Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
@ginnybraun.bsky.social
Pākehā/Tangata Tiriti; critical psych, health/disability, feminism/gender/politics, bodies, equity & social justice. #ThematicAnalysis #QualitativeResearch!
www.thematicanalysis.net
www.storycompletion.net
https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/
www.thematicanalysis.net
www.storycompletion.net
https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/
Pinned
Dr Braun(love) - or: how I learned to stop worrying and love GenAI (yeah nah)
YouTube video by Virginia Braun
www.youtube.com
Here's a talk I gave as a keynote for the BPS @qmip.bsky.social conference (July 2025) - the result of @vicclarke.bsky.social & I recognising we needed to "dive in" & grapple with the beast that is GenAI & qualitative/(reflexive) thematic analysis
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zFQ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zFQ...
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
And they stand up in front of the cameras and tell us what they're gonna do to make sure it won't happen again. And yet it happens again and again and again. Oh, but it's never systemic, just a few bad apples.
Rotten to the core, I say.
#nzpol
Rotten to the core, I say.
#nzpol
Absolutely horror IPCA report on how the Police handled complaints against McSkimming.
A woman, who said she had a sexual relationship with him when she was 21 and he was 40, made complaints about him and instead of taking it seriously they prosecuted her under the HDCA.
A woman, who said she had a sexual relationship with him when she was 21 and he was 40, made complaints about him and instead of taking it seriously they prosecuted her under the HDCA.
November 11, 2025 at 6:30 AM
And they stand up in front of the cameras and tell us what they're gonna do to make sure it won't happen again. And yet it happens again and again and again. Oh, but it's never systemic, just a few bad apples.
Rotten to the core, I say.
#nzpol
Rotten to the core, I say.
#nzpol
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
Absolutely horror IPCA report on how the Police handled complaints against McSkimming.
A woman, who said she had a sexual relationship with him when she was 21 and he was 40, made complaints about him and instead of taking it seriously they prosecuted her under the HDCA.
A woman, who said she had a sexual relationship with him when she was 21 and he was 40, made complaints about him and instead of taking it seriously they prosecuted her under the HDCA.
November 11, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Absolutely horror IPCA report on how the Police handled complaints against McSkimming.
A woman, who said she had a sexual relationship with him when she was 21 and he was 40, made complaints about him and instead of taking it seriously they prosecuted her under the HDCA.
A woman, who said she had a sexual relationship with him when she was 21 and he was 40, made complaints about him and instead of taking it seriously they prosecuted her under the HDCA.
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
This is utterly sickening, particularly the charges under HDCA. Many, many things from the 2021-2023 period of my life in terms of police (in)action related to threats made to me now must be viewed thru this unholy prism.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jevon-mcs...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jevon-mcs...
Police bosses ignored sex complaints against top cop, charged woman for 'revenge' emails instead
Suppressions fall away to reveal the full story of the downfall of a deputy police boss.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 4:50 AM
This is utterly sickening, particularly the charges under HDCA. Many, many things from the 2021-2023 period of my life in terms of police (in)action related to threats made to me now must be viewed thru this unholy prism.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jevon-mcs...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jevon-mcs...
“That kind of thinking cultivates empathy and challenges your assumptions. It's also something you have to practice. If we can offload that cognitive work, it's far too easy to become reflexive and hateful, while having a robot cheerleader telling you that you were right about everything all along.”
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM
“That kind of thinking cultivates empathy and challenges your assumptions. It's also something you have to practice. If we can offload that cognitive work, it's far too easy to become reflexive and hateful, while having a robot cheerleader telling you that you were right about everything all along.”
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
The diagram for what Palantir does is like if Richard Scarry got super paranoid and did an Apocalypse picture book
November 7, 2025 at 8:14 PM
The diagram for what Palantir does is like if Richard Scarry got super paranoid and did an Apocalypse picture book
University pension scheme under fire for Israeli investments
If you didn’t sign the letter but care to support this push please contact them
thespinoff.co.nz/society/06-1...
