Dr. Paul Fleetwood
Lecturer
- Area
- School of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Mgmt, Law & Social Sciences
- Phone
Biography
Prior to earning degrees in Psychology and Sociology, Social Research Methods, and the completion of my PhD, I worked extensively
in the private and public sectors in South Africa, the USA, and UK. These
experiences inform my approach to the subjects I research and teach, where it
is always important to me to link academic theory to real-world outcomes.
Research
My research interests are diverse, ranging from
the practical implications of neurodiversity, to the role of technology in
contemporary advertising, to shifting conceptions of consumption in late
modernity. I have a particular interest in phenomenology, which has led me to
investigate subjects such as the accelerated appropriation of music subcultures
and the social implications of online fetish subcultures. Likewise, I employ a
variety of quantitative and qualitative methodologies when conducting research and
analysing data, reflecting my dual background in Psychology and Sociology.
At present I am investigating the
privacy/personalisation paradox: the tension between improved products and
services based on personalised recommendations and the privacy implications of
surrendering personal data to achieve these improvements.
Teaching
A STAR-award winning lecturer, my approach to teaching is to link theoretical concepts and sociological research to the lived experiences of students. My main goal is to inspire students to look afresh at an ever-changing social world. I co-teach a wide variety of subjects in Sociology and Criminology and lead a module on the Sociology of Education.