Birmingham City University Business School.

Professor John Sparrow is a Chartered Psychologist and has extensive research experience in techniques for eliciting aspects of human thinking. A body of his work has focused upon positive psychology outcomes (e.g. creativity, entrepreneurship, learning) and the role that personal reflective practice and collaborative endeavour can play (European Regional Development Fund, Winning Investment in Social Enterprise).

He is currently completing a project funded by the European Social Fund EQUAL initiative, to develop a measure of health and well-being with sufficient sensitivity to detect impacts upon positive psychology outcomes (e.g. hope, zest, optimism etc.), and drawing upon the theory of planned behaviour, desire and intention to change.

He has undertaken research with the British Psychological Society upon the extent to which supportive encounters can enhance positive wellbeing. A feature of this work is the systematic application of different forms of intervention, such as individual reflection, guided imagery, storytelling, coaching, and action learning in developing capacity.