If you didn’t sign the letter but care to support this push please contact them
thespinoff.co.nz/society/06-1...
University pension scheme under fire for Israeli investments
Hundreds of university workers have ramped up a campaign to demand their retirement savings provider divest from companies 'profiting from genocide'.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 7, 2025 at 6:05 AM
University pension scheme under fire for Israeli investments
If you didn’t sign the letter but care to support this push please contact them
thespinoff.co.nz/society/06-1...
If you didn’t sign the letter but care to support this push please contact them
thespinoff.co.nz/society/06-1...
“The writer asked Thomas: “Would you be able to clarify that the revised free speech policy would protect opinions critical of the Treaty, and that all non-violent views of race relations in Aotearoa New Zealand would be tolerated on campus?””
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/w...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/w...
Who Benefits: A lobby group’s charm offensive and a doubting Thomas
In part two of this instalment in our series on lobbying: The Free Speech Union has been quietly wooing university vice chancellors, with some success
newsroom.co.nz
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 AM
“The writer asked Thomas: “Would you be able to clarify that the revised free speech policy would protect opinions critical of the Treaty, and that all non-violent views of race relations in Aotearoa New Zealand would be tolerated on campus?””
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/w...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/w...
This story is grim - and one outcome of the ‘business’ model of higher education. Academic freedom at risk not (just) within a country but from external forces…
China-critical UK academics describe ‘extremely heavy’ pressure from Beijing
Reliance on overseas students’ tuition fees under scrutiny as scholars describe chilling effect of being targeted
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:47 AM
This story is grim - and one outcome of the ‘business’ model of higher education. Academic freedom at risk not (just) within a country but from external forces…
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
Mamdani stood up to Tom Homan.
He’s stood up for immigrants, trans people and all marginalized individuals.
A Muslim immigrant has just become Mayor of NYC at a time when the President is doing everything he can to vilify and destroy immigrants.
It’s a huge friggin win.
He’s stood up for immigrants, trans people and all marginalized individuals.
A Muslim immigrant has just become Mayor of NYC at a time when the President is doing everything he can to vilify and destroy immigrants.
It’s a huge friggin win.
New York assemblyman Zohran Mamdani confronts Border Czar Tom Homan today in Albany 👇🏻
November 5, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Mamdani stood up to Tom Homan.
He’s stood up for immigrants, trans people and all marginalized individuals.
A Muslim immigrant has just become Mayor of NYC at a time when the President is doing everything he can to vilify and destroy immigrants.
It’s a huge friggin win.
He’s stood up for immigrants, trans people and all marginalized individuals.
A Muslim immigrant has just become Mayor of NYC at a time when the President is doing everything he can to vilify and destroy immigrants.
It’s a huge friggin win.
First time at the Te Apārangi Royal Society Honours and Awards ceremony…. Anticipatory congrats to the awardees and the vibrant research community which is struggling in the face of gross funding cuts from the current government.
November 4, 2025 at 5:47 AM
First time at the Te Apārangi Royal Society Honours and Awards ceremony…. Anticipatory congrats to the awardees and the vibrant research community which is struggling in the face of gross funding cuts from the current government.
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
Worked in fundraising a lot of my career and truly believe this.
Under-taxation is the issue.
Under-taxation is the issue.
October 31, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Worked in fundraising a lot of my career and truly believe this.
Under-taxation is the issue.
Under-taxation is the issue.
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
Morning peeps! I’ve written a piece for @thespinoff.bsky.social on why I ended up taking legal action against my employer and a little bit about how it played out. The whole story needs a book to tell but this is a good start 😂 thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1... thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...
Siouxsie Wiles: Why I’m crowdfunding despite winning my legal battle
'Between the ERA and the Employment Court, my husband and I have spent over $632,000.'
thespinoff.co.nz
October 31, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Morning peeps! I’ve written a piece for @thespinoff.bsky.social on why I ended up taking legal action against my employer and a little bit about how it played out. The whole story needs a book to tell but this is a good start 😂 thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1... thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...
