Discursive psychology

Discursive psychology begins with psychology as it faces people living their lives. It studies how psychology is constructed, understood and displayed as people interact in everyday and more institutional situations. How does a speaker show that they are not prejudiced, while developing a damning version of an entire ethnic group? How are actions coordinated in a counselling session to manage the blame of the different parties for the relationship breakdown? How is upset displayed, understood and receipted in a call to a child protection helpline? Questions of this kind require us to understand the kinds of things that are 'psychological' for people as they act and interact in particular settings - families, workplaces and schools. And this in turn encourages us to respecify the very object psychology

People centred eco-design: consumer adoption of low and zero carbon products and systems

Literature review, research model and findings of exploratory empirical research on consumer adoption and effective use of low and zero carbon technologies ranging from a hybrid car to solar water heating systems

Getting warmer: a field trial of heat pumps

Given the lack of data on heat pump performance in customers’ homes, the Energy Saving Trust in partnership with the Open University undertook the first large-scale heat pump field trial in the UK to determine how heat pumps perform in real-life conditions. The year-long field trial monitored technical performance and customer behaviour observed at 83 sites across the UK. The findings provide valuable information about the factors that affect the success of a domestic heat pump installation. Instead of revealing outcomes along statistical grounds, or acting as a “brand-vs-brand” competition, the field trial findings provide a discussion of key points of interest to potential consumers, including: • Measured coefficient of performance (COP) and system efficiency • Installation practices (both system design and performance) • Customer behaviour (contribution by the Open University) • Heating patterns and average internal temperatures • Economics This report makes recommendations for consumers, installers, manufacturers and policy makers, and identifies areas that require additional investigation and research

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationDiagenetic variables (e.g., microbial influence, sediment composition and fluid chemistry) are investigated to determine the effects on iron redox reactions and iron (oxyhydr)oxide nucleation, cement textures, mineralogy and chemistry. Three individual examinations are conducted in the Colorado Plateau, USA: 1. reservoir fluid chemistry in a natural fossil CO2 reservoir in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone exposed in Justensen Flats in the northern San Rafael Swell, 2. concretion formation in the reactive, volcaniclastic Jurassic Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation, and 3. comparative microbial influences in the precipitation of iron (oxyhydroxides) in a modern Ten Mile Graben spring system and the Brushy Basin Member. Bulk geochemistry in a lithologically controlled, iron (oxyhydr)oxide reaction front in Justensen Flats shows that the precipitating fluid in the reservoir was likely a CO2- and hydrocarbon-charged fluid and that CO2 injection into a saline reservoir would result in dolomite precipitation and significantly reduce porosity. Chemical and physical concretion comparisons in the Brushy Basin Member show that reactants are moving via fluid flow in porous host rocks and producing uniform concretion morphologies and mineralogies. In reactive Brushy Basin Member claystone and siltstone lithofacies, reactants are being sourced from abundant ashes reacting with groundwater to create localized diagenetic microenvironments and produce variable concretion mineralogies and morphologies. Variability of fluids on regional to outcrop scales and lithologically controlled fluid flow and cement precipitation in permeable reservoirs furthers the science of carbon capture and sequestration. Comparison of modern and 100ka microbial iron (oxyhydr)oxides in tufas at the Ten Mile Graben spring system shows that biosignatures exhibit some degradation and recrystallization on millennial time scales, although biotic features are clearly recognizable. Microbial fossils in the Brushy Basin Member are associated with macroscopic biotic features such as charophyte molds. Biogenic iron (oxyhydr)oxides in modern tufas and Jurassic rocks exhibit two distinct elemental suites that function as biosignatures: 1. C, Fe, and As, and 2. C, S, Se. Biogeochemical markers provide diagnostics for depositional environment, fluid chemistry and potential microbial fossils and/or biosignatures to aid in the exploration of similar iron- and clay-rich sediments on Mars in Gale Crater

Consumer adoption and use of household renewable energy technologies, Report DIG-10

Household adoption of low and zero carbon (LZC) technologies is a key element of the UK Government’s energy and climate strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of homes, which in 2005 were directly responsible for 28% of total UK carbon dioxide emissions (DTI, 2005). However, despite UK government support for renewable energy technologies and microgeneration (the small scale production of heat and/or electricity from a low carbon source), through grant schemes, such as the Clear Skies and Low Carbon Buildings Programme, household adoption of technologies, such as solar thermal water heating, solar photovoltaics (PV) and biomass heating systems, microwind, microchip and heat pumps, has been slow. There is therefore significant potential for market growth and carbon saving if the barriers to widespread consumer adoption of microgeneration and renewable energy technologies can be overcome. This report gives the results of a large study carried out by the Design Innovation Group at the Open University (OU) in collaboration with the National Energy Foundation (NEF) and the Energy Saving Trust (EST), that aimed to investigate in detail the drivers and barriers underlying UK householders’ decisions to adopt or decide against adopting selected renewable energy technologies (solar thermal water heating, solar photovoltaics (PV), microwind turbines and wood-burning stoves), and their experiences and use of the systems once installed. Data was gathered during 2006 via an online questionnaire linked to the websites of the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and a BBC/OU television series on climate change, which produced nearly 400 responses. We also gathered respondents’ ideas for improving the renewable energy systems. The data was supplemented by the results of in-depth telephone interviews with householders. The data on household adoption of renewable energy technologies presented in this report form part of a larger project entitled ‘People-centred ecodesign’

