IRAACE SPRING EVENT 2008 4th April Royal Dublin Hotel
“How to undertake Research and use Research findings”
REPORT
NALA
Index Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................3 Agenda.............................................................................................................................................................................4 Script of the presentation...............................................................................................................................5 Instruction for speed networking............................................................................................................8 Workshop 1: Policy Issues Identified through Research...................................................9 Workshop 2: Widening Participation/Access..............................................................................10 Workshop 3: Literacy.................................................................. ....................................................................11. Workshop 4: Community Based Research.....................................................................................12 Workshop 5: Supporting Research Workers in Third Level Education..........13 Delegates list.................................................................. .................................................................. .........................14
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Report on IRAACE Spring Event, 4th April 2008
The Irish Research Association for Adult and Community Education (IRAACE) held its first event of 2008 in the Royal Dublin Hotel, O‟ Connell Street, Dublin. It commenced at 9 am with registration (Programme attached). The half day morning event, which was well attended, offered delegates the opportunity to network with other researchers, to discuss current projects and to display their latest publications. In the Opening Address, Ms Berni Brady, AONTAS Director, introduced IRAACE and sent on to underline the importance of research for planning, policy, practice in adult education as well as a rationale for funding. In outlining the history of IRAACE and its structure as voluntary network to support research and researchers she encouraged the continued development of this new representative organisation that had the support of AONTAS and of NALA. The keynote address “How to undertake Research and use Research findings” was delivered by Prof. Lyn Tett, University of Edinburgh (Script attached). An innovative speed-networking (similar to speed-dating) event was developed by the coordinating group of IRAACE (note on speed-dating attached). The topics allocated to 5 groups were: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Policy issues identified through research Widening participation/access Literacy Community based research Supporting researchers in HE
Feedback from delegates on the speed-networking format has been very positive. "I found it very informative and useful." "The speed-dating was a good way of sharing ideas." The participants indicated that attending the seminar was time „well spent‟ that they had and enjoyed the structured experience of networking. The findings of each workshops are listed in the following pages. There is a useful set of ideas emerging from this feedback that will inform the future work of IRAACE. What emerged strongly from each workshop was the need of sharing and showcasing research and how to make it available for other researchers. The next step is “how to move forward” after a piece of research. Delegates, especially from the “Policy issues identified through research” workshop, will also be happy to have an event where research is shared and showcased.
The IRAACE Development Committee wishes to thank you all the participants on the day for they enthusiastic participation and those who expressed their interest on the event and the Page |3
organisation but couldn‟t be there this time. We look forward to meeting you all at the autumn event! The IRAACE Development Committee
Agenda: 9:00am Registration/Tea & Coffee 10:00am Opening Address by Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS 10:15am Keynote Address by Lyn Tett, Professor of Community Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of Edinburgh Title: “How to undertake Research and use Research findings” 10:50am Speed-Networking Workshops 1. Policy Issues Identified through Research 2. Widening Participation/Access 3. Literacy 4. Community Based Research 5. Supporting Researchers in Third Level Education 12:00pm Closing speech by Kerry Lawless, Research Manager of NALA 12:15pm Lunch
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“Undertaking research and using research findings” Prof. Lyn Tett, University of Edinburgh
Research Research is an ORGANISED way of FINDING ANSWERS to QUESTIONS. ORGANISED in that there is a method in going about doing research that is planned, focused and limited to a specific scope. FINDING ANSWERS is the end of all research. Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer. QUESTIONS are central to research. Research is focused on relevant, useful, and important questions. Without a question, research has no focus, drive, or purpose.
