Academic work

Qualifications

Academic Awards:
MSc Psychology Research Methods, The Open University. (finished March 2012, results pending)
Dip Psych, The Open University (Psychology conversion diploma for Postgraduates)
PgDip Machine Learning and Adaptive Computing, University of the West of England
BSc (Hons) Computer Science 2.2, University of the West of England

During 2012, I will be studying an additional undergraduate level module in Counselling Theory relating to Depression & Anxiety and a taster arts module

Additional courses:
 'Introducton to Counseling,' The Open University
Department of Work & Pensions Summer School, King's College, Cambridge University, September 2010
First Aid at Work, St. John's Ambulance

I hold graduate membership in the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Research activity

My research interests include identity theory, occupational & personal development, games studies, social and emotional dynamics within artificially created social spaces.

Masters Psychological Research Methods Dissertation, Open University
"Identities at play: An Ethnographic study of the psychological experience of recreational role-players creating and being recreated by fictional identities." (submit march 2012)

Undergraduate Psychology research, Open University:
“Social psychoanalysis of Identity within the Civil service,” 2008
“The effects on working memory of conscious mapping as a recall strategy,” 2007

Academic Publications

Hook N. (forthcoming late 2012) ‘Circles and Frames : The Games Social Scientists Play,’ in ‘Immersive Gameplay : Studies in Role-Playing and Media Immersion.’ eds. Evan Torner and Bill White, McFarland.

Nathan Hook (2010) “Applying mythic structure to role-playing,” in Elge Larsson (eds) 'Playing Reality.'
Hard copy available to order here: http://shop.textalk.se/en/article.php?id=19308&art=6350182
free PDF available here: http://interactingarts.org/blogs/index.php?title=title_6&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
This article has also been translated into german and republished in the book 'Larp und Ich.'  This is available to order in kindle format here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Larp-ich-Aufsatzsammlung-MittelPunkt-ebook/dp/B006VKLEQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330395812&sr=8-1

Nathan Hook (2008) “History and trends in British live role-playing”, in Markus Montola, Jaako Stenros (eds) 'Playground Worlds : Creating and Evaluating Experiences of Role-Playing Games,' Ropecon ry.
Hard copy available to order here: http://shop.textalk.se/en/article.php?id=19308&art=8155094
free PDF available:  www.ropecon.fi/pw

Conference Presentations

I presented at the 'role-playing in games' conference at University of Tampere, Finland in April 2012.  My draft paper was as an extract from my dissertation, relating to different conceptions of immersion within the international live role-play subculture.  Conference info here: http://roleplayingames.wordpress.com/

Proofreading

I have done academic proofreading for a range of foreign authors:
-Two English language articles by Italian authors in 'Larp Gariffiti,' available online here: http://www.larpsymposium.org/?page_id=189
-One English language article by Russian author in Mittelpunkt book in January 2011
-Two English language articles by Finnish and American authors in 'Talk Larp,' available online here: http://rollespilsakademiet.dk/kpbooks/
-Three English language article by Finnish and Danish authors, in Odraz 2012 book