Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research interests
My research focuses on population and health issues, incorporating theories and methods from human behavioural ecology and anthropology. Based on long-term fieldwork in South-Central Ethiopia I study recent changes in reproductive and parenting decision-making among Arsi Oromo agropastoralists. I also work on the social dynamics of normative practices which are harmful to women and girls. In particular, I am interested in identifying the individual and community factors which explain the persistence of female genital cutting/mutilation and intimate partner violence in high-risk communities.
I welcome research proposals, in particular within Human Behavioural Ecology, Evolutionary Anthropology, and Applied Anthropology.
Recently supervised student topics include:
- Testing evolutionary explanations for “harmful cultural traditions”
- Developing specialized survey techniques for measuring sensitive behaviour
- Socio-ecology of infectious disease in Uganda
- Human behavioural ecology of labour migration in Ethiopia
- Infant feeding practices in Somali-born women in Bristol
Research Groups and Themes
- International Development
- Cabot Institute Water Research
- Cabot Institute Food Security Research
- Cabot Institute Environmental Change Research
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Research output
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Gender biased transmission of attitudes towards physical intimate partner violence: a social network analysis in South-Central Ethiopia
Gibson, M. A., Gurmu, E., Alvergne, A., Redhead, D. & Myers, S., 28 Feb 2025, 17 p.Research output: Working paper › Preprint
File3 Downloads (Pure) -
Applying anthropology to female genital mutilation / cutting
Van Bavel, H. & Gibson, M. A., 2 Oct 2024, (Accepted/In press) In: American Anthropologist.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
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Evolutionary Approaches to Population Health: Insights on Polygynous Marriage, “Child Marriage” and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
Lawson, D. W. & Gibson, M., 14 Jun 2024, Human Evolutionary Demography. Burger, O., Lee, R. & Sear, R. (eds.). Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers , p. 669–692 24 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter in a book
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)
Projects
- 5 Finished
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Scoping study for a survey of FGC/M-prevalence in the UK
Karlsen, S. I. (Principal Investigator), Carver, N. (Co-Investigator), Pantazis, C. (Co-Investigator), Gibson, M. A. (Co-Investigator), Van Bavel, H. (Co-Investigator) & Gangoli, G. (Co-Investigator)
2/05/22 → 31/07/22
Project: Research
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BA Heritage Dignity and Violence GCRF
Gibson, M. A. (Principal Investigator), Gurmu, E. (Co-Investigator) & Alvergne, A. (Co-Investigator)
18/11/19 → 30/11/23
Project: Research
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Measuring harmful cultural practices using randomized response techniques
Gurmu, E. (Collaborator), Scott, I. (Collaborator) & Gibson, M. A. (Principal Investigator)
1/12/15 → 30/11/17
Project: Research
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Evolutionary Psychology (Journal)
Gibson, M. A. (Editor)
2019Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
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University of Cambridge Biological Anthropology
Gibson, M. A. (Examiner)
2018 → 2021Activity: Examination types › External Examination and Supervision