Dr Nicola Roberts

Article

Roberts, Nicola, Doyle, Lauren and Roberts, Mark (2025) Deconstructing dangerous discourse: an analysis of personal safety advice to students on UK universities’ websites. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 9 (1). pp. 58-75. ISSN 2398-6808

Roberts, Nicola, Doyle, Lauren and Roberts, Mark (2024) Changing the culture of sexual violence at UK universities: a website analysis of definitions, report/support and prevent mechanisms. Higher Education Policy, 37. pp. 549-567. ISSN 0952-8733

Roberts, Nicola, Reeves, Carla and Jackson, Louise (2024) “I’m getting out to nothing”: a temporal analysis of dominant discourses and practices with residents convicted of child sex offences in Probation Approved Premises. Probation Journal, 71 (2). pp. 159-178. ISSN 0264-5505

Roberts, Nicola, Doyle, Lauren and Roberts, Mark (2023) Deconstructing dangerous discourse: an analysis of personal safety advice to students on UK universities’ websites. Journal of Gender-Based Violence. ISSN 2398-6808

Roberts, Nicola, Donovan, Catherine and Durey, Matthew (2023) Students’ help-seeking for experiences of interpersonal violence: how can universities respond? Criminology & Criminal Justice. ISSN 1748-8958

Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2023) ‘I just think it’s really awkward’: Transitioning to Higher Education and the implications for student retention. Higher Education: The International Journal of Higher Education Research, 85. pp. 1125-1141. ISSN 0018-1560

Roberts, Nicola (2023) Variables predicting the odds of failing to progress onto the second year of study for criminology students in a UK university. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 47 (1). pp. 1-14. ISSN 1469-9486

Roberts, Nicola (2023) The makings of an exclusive community: students’ perceptions of dangerous others. Higher Education: The International Journal of Higher Education Research, 85 (4(81)). pp. 539-553. ISSN 0018-1560

Roberts, Nicola and Marsh, Heaven (2022) A Qualitative Evaluation of Bystander Training: What Works? The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 61 (4). pp. 427-443. ISSN 2059-1101

Roberts, Nicola (2022) The dark and desolate campus: what can be done to enhance students’ perceptions of safety on-campus? Safer Communities, 21 (3). pp. 157-170. ISSN 1757-8043

Roberts, Nicola, Donovan, Catherine and Durey, Matthew (2022) Gendered landscapes of safety: How women construct and navigate the urban landscape to avoid sexual violence. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2 (22). pp. 287-303. ISSN 1748-8958

Roberts, Nicola and Marsh, Heaven (2021) Evaluating a bystander intervention to disrupt interpersonal violence/abuse. Safer Communities, 20 (2). pp. 62-72. ISSN 1757-8043

Roberts, Nicola and Rohan, Katy (2021) Perceptions and Practices of ‘Rehabilitation’ in a Community Rehabilitation Company: Disconnects between theory and practice. British Journal of Community Justice, 17 (2). pp. 67-85. ISSN 1475-0279

Roberts, Nicola, Donovan, Catherine and Durey, Matthew (2019) Agency, Resistance and the Non-'Ideal' Victim: How women deal with sexual violence. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 3 (3). pp. 323-338. ISSN 2398-6808

Roberts, Nicola (2019) Gender, Sexual Danger and the Everyday Management of Risks: The social control of young females. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 3 (1). pp. 29-44. ISSN 2398-6808

Roberts, Nicola (2013) Teaching Academics to Teach: About Pedagogy. Emerge, 5. pp. 1-16.

Book Section

Donovan, Catherine and Roberts, Nicola (2023) Violence and abuse, Universities and LGBTQ+ Students. In: Stopping Gender-based Violence in Higher Education: Policy, Practice, and Partnerships. Routledge, London, pp. 66-87. ISBN 9781032172477

Durey, Matthew, Roberts, Nicola and Donovan, Catherine (2022) Negotiating landscapes of (un)safety: atmospheres and ambivalence in female students’ everyday geographies. In: Landscapes of Hate: Tracing Spaces, Relations and Responses. Spaces and Practices of Justice . Bristol University Press, Bristol, pp. 78-97. ISBN 978-1529215175

Bloomfield-Utting, Jade, Geoghegan-Fittall, Sophie, Roberts, Nicola, Skinner, Tina, Smith, Olivia, Sweetland, Saffy and Taylor, Helen (2022) Ethics in research with victim-survivors. In: Research Handbook on Ethics in Social Research. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham. (In Press)

Skinner, Tina, Bloomfield-Utting, Jade, Geoghegan-Fittall, Sophie, Roberts, Nicola, Smith, Olivia, Sweetland, Saffy and Taylor, Helen (2022) A focus on ethics and researcher wellbeing. In: Research Handbook on Ethics in Social Research. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham. (In Press)