So many good points in here
Belgian AI scientists resist the use of AI in academia
Several AI scientists have published an open letter calling for a ban on AI use by students.
apache.be
October 25, 2025 at 1:44 AM
So many good points in here
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
📣 Join Dr Vincent O’Malley at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato this Saturday for 'The Invasion of Waikato / Te Riri ki Tainui' – a free public talk marking He Rā Maumahara, our National Day of Remembrance for the New Zealand Wars.
Book here: zurl.co/iOfW8
Book here: zurl.co/iOfW8
Public Talk: Dr Vincent O'Malley, The Invasion of Waikato Te Riri Ki Tainui
tewharetaonga.nz
October 21, 2025 at 1:02 AM
📣 Join Dr Vincent O’Malley at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato this Saturday for 'The Invasion of Waikato / Te Riri ki Tainui' – a free public talk marking He Rā Maumahara, our National Day of Remembrance for the New Zealand Wars.
Book here: zurl.co/iOfW8
Book here: zurl.co/iOfW8
This is depressing - when universities care more about their reputations than the wellbeing of people within them, who are harmed by others within them, we have little chance of progress against sexual harassment.
www.thetimes.com/article/8fe7...
www.thetimes.com/article/8fe7...
University wins gagging order in sex case to ‘protect reputation’
Open justice fears as media banned from naming institution where a professor faces sexual harassment claims at tribunal
www.thetimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:31 PM
This is depressing - when universities care more about their reputations than the wellbeing of people within them, who are harmed by others within them, we have little chance of progress against sexual harassment.
www.thetimes.com/article/8fe7...
www.thetimes.com/article/8fe7...
Inspired a lot by @ginnybraun.bsky.social, I also talked about how AI can be depriving us of learning, connection, and even (dare I say) joy. For example, what do we miss if we outsource our assessment & feedback of student work to AI? What are we depriving ourselves of? What a waste and a shame
October 18, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
In Bali for the “Psychology from the East, Psychology from the West” conference 🇮🇩 🏝️
Today I spoke about how the “embracing” of AI in education may contribute to the dehumanisation of both students and educators, ft a lively discussion about @olivia.science et al’s paper on uncritical adoption
Today I spoke about how the “embracing” of AI in education may contribute to the dehumanisation of both students and educators, ft a lively discussion about @olivia.science et al’s paper on uncritical adoption
October 18, 2025 at 2:51 AM
In Bali for the “Psychology from the East, Psychology from the West” conference 🇮🇩 🏝️
Today I spoke about how the “embracing” of AI in education may contribute to the dehumanisation of both students and educators, ft a lively discussion about @olivia.science et al’s paper on uncritical adoption
Today I spoke about how the “embracing” of AI in education may contribute to the dehumanisation of both students and educators, ft a lively discussion about @olivia.science et al’s paper on uncritical adoption
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
Trump to the Israeli parliament today, gloating about U.S. weapons supplied to Israel over the past two years:
"You obviously used them very well."
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
"You obviously used them very well."
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
October 13, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Trump to the Israeli parliament today, gloating about U.S. weapons supplied to Israel over the past two years:
"You obviously used them very well."
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
"You obviously used them very well."
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
Well done Shafaq Aftab. When a reviewer stole her work and published it under his own name, she fought for a YEAR to get the journal to retract the paper. Just wondering why it took Wiley a YEAR to do this. 🧪 #academicsky
retractionwatch.com/2025/10/03/w...
retractionwatch.com/2025/10/03/w...
Wiley retracts study stolen by reviewer, following Retraction Watch coverage
A Wiley journal has retracted a paper more than a year after a researcher reported the work was hers and had been stolen by a reviewer for another journal. As we reported in July, Shafaq Aftab, now…
retractionwatch.com
October 12, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Well done Shafaq Aftab. When a reviewer stole her work and published it under his own name, she fought for a YEAR to get the journal to retract the paper. Just wondering why it took Wiley a YEAR to do this. 🧪 #academicsky
retractionwatch.com/2025/10/03/w...
retractionwatch.com/2025/10/03/w...
