Stuart Hall Dissertation Prize in Sociology winners announced

The Open University Sociology discipline is delighted to celebrate Hannah Wolstenholme, Stacey Pledge and Luella Baddeley, three outstanding Sociology students who have been awarded the Professor Stuart Hall Dissertation 2026 Prize in recognition of the quality, originality and sociological significance of their work.

The Professor Stuart Hall Dissertation Prize recognises exceptional dissertations completed as part of our final year module, Principles of Social Research: Sociology Special Project (D328). The prize celebrates work that demonstrates originality, analytical thinking and a strong understanding of sociological themes and research methodologies, while contributing to discussions around issues of social justice and equality.

This year’s awardees have distinguished themselves through dissertations that demonstrate the power of sociological research to explore contemporary social life critically and thoughtfully. Their achievements reflect not only academic excellence, but also the curiosity, independence and commitment required to develop a substantial piece of sociological research. The dissertations are titled as:

• “My genetic legacy is more important than your feelings”: An investigation into how manosphere views on gender roles are presented,  by Hannah Wolstenholme
• How People Talk About Buying from Social Enterprises: Meaning-Making and Identity Performance in a 2013 Guardian Online Discussion, by Stacey Pledge
• Disability and the work society: a critical policy discourse analysis of UK government welfare reforms, by Luella Baddeley

Congratulations to Hannah, Stacey and Luella on this remarkable achievement. Their success offers an inspiring reminder to current and future Sociology students: your questions matter, your research can make a contribution, and your dissertation is the beginning of your sociological journey.