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Dr Laura McGinty


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Research and Projects Assistant, Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion

I am a researcher with a broad range of interests, centred around a theme of people and place, through a lens of real-world impacts and evaluation. How people experience built environments, the intersections of human and natural spaces, wellbeing, and evaluation of interventions targeted at meeting need. 

I have a range of research experience in both academic and non-academic settings. I am especially interested in monitoring, evaluation, and learning - how to measure and evidence impact, and understanding 'what works'. I've used these interests in third-sector evaluations, an evaluative approach to green infrastructure in my PhD, delivering the Newcastle University REF2021 submission for the School of Engineering, and in private-sector research consultancy. 



Research

My PhD research centred around green infrastructure networks, the benefits/disbenefits of these, and how these can be measured and quantified. I used this to create an understanding of the spatial/distributional impacts of a green infrastructure network to inform innovative business models for financing these networks. 

In private sector research and in the third sector I specialise in evaluation research, through both quantitative, qualitative, and spatial approaches. This has spanned a wide range of settings including sustainable transport, active travel, coastal safety, health, wellbeing, gender identity and LGBTQ+ experiences, young people, neurodiversity, the criminal justice system, employment and skills, business operations, social care, and the environment and climate adaptation. 

I am always happy to talk about evaluation theory - how we measure and evidence outcomes and impact, theories of change, and discovering what works. 

Publications

Last updated 10 October 2024