My profile

Biography

As a Research Associate based at the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, I specialise in evaluating programmes and projects using quantitative and small-n mixed methodologies. I currently work on projects across a number of areas including ‘What Works’ in education and in Children’s Social Care, and approaches to the co-production of public services. I’m involved in randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, and projects where alternative non-traditional methods are applied to assess impact.

I teach postgraduate students on the ‘What Works: Experiments and Systematic Reviews’ module and I am the Deputy Programme Leader on the MSc Evaluation and Policy Analysis programme at the Manchester Metropolitan University.

academic and professional qualifications 

MSc Degree in Applied Quantitative Methods, Manchester Metropolitan University (2018)

MSc Degree in Literature & Linguistics, University of Szeged (2010)

BSc Degree in Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University (2017)

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society

Projects

Most recent projects

Peer Assisted Learning Strategies for Reading UK

An EEF impact, process and cost evaluation using CRT. PALS-UK is a whole class structured paired reading intervention that aims to improve Year 5 pupils’ reading comprehension and oral reading fluency. 

The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for adults experiencing homelessness

A systematic review funded by the Campbell Collaboration

We Can Talk About Domestic Abuse 

WCTADA aims to improve services provided to domestic abuse survivors via more reflective practice and co-production. We carried out an implementation and process evaluation and assessed the programme’s readiness for trial.

Video Interaction Guidance

Impact, process and cost evaluation using RCT. The intervention is looking at improving parent-infant relationships through video interactions.

Kirklees better outcomes partnership

Impact, evaluation of a Social Impact Bond designed to provide an asset and strength focussed approach for adults experiencing homelessness using Qualitative Comparative Analysis.

Evaluation of RESCALED 

Impact evaluation of a European movement promoting the idea of small-scaled, differentiated, and community-based detention houses using Contribution Analysis.

Teaching

I’m the Deputy Programme Leader of the MSc Evaluation and Policy Evaluation programme

In the upcoming academic year I will be delivering content on the following modules:

  • MSc Foundation of Quantitative Analysis and Data Management
  • MSc Social Innovation
  • MSc What Works: Experiments and Systematic Reviews
  • L4 Introduction to Methods for Politics and International Relations

Research outputs

Fox, C. & Gellen S. (2023)  Small n impact evaluation. In Seminar: Evaluating the impact of WP with small cohorts. Manchester, UK, 27 June 2023.

Gellen S. (2023) Impact evaluation of the Kirklees Better Outcomes Partnership. A Qualitative Comparative Analysis. In Seminar: Sharing research on co-production, personalisation and relational services. Manchester, UK, 26 June 2023.

Gellen, S. & Morris, S. (2023) Evaluation of the Peer Assisted Learning Strategies for Reading UK (PALS-UK) intervention, a two-armed cluster randomised trial. Statistical Analysis Plan. Education Endowment Foundation.

O’Leary C, Teixeira L, Coren E, Gellen S, Roberts A, Armitage H, Kiss Z. (2022) PROTOCOL: The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for reducing problematic substance use, improving mental health, and improving housing stability for adults experiencing homelessness: a systematic review, Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(4)  DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1290

Ozan, J., Gellen, S., Fox, C., Morris, S., Cargill, R, (2022) We can talk about domestic abuse Pilot evaluation report. What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care.

Ainsworth, S., Gellen, S.,  Lewin, C., & Morris, S. (2022) Evaluation of the Peer Assisted Learning Strategies for Reading UK (PALS-UK) intervention, a two-armed cluster randomised trial. Evaluation Protocol. Education Endowment Foundation.

Fox, C., Gellen, S., Ozan, J. (2022) Interim evaluation of Kirklees Better Outcomes Partnership and Greater Manchester Better Outcomes Partnership. Bridges Outcomes Partnership.

Fox, C., Gellen, S., Morris, S., Ozan, J., Crockford, J. (2022) Impact evaluation with small cohorts: methodology guidance. Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO).

Olson, H., Gellen, S., Fox, C., Painter, G., Ozan, J. (2022) Comparing Different Approaches to Evaluating the Impact of Social Outcomes Contracts. In PMRC 2022. Phoenix, Arizona, 25/5/2022 - 28/7/2022.

Gellen, S., Ozan, J., Fox, C., (2021) GM Homes Partnership Evaluation Report. A Qualitative Comparison Analysis. Bridges Outcomes Partnership.

Adams, L., Morris, S., Svanaes, S., Beninger, K., Smith, A., Gellen, S., & Jones, H. (2021). Trial evaluation protocol: Evaluation of empowering parents and professionals using Video Interactive Guidance (VIG) programme (Babies 1st). What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care.

Gellen, S. & Lowe, R. (2021) (Re)constructing Social Hierarchies: A critical discourse analysis of an international charity’s visual appeals. Critical Discourse Studies 18(2), 280-300.

Gellen, S., Saunders, F., Simmons, L., Stannard, J., & McAllister-Gibson, C. (2020). Can video support improve attainment? Evaluating the impact of teaching videos on student performance. Learning and Teaching Journal, 2(2).

Saunders, F., Gellen, S., Stannard, J., McAllister-Gibson, C., Simmons, L., & Gibson, A. (2020). Exploring the use of teaching videos to improve educational outcomes: A cross-Faculty study. In Advance HE Annual Teaching and Learning Conference. Virtual: Advance HE.

Saunders, F., Gellen, S., Stannard, J., McAllister-Gibson, C., Simmons, L., & Gibson, A. (2020). Educating the Netflix Generation: Evaluating the impact of teaching videos across a Science and Engineering Faculty. In SEFI European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI2020). Enschede, Holland.

Caton, S., & Gellen, S. (2017). Social Housing and Digital Inclusion. Poster session presented at the meeting of  Faculty Research. In High Summer Conference (FRIHSC) 2017.