Overview
Background
Rebecca Olson is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Queensland, cutting-edge translational qualitative researcher, mentor and award-winning educator with expertise in the sociologies of health and emotions. As Director of SocioHealthLab, she leads an interdisciplinary collective of researchers, health professional educators and practitioners interested in doing health and healthcare differently: more socially aware, more relational, more inclusive and more just. As Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Social Science, she prioritises collaborative, reflexive, creative and emotions-centred practices in higher education. With over 75 scholarly publications – as well as news media and creative video productions – Rebecca is a prolific contributor to public debate. With research interests spanning medicinal cannabis and health professions education to climate anxiety, Olson is internationally renowned for bringing sociological insight to complex challenges related to emotions, wellbeing, healthcare and caregiving.
Availability
- Associate Professor Rebecca Olson is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
Research interests
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Emotions, Methodology, Healthcare and Education
Emotions play a key role in how we experience and interact with the everyday world. Olson’s research intersects the sociology of emotions and the sociology of health & illness. Her work seeks to understand emotions and their importance to health and healthcare, with topics ranging from parents management of climate anxiety, to medicinal cannabis and wellbeing in advanced cancer contexts, Interprofessional practice, and higher education teaching and learning, including health professional education. Olson has a specific interest in innovative, participatory qualitative methodologies, such as video-reflexive ethnography and critical reflexive ethnography. This allows her to work collaboratively with health specialists and educators in ways that encourage greater insight into the minutiae of everyday healthcare and education practices. Recently, she has used these approaches to investigate: • Emotionally reflexive labour in palliative care and interprofessional practice • Socio-emotional aspects of cigarette smoking and lung cancer screening • Patient perspectives toward medicinal cannabis policy and it’s efficacy • Discourses of emotion and feedback in health professional education • Biopsychosocial approaches to physiotherapy and the work-readiness of graduate physiotherapists
Research impacts
With over a decade of experience as a teaching and research academic, Olson has a strong track record of higher degree research supervision, innovative teaching and learning scholarship and high impact research published in a range of top academic outlets such as Social Science & Medicine, Medical Education and Qualitative Health Research.
With competitive funding from NHMRC, ARC, Arthritis Australia, and Cancer Australia, Olson uses innovative sociological theory in the study of interprofessional and informal palliative care, biopsychosocial approaches in physiotherapy, medicinal cannabis treatment and policy, and emotions and reflexivity in higher education teaching and learning. Her research innovatively applies participatory methods such as video reflexive methodology, to enable collaborative, theory-informed research that invites health professionals – established and pre-licensure – to reflect upon and refine their practice.
Across all domains of her research, Olson advocates for the democratisation of research practices through participatory and reflexive approaches to knowledge production that promote social justice in healthcare.
Works
Search Professor Rebecca Olson’s works on UQ eSpace
2016
Book Chapter
Public health: Historical and contemporary principles and practices
Olson, Rebecca E. (2016). Public health: Historical and contemporary principles and practices. Public Health: Local and Global Perspectives. (pp. 25-44) edited by Pranee Liamputtong. Port Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Cambridge University Press.
2015
Journal Article
Why few older adults participate in complex motor skills: a qualitative study of older adults’ perceptions of difficult and challenge
Kraft, Katarina P., Steel, Kylie A., Macmillan, Freya, Olson, Rebecca and Merom, Dafna (2015). Why few older adults participate in complex motor skills: a qualitative study of older adults’ perceptions of difficult and challenge. BMC Public Health, 15 (1) 2501, 1186-1197. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2501-z
2015
Journal Article
Introduction: Methodological innovations in the sociology of emotions part two - methods
Olson, Rebecca E., Godbold, Natalya and Patulny, Roger (2015). Introduction: Methodological innovations in the sociology of emotions part two - methods. Emotion Review, 7 (2), 143-144. doi: 10.1177/1754073914555276
2015
Journal Article
How would an egalitarian health care system operate? Power and conflict in interprofessional education
Olson, Rebecca E. (2015). How would an egalitarian health care system operate? Power and conflict in interprofessional education. Medical Education, 49 (4), 353-354. doi: 10.1111/medu.12686
2015
Journal Article
Exploring identity in the 'figured worlds' of cancer caregiving and marriage in Australia
Olson, Rebecca E. (2015). Exploring identity in the 'figured worlds' of cancer caregiving and marriage in Australia. Health and Social Care in the Community, 23 (2), 171-179. doi: 10.1111/hsc.12132
2015
Conference Publication
Students’ perceptions of eMarking: Grademark vs. iAnnotate.
