RESEARCH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMME 2018
Research Office & Graduate School University of Cumbria, Lancaster Monday 02 July 2018 - Friday 13 July 2018
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Welcome Dear Colleagues I am delighted to welcome you to the 2018 Research Skills Development Programme Summer School & Research Student Conference. This year has been an exciting time for the University of Cumbria research degree programme as we reached our 10th anniversary as the University of Cumbria. We have a full agenda during the next two weeks, so please take a few minutes to read the information in this brochure. This year’s programme will enable you to:
Interact with your fellow researchers and practitioners Contribute to discussions on the future direction of your and others research Explore new and different ways to develop your research Consider the techniques required for research Consider ways to develop engagement, influence and impact of your and others research Contribute to the discussion on the standards, ethics and governance to do research The Research Student Conference (previously Doctoral Colloquium) takes place on Thursday 12th July 2018. This event gives you an opportunity to present your work and to hear from those who are already on the PhD journey, share reflections and offer feedback and advice in a collegiate conference-style environment.
The Cumbria Research and Innovation Conference also continues to grow, and the 2018 conference is no exception. The conference will take place on Friday 6th July 2018 at the Lancaster campus. In our 10th Anniversary Year, the University is ‘celebrating success in research, knowledge exchange, knowledge mobilisation and innovation’. The Cumbria Research and Innovation Conference (#CRI2018) will showcase our externally focused achievements, impact, and potential. Finally, enjoy the opportunity to reflect, share, and enhance your knowledge and understanding of research philosophy, techniques, methods, organisation, and communication. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @UoCResearch
Professor Diane L Cox PhD, MSc, Dip COT, CLTHE, FCOT Director of Research & Head of the Graduate School, University of Cumbria
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Useful Information Library Opening Times The Library opening hours in Lancaster during the PhD Summer School period are noted below. The computer room is always open so there will be 24-hour access to computers, printers and a scanner when the library is closed. Week commencing 02 July 2018 Monday, Wednesday and Friday Tuesday and Thursday Saturday Sunday
9.00am – 5.00pm 9.00am – 5.00pm 12 noon – 5.00pm Closed
Week commencing 09 July 2018 Monday - Friday Saturday & Sunday
9.00am – 5.00pm Closed
Postgraduate Research Student (PgR) Study Room Bishops Cross Ground Floor, Lancaster accessed through the Library
Key to Summer School Room Locations AXB Gallery, AXB013, AXB014 K4, K5 DCR
Alexandra Building IT Labs, Bishop Cross Donald Coggan Building
Summer School Registration If you wish to attend any of the Summer School Sessions it is essential that you register on-line here 4
Summer School Programme (Wk.1) Time
Session
Room
Monday 02 July 2018 10.00
Becoming a researcher Prof. Pete Boyd, University of Cumbria
AXB014
12.00
Networking social lunch
AXB013
13.00
Analysing quantitative data - using SPSS
K4
15.15
Assoc. Prof. Theo Bampouras Critical Thinking and Argument Dr. Amanda Chapman
AXB014
Tuesday 03 July 2018 10.00
Participatory Action Research: An exploration Dr. Alison Jackson, University of Cumbria
12.00
Break
13.00
Knowledge, Power, and Otherness: Philosophical Resources for Challenging Traditions Dr. Elliott Shaw, University of Cumbria Managing your supervision and action planning Dr. Tracy Hayes, University of Cumbria
15.15
AXB014
AXB014
AXB014
Wednesday 04 July 2018 10.00
Process for PhD Transfer Assoc. Prof. Heather Prince, University of Cumbria
12.00
Break
13.00
Developing your academic thinking and writing Prof. Pete Boyd, University of Cumbria Getting your research published Prof. Pete Boyd, University of Cumbria
15.15
AXB014
AXB014 AXB014
Thursday 05 July 2018 10.00
Mixed method approaches Dr Tilly Reid, University of Cumbria
12.30
Break
13.00
Ethical considerations of your research Alison Buckley, University of Cumbria
AXB014
15.15
Resources for Research: The University and Beyond James Stephens, University of Cumbria
AXB014
Friday 6 July 2018 Cumbria Research & Innovation Conference
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AXB014
Summer School Programme (Wk.2) Time
Session
Room
Monday 09 July 2018 10.00
Discourse Analysis Dr. Paul Miller, University of Cumbria
12.00
Break
13.00
Reflective practice in research Dr. Grace Hurford, University of Cumbria Creativity in research Dr. David Murphy, University of Cumbria
15.15
AXB014
AXB014 AXB014
Tuesday 10 July 2018 10.00
Using statistics to best effect Dr. Liz Bates, University of Cumbria
12.00
Break
13.00
Considering student needs to their PhD programme: Supervising Disabled Research Students (FOR DOCTORAL SUPERVISORS ONLY) Assoc. Prof. Nicoletta Policek, University of Cumbria Designing and Delivering Socially - Just and Authentic Research Projects Assoc. Prof. Kaz Stuart & Charlotte Hardacre, University of Cumbria Thematic Analysis Dr. Helen Wilby, University of Cumbria
13.00
15.15
AXB014
AXB013
AXB014
AXB014
Wednesday 11 July 2018 12.30
Break
13.00