Research on/with/for people Getting knowledge from people is complex for two main reasons: human agency and the effects of power. Human beings have agency which means that they react to situations and construct meanings for the events in which they participates owe have to take into account how people interpret situations. Power–The relations between the researcher and the researched are always unequal and this needs to be remembered when interpreting data. A particular example of his unequal relationship is the Milgram experiments where people were willing to give apparently life-threatening electric shocks to subjects
Facts and values: objectivity and interpretation The relationship between „facts‟ and „values‟ underlies many of the arguments about research and its objectivity. Three main views: 1) Value judgments will always bias research but the more such bias can be eliminated the better the research 2) All facts and information are value laden, but this is not helpfully described as „bias‟ because this assumes that there is a neutral view. Instead it is argued that knowledge of human beings always comes from the perspective of the knower. 3) Knowledge gets its meaning from the political position of the knowers, as well as from other value systems. This means that any research into issues such as gender, race, class or sexuality is inevitably imbued with political values.
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Defining the research • What do you want to find out? • What are the features of the context in which the research will be taken? • What is the problem to be investigated? • What kind of information is required? • How will it be collected and analyzed? • How will the findings be disseminated?
Research in community settings • How can we draw on local knowledge of what the problems are that need to be addressed? • How can these issues be investigated? • What data can be collected easily and economically? • How can these data be analyzed? • How can the findings be discussed and explored? • What action can be taken as a result? Making a difference • What methods can we use to draw on and disseminate our work together? • What changes do we want to happen as a result of our research? • Who needs to hear about our findings? • How can communities participate in further investigations?
Using research findings • People living in disadvantaged communities rarely have their voices heard so it is vital to listen to them and treat them with respect. • The research should be located in the wider political and social context so that it is not seen as being solely about a particular community. • The research should be seen as illustrative of a particular issue and draw on other studies/literature to illustrate its importance in the wider context. Page |6
Conclusion • Drawing on bottom-up, community-based knowledge can be empowering. • People‟s knowledge is enhanced when the problems they identify, and the understanding that they have about potential solutions, are treated with respect. • This kind of research is partisan but that is to be celebrated rather than denigrated. • Finally we can only really enhance our work with communities if we are clear about what will make a difference and using research is a powerful tool to help us do just that.
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Rules of Speed Networking Ideally, the workshop will be made up of an even number of individuals (if this is not possible, there will have to be 1 group of two people) Each individual will sit across from another individual, X amount on the right hand side of the table, the same amount on the other.
Stage 1 The development committee member will choose one side of the table (either left or right side) to remain seated throughout the duration of the speed networking session. These people do not move seats. These individuals will then commence speed networking with the individual on the opposite side of the table to them, for an agreed period of time, e.g. 5 mins At the end of the agreed period of time, the individuals on the opposite side of the table will move seats - one place to their right The person at the end/bottom of the table moves to the newly unoccupied seat at the top of the table.
Stage 2 Once all the people on one side of the table have spoken to all the people on the other side of the table: tell them each to turn to the person next to them (if the numbers are uneven, there will need to be one group of 3). Repeat, turning in the opposite direction Complete the networking by telling people to seek out those they have not yet spoken to.
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1. Workshop Title: Policy Issues Identified through Research Facilitator: Rhonda Wynne, UCD Need for research that is not crisis driven At present there is no clarity around how policy is framed, or how research findings get fed into policy discussions and implementation Gap between research and how it feeds into policy Follow up on impact of policy or evaluation of projects where research has been used as a precursor to starting a service What network might do: Major interest in a showcase event where people can present their work - suggested 10-15 minute slots with people outlining what they are doing, why, and how their findings will be implemented Provide information/workshops on:
Methodologies – how to sessions Common pitfalls Conducting needs analysis Examining research formats already used and seeing how these might be adapted
Provide a database or resource of questionnaires that have been developed for research projects which could be modified or adapted Links to work already done Potential of network to lobby or act as intermediary to ensure research feeds into policy implementation
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2. Workshop Title: Widening Participation/Access Facilitator: Ted Fleming, NUI Maynooth The two main proposals that came from the participants: Identify the research that has already been done in this area, Who has done it? Where is it available? Published or available on sites, etc? There is a need for a database of research and a central or clearinghouse for gathering such research reports. As most research is not published and/or only available to a limited audience it is important to gather such „informal‟ material whether in the HE sector or community sector. An issue raised about „what, if I am new to research?‟ Where can I learn how to do it? What resources are available to teach, train, support research? What are the different ways of doing research that are available to new researchers – grounded theory, interviews, narrative research, action research, etc. How can the building-up of research skills be supported particularly by the sharing of experience and expertise of colleagues?