Olson, Rebecca and Tannous, Caterina (2015). Students’ perceptions of eMarking: Grademark vs. iAnnotate.. Student Transitions Achievement Retention Success (STARS) conference, Melbourne, Australia, 1-4 July, 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Interprofessional education: status, emotions and power
Olson, Rebecca E. (2015). Interprofessional education: status, emotions and power. The Australian Sociological Association Conference: Neoliberalism and Contemporary Challenges for the Asia-Pacific, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 23-26 November 2015.
2015
Journal Article
A rough road map to reflexivity in qualitative research into emotions
Fitzpatrick, Petya and Olson, Rebecca E. (2015). A rough road map to reflexivity in qualitative research into emotions. Emotion Review, 7 (1), 49-54. doi: 10.1177/1754073914544710
2015
Journal Article
Reimagining health professional socialisation: an interactionist study of interprofessional education
Olson, Rebecca E., Klupp, Nerida and Astell-Burt, Thomas (2015). Reimagining health professional socialisation: an interactionist study of interprofessional education. Health Sociology Review, 25 (1), 92-107. doi: 10.1080/14461242.2015.1101702
2015
Journal Article
Introduction: Embracing emotional research - methodological challenges in the sociology of emotions
Patulny, Roger, Godbold, Natalya and Olson, Rebecca E. (2015). Introduction: Embracing emotional research - methodological challenges in the sociology of emotions. Emotion Review, 7 (1), 47-48. doi: 10.1177/1754073914546073
2014
Journal Article
Indefinite loss: The experiences of carers of a spouse with cancer
Olson, Rebecca E. (2014). Indefinite loss: The experiences of carers of a spouse with cancer. European Journal of Cancer Care, 23 (4), 553-561. doi: 10.1111/ecc.12175
2014
Journal Article
Interprofessional education in allied health: A systematic review
Olson, Rebecca E. and Bialocerkowski, Andrea (2014). Interprofessional education in allied health: A systematic review. Medical Education, 48 (3), 236-246. doi: 10.1111/medu.12290
2014
Journal Article
A time-sovereignty approach to understanding carers of cancer patients' experiences and support preferences
Olson, Rebecca E. (2014). A time-sovereignty approach to understanding carers of cancer patients' experiences and support preferences. European Journal of Cancer Care, 23 (2), 239-248. doi: 10.1111/ecc.12121
2014
Book Chapter
None of the above: Uncertainty and diagnosis
Olson, Rebecca E. and Abeysinghe, Sudeepa (2014). None of the above: Uncertainty and diagnosis. Social Issues in Diagnosis: An Introduction for Students and Clinicians. (pp. 47-60) edited by Annemarie Goldstein Jutel and Kevin Dew. Baltimore, MD United States: Johns Hopkins University Press.
2014
Conference Publication
Exploratory comparison of providing formative assessment feedback in three different modes: Hardcopy, desktop and tablet
Olson, Rebecca E., Burton, Anthony, Byron, Paul and Turnbull, Margo (2014). Exploratory comparison of providing formative assessment feedback in three different modes: Hardcopy, desktop and tablet. 17th International First Year in Higher Education Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 6-9 July 2014.
