Matthew Numer, PhD

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research Areas

• Health Promotion
• Human sexuality
• Gender studies
• Sociology

• Post-structural theory
• Queer theory
• Critical social theories

Research methods

• Qualitative methods
  
• Discourse Analysis
• Thematic analysis
• Mixed methods
  
• Visual and arts-based methodologies
• Community-based research
  

PROFILE

Matthew Numer is a Professor of Health Promotion in the School of Health and Human Performance and cross-appointed to the Gender and Women’s Studies Program. His research is interdisciplinary in nature and addresses public policy concerns (both social and health policy) through solution-based outcomes. Specific research areas and topics are listed above. Beyond the university setting, he works closely with community organizations (NGOs) and public health organizations. He was a member of the board of directors for the Halifax Sexual Health Centre, serves on the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia: Gay Men’s Health Advisory Committee, and is the regional advisor for the Community-Based Research Centre for Gay Men’s Health. He is also Chair of the PrEP Action Committee and part of the Public Health Agency of Canada funded team addressing HIV treatment and prevention strategies.

Courses taught

• Human Sexuality
• Introduction to Health Promotion
• Health Promotion Theory
• Human Growth and Development
• Directed Readings

Graduate students’ availability

Matthew Numer has developed the Sexual Health and Gender (SHaG) research program that aims to advance our understanding of sexual health to impact health policy and outcomes providing a research training environment for students. All academic levels, including honours, masters and doctoral student positions are available within Dr. Numer’s research program. Please see research topics above. Other topics within Health Promotion are also welcome.

Awards

• Early Career Research Excellence Award: Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University March 2020.
• Innovative Educator Award: Top Educator. Awarded to an educator using Top Hat as part of a pedagogical strategy that is original, innovative or outcome-driven, Top Hat Inc. Oct 2017.
• Contract and Sessional Instructor Award for Excellence in Teaching: University-wide award, Dalhousie University May 2015 (CA$500).
• School of Health and Human Performance Teaching/Mentorship Excellence Award: Dalhousie University May 2014.
• Dalhousie Student Union Teaching Award: Student nominated teaching award at Dalhousie University April, 2010.
• The IGH Award for Excellence in Gender, Sex and Health Research: recognizes outstanding gender, sex and health research carried out by emerging Canadian scholars. Granted by the Institute of Gender and Health of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, this $1,000 award is aimed at graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and residents from all disciplines, working in the field of gender, sex and health research. March, 2010.
• DalOUT Award: For demonstrating a contribution to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and for promoting awareness and acceptance of sexual diversity. January 2009.

Current Grant Funded Projects

Indigenous Masculinities and Sexual Health: Exploring community-driven interventions among boys and men through land- based methodologies. Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR), Operating Grant: HIV/AIDS and STBBI Community-Based Research (2019-10-17). Funding Period: April 2020 to March 2023.

Educational Technology and Research Design: An exploratory mixed methods study on predictors of undergraduate students' attitudes, opinions and beliefs on sexuality. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Insight Development Grant. Funding period: September 1, 2018 to September 1, 2020.

Assessment of Student Learning to Evaluate the Use of an On-line Text through Top Hat Technology. Dalhousie Centre for Learning and Teaching: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant. Funding period: July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020.

Educational Technology and Research Design: An exploratory mixed methods study on predictors of undergraduate students' attitudes, opinions and beliefs on sexuality. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Insight Development Grant. Funding period: September 1, 2018 to September 1, 2020.

Assessment of Student Learning to Evaluate the Use of an On-line Text through Top Hat Technology. Dalhousie Centre for Learning and Teaching: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant. Funding period: July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020.

New Technologies and Chemical Culture: Examining Deployment and Effects Among MSM. Canadian Institutes of Health Research: HIV/AIDS Community-Based Research Operating Grant. Funding period: April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2021.

Past Projects

Indigenous Boys’ and Men’s Sexual Health: A community inspired framework for culturally based interventions. Canadian Institutes of Health Research: HIV/AIDS Community-Based Research Catalyst Grant. Funding period: April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2019.

Research and Evaluation on the Pedagogical Effectiveness of Content Created on the Top Hat Platform. Top Hat Inc. Funding period: January 2018 – December 2019.

University Students’ Attitudes and Opinion on Human Sexuality: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study. Top Hat Inc. Funding period: January 2018 – December 2019.

Selected Publications

Holmes, D., Numer, M., Hammond, C., Joy, P., Sinno, J., Patten, S., & LeBlanc, M. (2021). Wired Sex Assemblages among Men who have Sex with Men: Sexualized Drug Use, Hook-Up Apps, and HIV Service Provision. Journal of Homosexuality. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2021.1999122.

Joy, P., Numer, M., Kirk, S., Aston, M. (2021). Embracing a New Day: Exploring the Connections of Culture, Masculinities, Bodies, and Health for Gay Men through Photovoice. Journal of Bodies, Sexualities and Masculinities. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3167/jbsm.2021.020203

Joy, P., Crawford, Z., Sinno, J., Walters, J., & Numer, M. (2021). A poststructural discourse analysis of the attitudes, beliefs, and values of undergraduate Canadian university students regarding sexual orientation. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.2020-0053

Joy, P., Hammond, C., Holmes, D., Sinno, J., Numer, M. (2021). Sexualized Drug Use and Online Technologies Examining the Negotitations and Practices of Gay, Bisexual, and Men Who Have Sex with Men. AWRY: Journal of Critical Psychology

Numer, M., Holmes, D., Hammond, C., (2021). Assemblages of Excess Pleasure and Connection: The Sociosexual Uses of Virtual and Chemical Technologies Among Men Who Have Sex with Men. Nursing Philosophy. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12370

Holmes, D., Numer, M., Hammond, C., Joy, P., Sinno, J. (2021). Assembling Bodies and Technologies: A Nethnographic Account of Sexualized Drug Use Among Gay, Bisexual, and other Men Who Have Sex with Men. Gender, Technology and Development. DOI: 10.1080/09718524.2021.1940437.