A Black Dog Came Calling/Melancholy Objects: A Case Study into Practice Led Arts Research
DCR
Dr. John Darwell or either 10.00 or 10.00
Introduction to Computer-Assisted Qualitative Research Using ATLAS.ti Assoc. Prof. Nicoletta Policek, University of Cumbria Introduction to SPSS Dr. Dave Elliott, University of Cumbria
K4
K5
Thursday 12 July 2018 Student Research Conference Friday 13 July 2018 10.00
Research integrity and rigour Prof. Frank Peck, University of Cumbria
12.00
Break
13.00
Research design: Considerations for ontology and epistemology Dr. Julie Taylor, University of Cumbria Structuring your thesis Visiting Prof. Hilary Constable, University of Cumbria
15.15
AXB014
AXB014 AXB014
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Summer School Sessions (Wk.1) 10:00 -12:00 Mon 02 July
Becoming a Researcher
AXB014
Facilitator: Prof. Pete Boyd, University of Cumbria This workshop will use round table activities to collaboratively and creatively develop a dozen 'rules' to guide us through the next year of our journey as researchers. The session will enable you to meet your peers, share research interests, questions and ideas, and critically consider your development as a researcher. The session is designed for postgraduate research students at all stages of their doctorate. 12:00 -13:00 Mon 02 July
Networking Social lunch
AXB013
This is an opportunity to meet fellow participants and tutors in an informal setting
Analysing quantitative data - using SPSS Mon 02 July
13:00-15:00 K4
Facilitator: Assoc. Prof. Theo Bampouras, University of Cumbria Aim The key aim of this workshop is to link specific research designs to appropriate statistical analyses. A secondary aim is to introduce participants to the use and understanding of the Statistical Package for Social Science (IBM SPSS) for that analysis. This workshop will be useful to researchers wanting to analyse quantitative data and those who want to get a better understanding of IBM SPSS in helping them analyse their data, as it will cover the basics of data exploration, test selection, use of SPSS for analysis, and result interpretation. Previous years’ participants commented: ‘..The support, material and advice provided will enable my early development well in the use of SPSS.’ ‘..found it very useful both from the perspective of information and the style and the format of the session.’ ‘It was one of the best days this year for me. I know it will help me enormously in my research.’ ‘The session.. was not overwhelming as easily could have been but kept to the point and to a level we could all understand. Very helpful.’ The session is planned to be interactive and ‘hands on’. To achieve this, it would be helpful (but not compulsory) if you could have your own data, or data similar to the one they expect to collect. We can then work through specific examples and make the session more relevant to each participant. In addition, and in order to prepare as best as possible, it would be useful if you had a look through the following two books: 4
Statistics explained – https://goo.gl/Kifkyq SPSS explained - https://goo.gl/wmCpE6 They are both available in our library, easy to follow with clear examples and should assist in your preparation the sessions as well as a reference point for your future work. 15:15 -17:15 Mon 02 July
Critical thinking and argument
AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Amanda Chapman, University of Cumbria If you can gather information and report it accurately and intelligibly, you have a skill valued highly in both the classroom and workplace. More valuable yet is the ability to work through conflicting opinions and arguments, to weigh data of different kinds and from different sources, to bring together information not usually conjoined, and to arrive at an original slant on an important problem. To do that you need to learn how to analyse your sources not just accurately but critically. [W. C. Booth, G. G. Colomb and J. M. Williams, The Craft of Research, Chicago: University of Chicago Press 1995, 73] But what does critical thinking look like, what are its characteristics, how is it manifested, how does it reveal itself to the reader, how does it affect the quality of the argument being presented? And what then, is the nature of argument, in the context of a Ph.D. thesis? With just a touch of philosophical underpinning, this session will examine the character of "critical thinking" as well as its application, and varying shades of the nature of ‘argument’. 10:00 - 12:00 Tues 03 July
Participatory Action Research: An exploration
AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Alison Jackson, University of Cumbria This session is based around one of the key principles of PAR; that is to say that it is expected that presenter and participants will collaborate together to investigate what is meant by this research tradition and how it relates to their own research projects. We will start by asking ‘What is PAR?’ and how does it differ from Action Research. The presenter will share thoughts on how she has been engaged with PAR and this will lead to discussion of key factors such as dialogue, emancipation, collaboration, power, powerlessness, the effects on the researcher, the expectations of research participants. Participants in the session will be encouraged to share their research and join in discussion of the appropriateness of PAR for what they intend or are already engaged in.