Roberts, Nicola (2018) Inspecting ‘Transforming Rehabilitation’: The pitfalls of an austerity managerialist approach to offender supervision. In: Austerity Policies: Bad Ideas in Practice. Palgrave, pp. 121-146. ISBN 9783319791203

Roberts, Nicola (2013) 'Probation and Risk: The paradox of 'rehabilitating' intimately violent men'. In: Constructing Risky Identities in Policy and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, pp. 163-180. ISBN 978-1-137-27608-7

Reports, briefing/ working papers

Roberts, Nicola and Uddin, Abida (2023) Findings from a survey to examine students’ perceptions of safety and security on and off campus. Project Report. University of Sunderland, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2022) Analysis of Incidents Reported to Assure – ‘Report It’ Portal. Project Report. Unpublished. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola and Price, Demi (2019) Gendered Perceptions of Domestic Violence: how young females are more likely than young males to know controlling domestic violence behaviours. Working Paper. CASS, University of Sunderland, Sunderland.

Donovan, Catherine, Roberts, Nicola, Tudor, Kate and Durey, Matthew (2016) Emerald Project Interim Report. Project Report. University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola and Durey, Matthew (2015) The Criminology Retention Project: First-year preliminary findings. Project Report. University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine, Roberts, Nicola and Durey, Matthew (2014) Teaching Gendered Violence: The impact upon students’ thoughts (and attitudes). Project Report. University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine, Clayton, John, Merchant, Jacqueline and Roberts, Nicola (2011) An Exploration of the Impact of the Coalition Government’s Spending Review on the North East and on Programmes Offered by the Department of Social Sciences. Project Report. University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine, Roberts, Nicola and Wilcock, Angela (2011) Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre Grace - Northumberland Sexual Violence Project: Evaluation and sustainability report. Project Report. University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2011) Understanding Student Retention from the Tutor’s Perspective: What can be done to develop best-practice pedagogies? Project Report. University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine, Clayton, John, Merchant, Jacqueline and Roberts, Nicola (2011) An exploration of the impact of the Coalition Government's spending review on the North East and how the Department of Social Sciences might respond. Project Report. University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2010) Understanding Student Retention: What can be done to enhance students' experiences of academic study. Project Report. University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Conference or Workshop Item

Roberts, Nicola (2025) Protecting students from sexual violence. In: The Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2025, Government Events, 04 Feb 2025, Online. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola, Webster, William and Williams, Helen (2024) How active bystander training can disrupt harmful behaviours experienced by non-binary and transgender UK higher education students. In: Sixth Annual Faculty of Education and Society Conference, Interdisciplinarity and Collaboration, 10 June 2024, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola and Connelly, Sarah (2024) Supporting staff to research in a post-1992 teaching-intensive university: an institutional ethnography. In: Sixth Annual Faculty of Education and Society Conference, Interdisciplinarity and Collaboration, 10 Jun 2024, University of Sunderland.

Roberts, Nicola, Reeves, Carla and Jackson, Louise (2023) "I'm getting out to nothing": A temporal analysis of dominant discourses and practices with residents convicted of child sex offences in Probation Approved Premises. In: CASS Public Lecture Series, 29 Nov 2023, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Skinner, Tina, Bloomfield-Utting, Jade, Geoghegan-Fittall, Sophie, Roberts, Nicola, Smith, Olivia, Sweetland, Saffy and Taylor, Helen (2023) Researcher wellbeing and secondary trauma: A theoretical framework and protocol to improve practice. In: Thinking Theory, Research & Practice: The Feminist Politics of Social Justice, LEX, VAWGRN, FRAN, and CSEL Joint Conference, 9-10 Nov 2023, University of Liverpool. (Unpublished)

Skinner, Tina, Bloomfield-Utting, Jade, Geoghegan-Fittall, Sophie, Roberts, Nicola, Smith, Olivia, Sweetland, Saffy and Taylor, Helen (2023) Researcher wellbeing and secondary trauma: A theoretical framework and protocol to improve practice and teaching. In: Eurocrim2023, The Renaissance of European Criminology, 23rd Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology, 6-9 September 2023, Florence. (Unpublished)

Skinner, Tina, Bloomfield-Utting, Jade, Geoghegan-Fittall, Sophie, Roberts, Nicola, Sweetland, Saffy and Taylor, Helen (2023) Reducing the potential for secondary trauma in research: a protocol to build researcher wellbeing into the research process. In: Research Ethics Conference, 6-7 Jul 2023, University of Bath. (Unpublished)

