James Popham
Areas of Expertise
- Bullying
- Criminology, Policing and Corrections
- Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics
Biography
I received a PhD in Sociology from the University of Saskatchewan in 2016, a MA in Criminology from Griffith University in 2006, and a BA(hons) in Criminal Justice and Public Policy from the University of Guelph in 2004.
Prior to joining the department I held positions as a knowledge mobilisation officer at Laurier, senior research at the Centre for Community-Based Research (Kitchener), and strategic research director at the Community-University Institute for Social Research.
I have also held a number of positions related to criminal justice, including roles as an anti-money laundering analyst, investigator, and youth corrections worker.
My research background includes two areas of concentration: internet-based deviance, and community approaches to justice.
Most recently, I've studied how people react to instances of state surveillance online and if their actions lead to social movements. I have also studied music piracy, with specific interest in how individuals negotiate differences between their morals and the presumed illegality of downloading. My future interests in this area include adult cyberbullying and policing policies for responding to cyberdeviance.
I also have a substantial history of community-based research work. This includes a number of mixed-methods community research projects inclusive of program design and evaluations for social justice initiatives. I have been an investigator for a number of multi-disciplinary studies that supported a deeper understanding of community and revealed opportunities for improving the quality of life therein.