Tues 03 July
Knowledge, Power, and Otherness: Philosophical Resources 13:00 -15:00 for Challenging Traditions AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Elliott Shaw, University of Cumbria For many, the philosophical side of research can be awkward, and sometimes bewildering, to incorporate into a PhD; yet philosophical ideas form the underpinning of every claim to 5
knowledge. This session draws on the work of several thinkers who have challenged traditional modes of thought (such as Foucault, Derrida, and Feminist Philosophy), in order to explore how their approaches to knowledge enhances both critique and creativity within doctoral research. 15:15 -17:15 Tues 03 July
Managing your supervision and action planning
AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Tracy Hayes, University of Cumbria This session is an opportunity to consolidate your learning and thinking and formulate your actions on your PhD timeline to make the most of supervision. 10:00 -12:00 Wed 04 July
Process for PhD Transfer
AXB014
Facilitator: Assoc. Prof. Heather Prince, University of Cumbria This session will cover the planning and preparation required for transfer. It will also be an opportunity to demystify the process and procedure. The session will consider the regulatory requirements, from probationary PhD to confirmed PhD student status. 13:00 -15:00 Wed 04 July
Developing your academic thinking and writing
AXB014
Facilitator: Prof. Pete Boyd, University of Cumbria This writing workshop aims to challenge your thinking about effective and stylish academic writing within your subject discipline and introduce strategies for becoming a productive writer. If possible you should bring a memory stick (or have it in a drop box) with some of your academic writing on it; it can be recent or old, first draft or polished, if possible including at least a little citation...a section of literature review would be perfect - two or three pages is sufficient. For new students your admissions proposal will be fine. This workshop will be of interest to beginning research students but may also be of interest to researchers at all stages who are keen to develop their writing style. 15:15 -17:15 Wed 04 July
Getting your research published
AXB014
Facilitator: Prof. Pete Boyd, University of Cumbria This writing workshop will focus on tensions around audience, story and subject discipline conventions to guide you through writing or revising a research paper and getting it published in a target journal. This workshop is aimed at year 2 research students up to post-doctoral researchers. You should come to the workshop with a target journal in mind; be ambitious.
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10:00 -12:00 Thurs 05 July
Mixed method approaches
AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Tilly Reid, University of Cumbria It is important in social research not to start out within a fixed theoretical perspective and paradigm for enquiry and a specific range of techniques and methods related to the discipline under scrutiny. Substantial studies (such as PhD’s) would normally require more than one method of enquiry, and different methods are usually appropriate for different stages of the study. In most situations, the way you look at your subject will influence what you find. Although your study should be in some way unique, it is important to explore differences and similarities with other research partly by exploring your methodological techniques. In this way you can better analyse your results and place them within the existing knowledge base with greater clarity. Mixed methods can be used to explore the same phenomenon (triangulation) or to deepen and develop a theme as more is learned about your subject, and as your objectives become clearer. It is essential at the outset of your research that you explore a range of studies and look in detail at the methods used before planning your own study. In this session some key questions will be considered. 13:00 -15:00 Thurs 05 July
Ethical considerations of your research
AXB014
Facilitator: Alison Buckley, University of Cumbria This session will cover the history of ethics in research; why research ethics are important; and how to obtain research ethics approval. 15:15 -17:15 Thurs 05 July
Resources for Research: The University and Beyond
AXB014
Facilitator: James Stephens, University of Cumbria This hands-on session will give you the opportunity to explore some of the advanced features of key research resources subscribed to by the university. It will cover how to produce citation maps for research articles and how to assess the impact factor of scholarly publications. When you are engaged in higher level research you will usually find it necessary to explore beyond your own institutional library. This session will provide some valuable clues about where to go next; including specialist libraries, archives, institutional research repositories and the ever expanding movement of open access publishing. The underlying aim of the session is to aid in the development of higher level information literacy behaviours for researchers in the digital age.