Williams, Helen, Webster, William and Roberts, Nicola (2023) Exploring transgender and non-binary university students’ perceptions and experiences of sexual harm. In: British Society of Criminology Annual Conference, Sustaining Futures: Remaking Criminology in an age of Global Injustice, 27–30 Jun 2023, University of Central Lancashire. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2023) Researching the Safety of Students. In: Associate Professorial Lecture Series 2022/23, 14 June 2023, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola, Doyle, Lauren and Roberts, Mark (2023) Changing the Culture of Sexual Violence at UK Universities: A Website Analysis of Definitions, Report/Support and Prevent Mechanisms. In: Economic and Social Inclusion, Fifth Annual Faculty of Education and Society Staff Research Conference, 12 June 2023, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Williams, Helen, Webster, William and Roberts, Nicola (2023) Exploring Transgender and Non-Binary Students’ Perceptions and Experiences of Sexual Harm. In: Economic and Social Inclusion, Fifth Annual Faculty of Education and Society Staff Research Conference, 12 June 2023, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Webster, William, Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2023) Exploring transgender and non-binary university students' perceptions and experiences of sexual harm. In: Proud / Loud / Heard... ? - exploring LGBT+ identity, being and experiences, Conference, 19 May 2023, Online. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine and Roberts, Nicola (2023) Violence and abuse, Universities and LGBTQ+ Students. In: Stopping Gender-based Violence in Higher Education Book Launch and Day Conference, 27 April 2023, University of Durham. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola, Doyle, Lauren, Roberts, Mark and Mulligan, Andy (2023) Deconstructing dangerous discourse: An analysis of personal safety advice to students on UK universities' websites. In: Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference, University of Sunderland, 13 January 2023, The Fire Station, Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola and Williams, Helen (2022) The Criminology Retention Project. University Keynote Speakers. In: The University of Sunderland Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, 7 December 2022, The Fire Station, Sunderland.

Skinner, Tina, Bloomfield-Utting, Jade, Geoghegan-Fittall, Sophie, Roberts, Nicola, Smith, Olivia, Sweetland, Saffy and Taylor, Helen (2022) Reducing the potential for secondary trauma in research: a protocol to build researcher wellbeing into the research process. In: Researcher Wellbeing, 20 July 2022, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Skinner, Tina, Bloomfield-Utting, Jade, Geoghegan-Fittall, Sophie, Roberts, Nicola, Smith, Olivia, Sweetland, Saffy and Taylor, Helen (2022) Minimising the potential for secondary trauma in research: a protocol to build researcher wellbeing into the research process. In: Researcher Wellbeing Day, 19 July 2022, University of Bath. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2022) Predicting the Odds of Failing to Progress: A Statistical Analysis of Factors Related to Criminology Students and their Progression on a Programme of Study. In: 4th Annual Faculty of Education & Society Staff Research Conference: Student-Focused, 13 June 2022, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine and Roberts, Nicola (2021) Violence and abuse, Universities and LGB and/or T+ Students. In: UCU LGBT+ Research Conference, 2-4 November 2021, Online. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola and Rohan, Katy (2021) Perceptions and Practices of 'Rehabilitation' in a Community Rehabilitation Company: disconnects between theory and practice. In: Future of Probation – Special Issue Seminar Programme, 3 Nov 2021, Online. (Unpublished)

Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2021) Apprehension, anxiety and awkwardness: transitioning to Higher Education and the implications for student retention. In: EuroCrim Conference, 8-10 September 2021, Online. (Unpublished)

Ovington, Julie and Roberts, Nicola (2021) Putting New Materialist and Posthuman theory to work in Bystander Evaluations: A Diffracted Reading. In: British Society of Criminology Annual Conference, Crime and Harm: Challenges of Social and Global Justice, 7-9 July 2021, Online. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola and Marsh, Heaven (2021) A Qualitative Evaluation of a Bystander Intervention: the problem of binaries. In: British Society of Criminology Annual Conference, Crime and Harm: Challenges of Social and Global Justice, 7-9 July 2021, Online. (Unpublished)

Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2021) Apprehension, anxiety and awkwardness: transitioning to Higher Education and the implications for student retention. In: First International Practice Focused Research in Education Conference (IPFREC), 5-8 July 2021, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Skinner, Tina, Bloomfield-Utting, Jade, Geoghegan-Fittall, Sophie, Roberts, Nicola, Smith, Olivia, Sweetland, Saffy and Taylor, Helen (2021) Building researcher wellbeing into the research process: from funding bids to beyond project completion. In: Wellbeing & Empowerment Through Funding Proposals: Principles for Inclusivity when Developing Bids, 1 July 2021, Violence Against Women and Girls Research Network. (Unpublished)

Williams, Helen and Roberts, Nicola (2021) Apprehension, anxiety and awkwardness: transitioning to Higher Education and the implications for student retention. In: Third Annual FES Staff Research Conference: Professions-Facing, 14 June 2021, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2021) The exclusive community: students' perceptions of dangerous others. In: BSA 70th Anniversary Virtual Conference: Remaking the Future, 13-15 April 2021, Online. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2021) League tables and the untold narrative of students’ university experiences. In: BSA 70th Anniversary Virtual Conference: Remaking the Future, 13-15 April 2021, Online. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola, Ovington, Julie and Marsh, Heaven (2021) A Qualitative ‘Evaluation’ of the Bystander Project: the problem of binaries. In: CASS Lecture Series, 17 March 2021, University of Sunderland. Available at: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/more/research/thematic-research-areas/social-sciences/public-lectures/public-lectures-202021-recordings/. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2020) Shaping an Exclusive Community: Students’ perceptions of safety in an age of insecurity. In: Second Annual FES Research Conference: Society Shaping, 15 June 2020, University of Sunderland.