2014
Journal Article
When they don't die: Prognosis ambiguity, role conflict and emotion work in cancer caregiving
Olson, Rebecca E. and Connor, James (2014). When they don't die: Prognosis ambiguity, role conflict and emotion work in cancer caregiving. Journal of Sociology, 51 (4), 857-871. doi: 10.1177/1440783314544996
2014
Other Outputs
Informal carers of people in palliative care in the ACT: identity, experience, support
Olson, Rebecca and Connor, James (2014). Informal carers of people in palliative care in the ACT: identity, experience, support.
2014
Conference Publication
Interprofessional practice in healthcare: A POSH approach
Dadich, Ann and Olson, Rebecca E. (2014). Interprofessional practice in healthcare: A POSH approach. ACSPRI Social Science Methodology Conference ACSPRI Social Science Methodology Conference 2014, University of Sydney, Australia, 7-10 December 2014.
2013
Journal Article
Changes in professional human care work: The case of nurse practitioners in Australia
Prosser, Brenton and Olson, Rebecca E. (2013). Changes in professional human care work: The case of nurse practitioners in Australia. Health Sociology Review, 22 (4), 422-432. doi: 10.5172/hesr.2013.22.4.422
2013
Other Outputs
Research Report to Health Education & Training Institute (HETI) on UWS’s NSW ICTN local project fund
Olson, Rebecca, Kent, Michelle and Klupp, Nerida (2013). Research Report to Health Education & Training Institute (HETI) on UWS’s NSW ICTN local project fund. Sydney, Australia:
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Rebecca Olson is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring how physiotherapists navigate distress in low back pain care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stefanie Plage
-
Doctor Philosophy
Towards a Critical Post-humanist Symphony of Children-Deaths
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Staton
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding children's constructions and experiences of death, dying and loss
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Staton
-
Doctor Philosophy
Online Dating Experiences of Cancer Survivors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mair Underwood, Dr Stefanie Plage
-
Doctor Philosophy
Online Dating Experiences of Cancer Survivors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mair Underwood, Dr Stefanie Plage
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding obstetric violence in Australia: prevalence, experiences and maternity carers perspectives
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nigel Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
Towards a Critical Post-humanist Symphony of Children-Deaths
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Staton
-
Doctor Philosophy
Online Dating Experiences of Cancer Survivors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mair Underwood, Dr Stefanie Plage
-
Doctor Philosophy
Examination of constructions of health information exchange, as a specific action of person-centred care, occurring for and between professionals and patients.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Christy Noble
-
Doctor Philosophy
Beyond pathology: (re)conceptualising distress in physiotherapy and chronic low back pain care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stefanie Plage
-
Doctor Philosophy
Discursive Renderings of Medicinal Cannabis Patients: Policy, Practice, Priorities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jenny Munro
-
Doctor Philosophy
Online Dating Experiences of Cancer Survivors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mair Underwood, Dr Stefanie Plage
-
Doctor Philosophy
Collaborative clinical practice in healthcare
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nadine Foster, Dr Lisa Anemaat
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evidence based use of oral medicinal cannabinoids in the palliative management of patients with advanced cancer
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Acceptance of digital mental health interventions: Sociodemographic aspects of user engagement with digital psychological interventions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Henman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Acceptance of digital mental health interventions: Sociodemographic aspects of user engagement with digital psychological interventions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Henman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Acceptance of digital mental health interventions: Sociodemographic aspects of user engagement with digital psychological interventions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Henman
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Melanotanning: A Sociological investigation of user experiences of the injectable tanning peptide (melanotan) in the context of identity, health and risk.
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Navigating a diagnosis, navigating an identity: Adults diagnosed Asperger's Disorder/Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
A study of the meanings of spirituality in the context of depression
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing low back pain care: Thinking and practising critically beyond the biopsychosocial model
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Hodges
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Gendered views on parole: Exploring how emotion and emotion management help to explain gender differences in the Australian public's views on parole
Associate Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Psychosis and Self-Transformation: Addressing Relationship Negotiation with the Unruly Self
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Rebecca Olson directly for media enquiries about:
- allied health training
- cancer
- carers
- interprofessional education
- social support
- sociology
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