of breastfeeding from intention, through initiation and eventually cessation in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We focus on women’s perspectives and experiences as they make decisions about breastfeeding their infants. Women’s decisions about infant feeding are complex and involve the evaluation of health promotion messages, decisions about father involvement, and consideration of a host of other social, cultural, and personal factors.

I continue to investigate Canadian nationalism following my dissertation, “Nationalism and belonging: the politics of ’home’ for English speakers of Montreal.” I have a chapter submitted on Canadian national identity landscape and the Group of Seven for an edited collection on landscape and national identity. I am also engaged in a content analysis of KidsCBC. I am looking at how Canada is constructed and the promotion of Canadian nationalism by the children’s programming of the CBC.

I am also interested in innovative qualitative methods and am enjoying the above research projects because of the opportunities to explore audio and photo diaries, photo elicitation interviews, and the draw and write technique.

Doyle, Judith and Katrine Macfarlane. 2007. “Pools, animals and love rooms: exploring images of children’s ideal schools.” Submitted to the British Journal of Sociology of Education.

Doyle, Judith and E. Steuter. 2007 “The Joyful Noise of Learning: Active Learning Strategies for Large Classes.” In the Atlantic Association of Universities (AAU) Teaching Showcase 2006 Proceedings.

Doyle, Judith and E. M. Herteis. 2006. “The Path from Problem to Scholarship: Two Voices” Atlantic Association of Universities Teaching Showcase 2005 Proceedings, edited by Jeff Hoyle, Pat Nelson and Nancy L. Pitts. Volume X: 49-63.

Doyle, Judith, Nicola Mooney and Jane Ku. 2006. “Why not me: Women Immigrants and Unemployment in New Brunswick.” Migration Letters, 3(2):161-169.

Doyle, Judith, Nicola Mooney and Jane Ku. 2005. A Preliminary Research to Map Issues and Trends Confronting Recent Newcomer Women in New Brunswick. Report to Atlantic Metropolis Centre for Excellence for Research on Immigration, Integration and Cultural Diversity, Gender Domain.

Doyle, Judith. 2004. “Richard Handler.” Biographical Dictionary of Anthropology, edited by Vered Amit. London: Routledge.

Doyle, Judith. 2004. “Judith Okely.” Biographical Dictionary of Anthropology, edited by Vered Amit. London: Routledge.

M. Nathan with Judith Doyle. 2002. The State of the Office: the politics and geography of working space. London: The Industrial Society

Doyle, Judith and R. Reeves. 2001. Time Out: the Case for Time Sovereignty. London: The Industrial Society.

Doyle, Judith and M. Nathan. 2001. Wherever Next? Work in a Mobile World. London: The Industrial Society

Doyle, Judith. 2000. New Community or New Slavery? The Emotional Division of Labour. London: The Industrial Society

Doyle, Judith. 1999. “Against Dislocation: narratives of the future, identity, and politics among English speakers of Montreal.” British Journal of Canadian Studies, 14(1):63-72.