Roberts, Nicola and Marsh, Heaven (2020) A Statistical Evaluation of a Bystander Project. In: Postgraduate & Final Year Undergraduate Research Conference, 29 January 2020, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola and Marsh, Heaven (2019) Evaluation of the Bystander Project: A statistical analysis. In: CASS Seminar Series, 27 Nov 2019, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola, Donovan, Catherine and Durey, Matthew (2019) Challenging Boundaries: How students construct and navigate boundaries of safety based on their gendered and/or racialised subjectivities. In: First Annual FES Research Conference: Boundary Breaking, 4 June 2019, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola, Donovan, Catherine and Durey, Matthew (2019) Landscapes of Safety: The construction and navigation of the urban landscape by students based on their gendered and/or racialised subjectivities. In: Cass Seminar Series, 22 May 2019, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola, Donovan, Catherine, Tudor, Kate and Durey, Matthew (2018) Agency, Resistance and the Non ‘Ideal Victim’: How women deal with everyday sexual violence. In: British Society of Criminology Annual Conference, 3 - 6 Jul 2018, Birmingham City University. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine, Roberts, Nicola, Tudor, Kate and Durey, Matthew (2018) Positioning Universities as a source of Help when Gender Based Violence, Harassment and/or Hate Are Experienced by Students. In: British Society of Criminology Annual Conference, 3 - 6 Jul 2018, Birmingham City University. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola and Donovan, Catherine (2017) Agency, Resistance And The Non ‘Ideal Victim’: How Women Deal With Everyday Sexual Violence. In: CASS Seminar Series., 29 Nov 2017, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine and Roberts, Nicola (2017) Developing and Promoting Safer Communities of Learners. In: Social Policy Association Annual Conference, 10-12 Jul 2017, Durham University. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine, Roberts, Nicola, Tudor, Kate and Durey, Matthew (2017) Help-Seeking of Students. In: Symposium, Tackling Gender-Based Violence in Universities, 14 Mar 2017, Newcastle University. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine, Roberts, Nicola, Tudor, Kate and Durey, Matthew (2017) Initial Findings from the Emerald Project: Exploring relationships between structural vulnerabilities and perceptions and experiences of violence and abuse amongst students. In: CASS Seminar Series, 2017, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2016) Increasing Visibility and Control in the Environment to Stay Safe: Students’ Strategies and the Significance of Gender. In: CASS Seminar Series, 2016, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola and Durey, Matthew (2015) The Criminology Retention Project: Developing a methodology to monitor student retention. In: North East Regional Learning and Teaching Conference, Student Engagement, 2015, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Donovan, Catherine, Roberts, Nicola and Durey, Matthew (2014) Teaching Gendered Violence: The impact upon students’ thoughts (and attitudes). In: Learning Enhancement Conference, University of Sunderland., 2014, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2011) Managing Men's Risks of Harm: Women's rights to safety, and the responsibility of the 'state' for intimate partner violence. In: British Society of Criminology Annual Conference, 3 - 6 Jul 2011, Northumbria University. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2011) The National Probation Service and Intimate Partner Violence: A discourse of risk, compliant men and the acceptance of violence against women. In: Equalities and Social Justice Research Seminar Series, March 2011, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2011) Understanding Student Retention from the Tutor's Perspective: What can be done to develop best-practice pedagogies? In: Learning Enhancement Conference, 2011, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Roberts, Nicola (2009) Working with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence: Some challenges for probation-run perpetrator programmes. In: Northern Rock Foundation Seminar Series, 2009, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)

Thesis

Roberts, Nicola (2004) Talking about the National Probation Service and the 'Treatment' of Intimately Violent Offenders: Questioning the 'what works' debate. Doctoral thesis, University of Bath.

Roberts, Nicola (2001) ‘What Works’ in Reducing Domestic Violence? A ‘three-way’ evaluation of a domestic violence perpetrator programme. Masters thesis, University of Leicester.

Audio

Roberts, Nicola and Price, Demi (2022) The Portal Podcast: Bringing Academia to Social Work Practice - A Conversation with Nicola and Demi about Gendered Perceptions of Domestic Violence. [Audio]