Biderman, M., Doria, N., Sinno, J., Rand, J., Hackett, L., Miller, D., McMillan, L.J., Lekas, S. & Numer, M. (2021). Pathways for Sexual Health Promotion Among Indigenous Boys and Men: Stakeholder Perspectives. AlterNative. 1(10). DOI 10.1177/11771801211023207

Spencer, R., Sinno, J., Hatfield, K., Biderman, M., Doria, N., & Numer, M. (2020). Exploring Top Hat’s impact on undergraduate students' belongingness, engagement, and self-confidence: A mixed methods study. Journal of Research on Technology in Education. DOI: 10.1177/160940690600500107

Spencer, R., Comeau, E., Matchett, B., Biderman, M., Joy, P., Doria, N., & Numer, M. (2020). Interactive e-texts and university student learning experiences: A scoping review. Canadian Journal of Education.

Hackett, L., Biderman, M., Doria, N., Courville, J., Bogner, E., Miller, A.D., Spencer, R., & Numer, M. (2020). M. A rapid review of Indigenous boys’ and men’s sexual health. Culture, Health and Sexuality.

Patten, S., Doria, N., Joy, P., Sinno, J., Spencer, R., LeBlanc, MA., Holmes, D., & Numer, M. (2020). Sexualized drug use in virtual space: A scoping review of how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men interact online. Journal of Sex Research. DOI:10.3138/cjhs.2019-0052

Doria, N., Biderman, M., Miller, D., Prosper, A., & Numer, M. (2019). Graphic facilitation as a tool to guide community-based research on Indigenous boys’ and men’s sexual health. Journal of Indigenous HIV Research, 10, 20-27. Retrieved from https://www.ahacentre.ca/uploads/9/6/4/2/96422574/ graphic_facilitation.pdf

Numer, M., Holmes, D., Joy, P., Thompson, R., & Doria, N. (2019). Grinding Against HIV Discourse: A Critical Exploration of Social Sexual Practices in Gay Cruising Apps. Gender, Technology and Development. DOI: 10.1080/09718524.2019.1684022

Numer, M., McEachern, J., Rushton, F., Steeves, D., Whiteman, J., & Kirk, S. (2018). Community health implications of regulations variances in alcohol retail: An examination of alcohol access and policy in rural and urban Nova Scotia. International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society, 9(4), 37-46.

Thompson, R., Joy, P., Numer, M., & Holmes, D. (2018). Gay men’s sexual health promotion in virtual space: Exploring stakeholders’ attitudes and approaches to outreach on mobile apps in Nova Scotia. The International Journal of Community Diversity, 18(3-4), 17-29.

Joy, P., & Numer, M. (2018). Constituting the ideal body: A poststructural analysis of “obesity” discourses among gay men. Journal of Critical Dietetics, 4(1), 47-58.

Joy, P., Jackson, R., & Numer, M. (2018). A mythical battle: 'Good foods versus 'bad' foods. Journal of Critical Dietetics, 4(1). DOI: 10.1080/09581599908409217

Joy, P., & Numer, M. (2018). Queering educational practices in dietetics training: A critical review of LGBTQ inclusion strategies. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 79, 1-6. DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2018-006

Johnson, S., & Numer, M. (2017). It takes a community: An environmental scan exploring the effectiveness of teenage pregnancy prevention strategies in North America. The International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society, 7(3), 25-44. DOI:10.18848/2156-8960.

Numer, M., Gahagan, J., Brown, M., & Atkinson, S. (2017). HIV/AIDS and the public health paradox: A poststructural discourse analysis of the impact of HIV Messaging on gay men in Nova Scotia. The International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society, 7(3), 91-104. DOI: 10.18848/2156-8960.

Joy, P., & Numer, M. (2017). The use of photo elicitation to explore the benefits of queer student advocacy groups in university. Journal of LGBT Youth, 14(1), 31-50. DOI: 10.1080/19361653.2016.1256247.

Numer, M., & Spencer, R. (2016) Technology and the post-secondary classroom: A critical inquiry into BYOD student experience in human sexuality. International Journal of Technologies in Learning, 24(1), 1-13. DOI: 10.18848/2327-0144/CGP/v24i01/1-13

Hutt, E., & Numer, M. (2015). Masculinity, coping, and weightlifting in university men: A qualitative description of coping and psychological benefit. Journal of Sporting Cultures and Identities, 6(3), 15-27. DOI: 10.18848/2381-7070/CGP/v06i03/54072

Numer, M., & Spencer, R. (2015). Bring your own device technology: Preliminary results from a mixed methods study to explore student experience of in-class response systems in post-secondary education. Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 13(1), 1-6.

Smylie, L., Clarke, B., Doherty, M., Gahagan, J., McKay, A., Numer, M., Otis, J., Smith, G., & Soon, C. (2013). The development and validation of sexual health indicators of Canadians youth aged 16 to 24 years. Public Health Reports: Supplement on Sexual Health, 128(2), 53-61. DOI: 10.1177/00333549131282S106.