Consumer adoption of household energy efficiency measures, Report DIG-09

Improving the energy efficiency of homes is a key element of the UK Government’s energy and climate strategy which in 2005 were responsible for 28% of total UK carbon dioxide emissions. However, despite the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC), which requires UK electricity and gas suppliers to meet targets for promoting household energy efficiency, and the efforts of the Britain’s network of Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs), household adoption of established energy efficiency measures has been slow. According to the Government’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan, this slow adoption is due to three main barriers – up-front costs; lack of information; and hassle and disruption (DEFRA, 2004). However, other research (e.g. Guy and Shove, 2000) has shown that peoples’ motivations and actions concerning energy efficiency are often more complex than these barriers suggest. Also, even if householders adopt energy efficiency measures, they may not use them in an energy-saving manner. This report gives the results of a study carried out by the Design Innovation Group at the Open University (OU), in collaboration with Milton Keynes Energy Agency (MKEA) and the Energy Saving Trust, that aimed to investigate in detail the drivers and barriers underlying UK householders’ decisions to install – or reject –four important energy efficiency measures (loft insulation, condensing boilers, heating controls, energy-efficient lighting) and users’ experiences of the measures once installed, including their views on rebound effects. Data was gathered during 2006 via an online questionnaire linked to the websites of the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and a BBC/OU television series on climate change, which produced nearly 400 responses. We also gathered respondents’ ideas for improving the energy efficiency products and systems. The data was supplemented by the results of in-depth telephone interviews with householders. The surveys of household adoption of energy efficiency measures presented in this report form part of a larger project entitled ‘People-centred ecodesign’

Growing an international Cultural Heritage Labs community

‘Cultural Heritage Labs’ in galleries, libraries, archives and museums around the world help researchers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators and innovators to work on, experiment, incubate and develop their ideas of working with digital content through competitions, awards, projects, exhibitions and other engagement activities. They do this by providing services and infrastructure to enable, facilitate and give access to their data both openly online and onsite for research, inspiration and enjoyment. In September 2018, the British Library Labs team organised a ‘Building Library Labs’' international workshop. The event provided the opportunity for colleagues that are planning or already have digital experimental ‘Labs’ to share knowledge, experiences and lessons learned. The workshop, which attracted over 40 institutions from North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, demonstrated a clear need and enthusiasm for establishing an international support network. Within 6 months, a second international workshop was organised at the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen in March 2019. In total we have brought together some 120 participants and an even wider community of around 250 people online. Some have been sharing their experiences in setting, using and running innovation labs, but there was a sizeable group of attendees who are planning to set up such labs and need advice and support in how to do this. The aim of this short paper is to present the journey and development of the International Labs community and outline our future activities

Design of higher education teaching models and carbon impacts

Purpose This research examines the main findings of the SusTEACH study of the carbon-based environmental impacts of 30 higher education (HE) courses in 15 UK institutions, based on an analysis of the likely energy consumption and carbon emissions of a range of Face-to-face, Distance, Online and ICT-enhanced blended teaching models. Design/methodology/approach An environmental assessment of 19 campus-based and 11 distance-based HE courses was conducted using questionnaire surveys to gather data from students and lecturers on course-related travel; the purchase and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and paper materials; residential energy consumption, and campus site operations. Results were converted into average energy and CO2 emissions, normalised per student per 100 study hours, and then classified by the primary teaching model used by lecturers. Findings The main sources of HE course carbon emissions were travel; residential energy consumption; and campus site operations. Distance-based HE models (Distance, Online and ICT-enhanced teaching models) reduced energy consumption by 88% and achieved significant carbon reductions of 83% when compared with campus-based HE models (Face-to-face and ICT-enhanced teaching models). The Online teaching model achieved the lowest energy consumption and carbon emissions, although there were potential rebound effects associated with increased ICT-related energy consumption and paper used for printing. Practical implications New pedagogical designs using online and distance-based teaching methods can achieve carbon reductions by reducing student travel, residential and campus accommodation. Originality/value Few studies have examined the environmental performance of HE teaching models. A new classification of HE traditional, online and blended teaching models is used to examine the role of ICTs and the likely carbon impacts

Domestic heat pumps in the UK: user behaviour, satisfaction and performance

Consumer adoption of microgeneration technologies is part of the UK strategy to reduce carbon emissions from buildings. Domestic heat pumps are viewed as a potentially important carbon saving technology, given the ongoing decarbonisation of the electricity supply system. To address the lack of independent evaluation of heat pump performance, the Energy Saving Trust undertook the UK’s first large-scale heat pump field trial, which monitored 83 systems in real installations. As part of the trial, the Open University studied the consumers’ experience of using a domestic heat pump. An in-depth user survey investigated the characteristics, behaviour, and satisfactions of private householders and social housing residents using ground source and air source heat pumps for space and/or water heating, and examined the influence of user-related factors on measured heat pump system efficiency. The surveys found that most users were satisfied with the reliability, heating, hot water, warmth and comfort provided by their system. Analysis of user characteristics showed that higher system efficiencies were associated with greater user understanding of their heat pump system, and more continuous heat pump operation, although larger samples are needed for robust statistical confirmation. The analysis also found that the more efficient systems in the sample were more frequently located in the private dwellings than at the social housing sites and this difference was significant. This is explained by the interaction between differences in the systems, dwellings and users at the private and social housing sites. The implications for heat pump research, practice and policy are discussed