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
Only a few hours to go before Small Son and I set off on our 4 mile fundraising walk in aid of The Miscarriage Association.
We're nearly at our target of £500 thanks to your generous donations, but if you can help us reach our goal today that would be wonderful!
www.justgiving.com/page/p-boynt...
We're nearly at our target of £500 thanks to your generous donations, but if you can help us reach our goal today that would be wonderful!
www.justgiving.com/page/p-boynt...
Miscarriage Association's Memory Walk 2025
Help Petra Boynton raise money to support The Miscarriage Association
www.justgiving.com
October 12, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Only a few hours to go before Small Son and I set off on our 4 mile fundraising walk in aid of The Miscarriage Association.
We're nearly at our target of £500 thanks to your generous donations, but if you can help us reach our goal today that would be wonderful!
www.justgiving.com/page/p-boynt...
We're nearly at our target of £500 thanks to your generous donations, but if you can help us reach our goal today that would be wonderful!
www.justgiving.com/page/p-boynt...
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
I just saw someone use the abbreviation “AI;DR” and I’ll be laughing for a while.
October 6, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I just saw someone use the abbreviation “AI;DR” and I’ll be laughing for a while.
Very much this... And with the current political context in NZ and demands for things like "neutrality" and regressive gender politics, this situation is going to get worse.
Academics are facing being targeted for existing more and more. Keeping an eye on the policies our universities have on what their duty of care is, is essential in this day and age
Really useful blog by @mohanjdutt.bsky.social getting to the heart of what's going on...
"When academics can't invoke settled patterns of far-right mainstreaming without hitting up against coordinated harassment campaigns sanctioned by elected officials, we've already lost something important."
"When academics can't invoke settled patterns of far-right mainstreaming without hitting up against coordinated harassment campaigns sanctioned by elected officials, we've already lost something important."
October 6, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Very much this... And with the current political context in NZ and demands for things like "neutrality" and regressive gender politics, this situation is going to get worse.
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
New open access paper by me and @ginnybraun.bsky.social - Exploring U.K. University Students’ Social Perceptions of Dating and Physical Disability Using Story Completion. There are extensive Supplementary Materials which we hope are useful for teaching reflexive TA: awspntest.apa.org/fulltext/202...
APA PsycNet
awspntest.apa.org
October 5, 2025 at 8:21 PM
New open access paper by me and @ginnybraun.bsky.social - Exploring U.K. University Students’ Social Perceptions of Dating and Physical Disability Using Story Completion. There are extensive Supplementary Materials which we hope are useful for teaching reflexive TA: awspntest.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
Exciting to receive my copy of Narrative Story Completion Methodologies by Kim Kelly with a review/overview chapter on qualitative SC methods by @ginnybraun.bsky.social me, Hannah Frith & Naomi Moller. There are 2 other chapters on qualitative SC by @nikilina.bsky.social & Matt Wood & Toni Williams.
October 5, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Exciting to receive my copy of Narrative Story Completion Methodologies by Kim Kelly with a review/overview chapter on qualitative SC methods by @ginnybraun.bsky.social me, Hannah Frith & Naomi Moller. There are 2 other chapters on qualitative SC by @nikilina.bsky.social & Matt Wood & Toni Williams.
Reposted by Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them)
When @ginnybraun.bsky.social & I first wrote about thematic analysis in 2006 we never imagined writing about TA again let alone writing a lot of chapters! Here's the latest chapter in The Sage Handbook of Health Psychology w/ @garethterry.bsky.social & Lucie Wheeler. Congratulations to the editors!
October 5, 2025 at 9:01 PM
When @ginnybraun.bsky.social & I first wrote about thematic analysis in 2006 we never imagined writing about TA again let alone writing a lot of chapters! Here's the latest chapter in The Sage Handbook of Health Psychology w/ @garethterry.bsky.social & Lucie Wheeler. Congratulations to the editors!