Researcher biography
Michele worked in the ISSR from 2007-2016. During this time she worked on several projects, including an ARC Discovery Grant which explored the role of social science research in resolving complex policy problems; an ARC Linkage Grant on the utilisation of social science research in policy development; an ARC Discovery Grant on the spatial determinants of transitions in and out of unemployment in Australia; and a study of work/life balance in the public sector.
She has been enrolled in a PhD in the ISSR since January 2015.
PhD topic
The possibilities and perils of the research impact agenda: Understanding and mapping social science pathways to impact in relation to public policy-making.
Advisors
- Professor Brian Head (Principal)
- Emeritus Professor Paul Boreham (Associate)
Research interests
- The research impact agenda
- Evidence-based policy
- Public and social policy
- Environmental sociology and policy
Journal Articles
Jones, Stephen, Head, Brian and Ferguson, Michele (2021). In search of policy innovation: Behavioural Insights Teams in Australia and New Zealand. Australian Journal of Public Administration 1467-8500.12478. doi: 10.1111/1467-8500.12478
Witt, Katherine, Ferguson, Michele and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Understanding the public’s response towards ‘enhanced water recovery’ in the Great Artesian Basin (Australia) using the carbon capture and storage process. Hydrogeology Journal, 28 (1), 427-437. doi: 10.1007/s10040-019-02066-0
White, Ben, Willmott, Lindy, Tilse, Cheryl, Wilson, Jill, Ferguson, Michele, Aitken, Joanne, Dunn, Jeffrey, Lawson, Deborah, Pearce, Angela and Feeney, Rachel (2019). Prevalence of advance care directives in the community: a telephone survey of three Australian States. Internal Medicine Journal, 49 (10), 1261-1267. doi: 10.1111/imj.14261
Ashworth, Peta, Sun, Yan, Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and She, Shengxiang (2019). Comparing how the public perceive CCS across Australia and China. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 86, 125-133. doi: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2019.04.008
Cherney, Adrian, Head, Brian, Povey, Jenny, Boreham, Paul and Ferguson, Michele (2015). The utilisation of social science research - the perspectives of academic researchers in Australia. Journal of Sociology, 51 (2), 252-270. doi: 10.1177/1440783313505008
Cherney, Adrian, Head, Brian, Povey, Jenny, Ferguson, Michele and Boreham, Paul (2015). Use of academic social research by public officials: exploring preferences and constraints that impact on research use. Evidence and Policy, 11 (2), 169-188. doi: 10.1332/174426514X14138926450067
Ferguson, Michele (2015). Public innovation through collaboration and design. International Review of Public Administration, 20 (3), 323-324. doi: 10.1080/12294659.2015.1042008
Ferguson, Michele (2014). The research impact agenda: Defining, demonstrating and defending the value of the social sciences.. Australian Review of Public Affairs Digest
Head, Brian, Ferguson, Michele, Cherney, Adrian and Boreham, Paul (2014). Are policy-makers interested in social research? Exploring the sources and uses of valued information among public servants in Australia. Policy and Society, 33 (2), 89-101. doi: 10.1016/j.polsoc.2014.04.004
Cherney, Adrian, Head, Brian, Boreham, Paul, Povey, Jenny and Ferguson, Michele (2013). Research Utilization in the Social Sciences: A Comparison of Five Academic Disciplines in Australia. Science Communication, 35 (6), 780-809. doi: 10.1177/1075547013491398
Cherney, Adrian, Head, Brian, Boreham, Paul, Povey, Jenny and Ferguson, Michele (2012). Perspectives of academic social scientists on knowledge transfer and research collaborations: a cross-sectional survey of Australian academics. Evidence and Policy, 8 (4), 433-453. doi: 10.1332/174426412X660098
Cherney, Adrian, Povey, Jenny, Head, Brian, Boreham, Paul and Ferguson, Michele (2012). What influences the utilisation of educational research by policy-makers and practitioners? - The perspectives of academic educational researchers. International Journal of Educational Research, 56, 23-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ijer.2012.08.001
McCrea, Rod, Boreham, Paul and Ferguson, Michele (2011). Reducing work-to-life interference in the public service: The importance of participative management as mediated by other work attributes. Journal of Sociology, 47 (3), 313-332. doi: 10.1177/1440783311407946
Conference Paper
Povey, Jenny, Shaw, Elizabeth, Head, Brian, Cherney, Adrian, Boreham, Paul and Ferguson, Michele (2013). The functionality of Leximancer software as an analytic tool for semi-structured interviews data exploring evidence-based policy in practice from the perspectives of academic social scientists and policymakers.. AMSRS Conference, Sydney, Australia, 5-6 September 2013.
Working Paper
Smith, K., Bellotti, W., Davey, T., Dean, J., Durham, J., Ferguson, M., Muriuki, G., Oliver, G., Schubert, L. and Xu, H. (2017). Food system governance in Australia: Co-creating the recipe for change. Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland.
Research Reports
Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Managed aquifer recharge focus groups. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Five country survey. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Nisa, Claudia, Witt, Katherine, Ferguson, Michele, Hodson, Amy and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Australian Energy Preferences and the place of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) within the energy mix. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine, Nisa, Claudia and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Effects of message framing on the support for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and alternative energy technologies. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Head, Brian, Boreham, Paul, Cherney, Adrian, Povey, Jenny and Ferguson, Michele (2013). Public Sector Survey on Evidence Based Policy: Results for Queensland Health. Institute of Social Science Research, University of Queensland. ARC Industry Partner Linkage report and fact sheet. St Lucia QLD Australia: Institute of Social Science Research, University of Queensland.
Head, Brian, Boreham, Paul, Cherney, Adrian, Povey, Jenny and Ferguson, Michele (2013). Public Sector Survey on Evidence Based Policy: Results For The Department Of Education And Training. Institute of Social Science Research, University of Queensland. ARC Industry Partner Linkage report. St Lucia QLD Australia: Institute of Social Science Research, University of Queensland.
Head, Brian, Boreham, Paul, Cherney, Adrian, Povey, Jenny and Ferguson, Michele (2013). Public Sector Survey on Evidence Based Policy: Results For The Department Of Employment, Economic Development And Innovation. Institute of Social Science Research, University of Queensland. ARC Industry Partner Linkage report and fact sheet.. St Lucia QLD Australia: Institute of Social Science Research, University of Queensland.