Julie Goodhew

I have been a Part Time Associate Lecturer with the Open University since 2011, tutoring on a range of business and psychology/education modules: B100, B126, E104 and E219. I have a degree in Business Studies and a second degree, and PhD, in Psychology.

Having been a Business Studies teacher, for over 20 years, I made a career change 18 years ago (thanks to the Open University) and have since worked in university research as an environmental psychologist.

My most recent research work specialised in investigating the behavioural outcomes of using visual approaches to encourage people to engage in pro-environmental behaviour. The strategies used are like marketing and social marketing approaches. I have been fortunate enough to work on interesting research projects, (e.g. the eViz Project with the University of Plymouth, the Real Value project with Oxford University, and a United Nations project surveying actions to avoid marine litter entering the oceans). I have used different data analysis techniques in my research, but I really enjoy qualitative methods.

Prior to my research career, I spent over 20 years in education, teaching Business Studies in sixth form and school settings. I was a Business Studies Section Leader in a busy College and briefly was a Business Studies examiner, for public exams.

I wanted to work for the Open University, because I also studied for my Psychology degree with the OU. Juggling two small children, a job and OU studying was an experience! I gained so much from the wonderfully organised, informative materials and the supportive tutoring. The Psychology degree that I achieved, thanks to the Open University, led to amazing career changes for me. Hence, I know how the Open University can change lives. I know what it is to be an OU student and how wonderful our multi-tasking students are. I want to emulate the support that I received and use it for my own OU students……and the interaction with the students is the best part of the job for me!