Olivia Knapton
Research/Administrative Assistant
Contact information:
olivia.knapton@kcl.ac.uk
About me
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MRes Language, Discourse & Communication, King’s College London, 2009-2010.
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MA Special Applications of Linguistics, University of Birmingham, 2006-2007
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BA English and French, University of Nottingham, 2002-2006.
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CELTA, Oxford House College, 2010.
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Administrative assistant on Consumer Perceptions and Attitudes towards EDCs and PPCPs in Drinking Water, King’s College London, 2011-current.
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Research assistant on The impact of language and cognition on compliance during a natural disaster, King’s College London, 2008-2010.
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Research assistant on Improving communication on cryptosporidium and ‘boil water’ notices: Lessons from Pitsford, King’s College London, 2008-2010.
Research
My research interests lie in the areas of Cognitive Linguistics and Discourse Analysis. I am currently working on a Leverhulme Trust funded project that investigates crisis communication about drinking water with Dr Gabriella Rundblad.
My main research interests lie in cognitive linguistics and discourse analysis using cognitive approaches. I am interested in applying these to health communication and public risk perception and behaviour. I am also interested in the expression and experiences of young people with mental health problems.
I am currently an administrative assistant on a project run by Dr Gabriella Rundblad and funded by the Water Research Foundation, entitled Consumer Perceptions and Attitudes towards EDCs and PPCPs in Drinking Water. From 2008-2010, I was a research assistant on two health communication projects run by Dr Gabriella Rundblad funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the DWI/DEFRA, respectively.
Using cognitive discourse analysis, these projects explore patterns in health authorities’ and the media’s risk communication that affect public compliance to health advice. The analysis also investigates patterns in society’s language that reveal the conceptual structures of common health beliefs and risk perceptions. More information about these projects can be found at: http://www.PublicHealthCommunication.org.uk/
I am the contract researchers’ representative on the Language, Discourse and Communication committee. I also do marking for several modules on the BA English Language and Communication.
I am a member of the following DEPS research groups:
Psychology & Cognitive Processes (PCP)
Language & Literacy Group (LLG)
Publications
Rundblad, G., Knapton, O & P.R. Hunter (2010) Communication, perception and behaviour during a natural disaster involving a 'Do Not Drink' and a subsequent 'Boil Water' notice: a postal questionnaire study. BMC Public Health 2010, 10:641.
Sharpe, H., Musiat, P., Knapton, O. & U. Schmidt (2011) Pro-eating disorder websites: facts, fictions and fixes. Journal of Public Mental Health (in press).