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3. Workshop Title: Literacy Facilitator: Tina Byrne, NALA
The literacy workshop participants came from a variety of backgrounds including; tutors, adult literacy organisers, researchers, tutor trainers and third level institutions. In general the participants agreed that the „speed-network‟ style of workshop was innovative and a good use of time. They had some suggestions to improve this format going into the future, for example, it took time for the participants to locate themselves in terms of identifying themselves and suggested that it might have been an idea for the participants to have some „prompt or warm up questions‟ about themselves. The participants found the „warm up‟ questions provided by the development committee to be useful and a good starting point. With regard to the issues discussed and the themes that emerged from this discussion the participants identified the following themes as the most significant: The area of assessment and accountability in adult education was discussed extensively in particular the areas of assessment for learners, assessment for learning The future emphasis should be on assessment and not accountability There is a perceived move towards accreditation in adult literacy and that this needs to be handled with care The perceived move toward more quantitative research because funders like having numbers and statistics There needs to be a balance between qualitative and quantitative research There is limited for funding for research in the area of adult literacy and a lack of resources both material and human More funding for teacher training in adult literacy There were also discussions around the areas of :
Women returning to education
Family literacy
Literacy as social practice
And the impact and/or knock on effect of literacy on the family finances
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4. Workshop Title: Community Based Research Facilitator: Adele McKenna, AONTAS This workshop was attended by 10 people representing a mixture of organisations including VECâ€&#x;s, the National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE), Queens University Belfast, the Community Education Network (CEN) and Family Resource Centres, among others. The majority of delegates participating in workshop 4 enjoyed the speed networking format. They found it innovative and interesting, as well as productive. Themes Emerging: The research link between third level institutions and the community and voluntary sector needs to be strengthened There is a lack of research on the engagement of men in Community Development It is difficult for groups interested in community based research to map what other research is available, and a lack of baseline data to draw on A rigorous, systematic approach to data collection is needed It is very important to disseminate best practice within the sector Financial resources are needed, along with capacity building within the sector, if research is to be conducted in house.
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5. Workshop title: Supporting Research Workers in Third Level Education Facilitator: Rob Mark, Queen‟s University A group of 12 people attended this workshop. The following were the key points arose from the workshop: Policy and practice in ACE has too much of an „economic focus‟. There is a need for a wider focus in research beyond skills training and the economy. Other wider issues, such as health and well being, need to be taken into account in ACE research. There is a need to examine the wider benefits of learning and their contribution to developing the individual. e.g. building self esteem , promoting better mental health etc; There is a need for research not to be too academic, but to be made relevant to people‟s lives. Higher education research must also include training in how to disseminate research and to develop appropriate personal communication skills. There is a need to promote networking to improve dissemination of research findings – e.g. through the LEARGAS virtual platform There is a need for improved funding models to support ACE research. e g. Strategic imitative funding; funding for supporting part-time researchers etc;
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DELEGATES List
Title
Forename
Surname Organization
1. Ms Avril
Bailey
Shanty A.Bailey@ancosan.ie Education & Training Centre
2. Mr Maud
Baritaud
City of maudbaritaud@clvec.ie Limerick VEC
3. Ms Nuala
Barr
Greenway Women's Centre, Belfast
4. Ms Meliosa
Bracken
West Co Dub melbracken@eircom.net Vec
5. Ms Deborah
Brock
Tallaght Partnership
deborah.brock@tallpart.com
6. Ms Mary
Brodie
Community Education Facilitator
mbrodie@sligovec.ie
7. Ms Theresa
Byrne
8. Ms Thomond
Coogan
UCD Adult education Centre
thomond.coogan@ucd.ie
9. Ms Cora
Cregan
St patric's College
cora.cregan@spd.dcu.ie
10. Ms Fiona
Croke
fcroke@leargas.ie
11. Mr Peter
Cullen
Higher pcullen@hetac.ie Education and Training Awards Council
12. MS Marion
Cusack
Mayo VEC
adlitballina@eircom.net
13. Mr Owen
Dixon
Little Bray family Resource Centre CDP
Lbfrcadmin2@eircom.net
14. Ms Catherine
Dooley
Educational catherine.dooley@spd.dcu.ie Disadvantag e Centre
15. Ms Pauline
Egan
CO Carlow VEC VTOs
nualabarr@hotmail.co.uk
tbyrnehome@eircom.net
pauline.egan@vtoscarlow.ie pauline.egan@hotmail.com
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Title
Forename
Surname Organization
16. Mr John
Evoy
Co Wexford johnevoy@cowexfordvec.ie VEC
17. Ms Fiona
Fay
county Dublin VEC
18. Ms. Bairbre
Fleming
UCD Adult Education Centre
bairbre.fleming@ucd.ie
19. Ms Nuala
Glanton
East Cork VEC Adult Education Service
nglantonvec@eircom.net
20. Ms Bernie
Grummell Department Bernie.Grummell@ucd.ie of Adult and Community education NUIM
21. Ms Elizabeth
Harrington One Family
22. Ms Mary
Hession
County Louth mhession@indigo.ie/basicedlouthvec@ VEC eircom.net
23. Mr Joe
Kearney
Catalyst aftercare
joekearney@athraarc.ie
24. Ms Ursula
Kearney
NCGE
ursula.kearney@ncge.ie
25. Ms Anna
Keegan
Little Bray family Resource Centre CDP
Lbfrcadmin2@eircom.net
26. Ms Terry
Maguire
ITT Dublin
Terry.maguire@ittdublin.ie
27. Mr David
Mc Cormack
Department david.mccormack@nuim.ie of Adult and Community Education, NUI Maynooth
28. Ms Barbara
MCCabe
QUB
b.mccabe@qub.ac.uk
29. Ms Rosemarie
McGill
Co Dublin VEC
r.mcgill@codubvec.ie
30. Ms Valerie
McLoughli Educational valerie.mcloughlin@spd.dcu.ie n Disadvantag e Centre. St. Patrick’s College
31. Ms Liz
Mcskeane 36 Munster Street
eharrington@onefamily.ie
mcskeane@iol.ie
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Title
Forename
Surname Organization
32. Ms Patricia
Morrissey City of dublin pat.morrissey@cdvec.ie VEC
33. Ms Helen
Murphy
34. Ms Mairea
Nelson
Developmen hmurphy@wit.ie t Centre WIT mnelsoncomplex@gmail.com
35. Ms Anne Maree O Brien
Co Westmeath VEC
annemareeobrien@iol.ie
36. Ms Maeve
O'Grady
Waterford Women's Centre
maeveogrady@eircom.net
37. Mr Ciarian
O'Mathuna Co Dublin VEC
38. Ms Aideen
Quilty
Women's aideen.quilty@ucd.ie studies WERRC, UCD
39. Ms Marie
Rooney
Co Dublin VEC
m.rooney@codubvec.ie
40. Ms Denise
Shannon
Leargas
dshannon@leargas.ie
41. Ms Rhona
Sherry
Downtown Centre (UL)
rhona.sherry@downtowncentre.ie
42. Ms Shelley
Tracey
QUB
s.tracey@qub.ac.uk
43. Ms Julie
White
Co. Limerick julie@limerickvec.ie VEC
carapark@edu.codubvec.ie cfom@eircom.net
Contact Details for IRAACE Development Committee E-mail: iraace@gmail.com Telephone: Adele McKenna, Policy & Research Officer, AONTAS (01) 406 8220 amckenna@aontas.com Tina Byrne, Research Officer, NALA (01) 809 9183 tbyrne@nala.ie P a g e | 16