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Summer School Sessions (Wk.2) Mon 09 July
Discourse Analysis
10:00 -12:00 AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Paul Miller, University of Cumbria In this session, we will explore the ontological assumptions underpinning a range of ‘conventional’ qualitative research methods, and the contrastive character of the range of approaches that fall under the broad rubric of discourse analysis (DA). Using Discursive Psychology and Conversation Analysis as our default analytic techniques, we will then explore the processes involved in doing practical discursive research. 13:00 -15:00 Mon 09 July
Reflective practice in Research
AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Grace Hurford, University of Cumbria This session will consider the use of reflection in research from a researcher and data collection approach perspective. It will also be an opportunity to consider the researcher voice through reflection in your thesis. 15:15 -17:15 Mon 09 July
Creativity in research
AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. David Murphy, University of Cumbria Although often associated with arts-related subjects, creativity is also relevant for research in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Drawing upon and reflecting on his own PhD research experience (International Policy, University of Bristol: 1993-97) and other more recent research and sources, Dr. Murphy will offer insight and guidance on the value of creativity in the PhD journey for both the research process and outcomes. He will encourage participants to discover their individual potential to bring creativity into their PhD work. 10:00 -12:00 Tues 10 July
Using statistics to best effect
AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Liz Bates, University of Cumbria. The aims of this session are to cover some basic aspects of quantitative research and how to make the most of statistics in your research. This includes how to use descriptive statistics to describe your data and your sample. It will also cover some basic aspects of inferential statistics, the concept of significance and some of the other terminology. This session will be useful for people with little or no experience of statistics in their research.
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SUPERVISORS ONLY 13:00 -15:00 Tues 10 July Considering student needs to their PhD programme: AXB013 Supervising Disabled Research Students Facilitator: Asso. Prof. Nicoletta Policek, University of Cumbria This session highlights contexts and frameworks that support a disability-inclusive approach when considering disabled research students’ needs and expectations, during the whole process of their doctoral supervision. A newly drafted guidance will be considered during this session, and models of disability and long-term conditions will also be embedded in our discussion. We will then explore possible strategies for supporting disabled research students in planning and organising their work.
Tues 10 July
13:00 -15:00 Designing and Delivering Socially - Just and Authentic Research Projects AXB014
Facilitator: Assoc. Prof. Kaz Stuart & Charlotte Hardacre, University of Cumbria Practitioners’ whose work is driven by emancipatory and socially-just notions, often wish to transfer these aims to their research. However, researchers can find themselves diverted from these values by a move toward impact measurement and ‘cause and effect’ models in qualitative research. Charting a clear path, from design to delivery, which maintains the socially-just aims that drove the desire to do research in the first place is a helpful task for both established and early career researchers. In this workshop you will be supported to identify what you value most about your practice and use this knowledge to create a checklist that mirrors these values throughout your research. This will be a useful tool for developing congruence between theory and practice, supporting radical or unorthodox methods and reducing ethical barriers by setting out a transparent, authentic and explanatory protocol for your socially-just research project. 15:15-17:15 Tues 10 July
Thematic Analysis
AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Helen Wilby & Dr. Bel Youngson, University of Cumbria Data analysis can cause even experienced researchers to feel like novices again. The aim of this session is to explore honestly the processes and experiences of data analysis and the aspirations held regarding the analytic process and its outcomes. Two colleagues have kindly agreed to join me in this session to share their experiences and approaches to data analysis in their doctoral research. Please join us in this session if you would like as Dickie (2003, p.49) advocates, to share and discuss ‘the magic and the effort’ of qualitative data analysis. Please bring samples with you of your own data and if possible documents that illustrate how you have or intend to analyse your own data.
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Wed 11 July
10:00 -16:00 Introduction to Computer-Assisted Qualitative Research Using ATLAS.ti K4
Facilitator: Assoc. Prof. Nicoletta Policek, University of Cumbria Aims The aim is to familiarise (or refamiliarise) participants with the core principles of qualitative coding and data analysis, and equip them with the key skills to carry out these operations using the basic and more advanced functions of Scientific Software’s ATLAS.ti package. It is anticipated that this session will be particularly attractive to those who are engaging in qualitative research for the first time. Intended Learning Outcomes On successful completion, you will be able to: Understand the core principles of qualitative coding and data analysis. Match appropriate coding and analytic techniques to particular forms of primary and secondary qualitative data. Create, inspect and edit primary documents in ATLAS.ti. Create, alter and group qualitative codes in ATLAS.ti. Apply networks, queries and variables to coded documents in ATLAS.ti. Indicative Content Qualitative research design, coding and analysis. Creation and manipulation of documents in Atlas.ti. Management of codes in ATLAS.ti. Analysis of data in ATLAS.ti. Understanding and interpreting ATLAS.ti. output. 10.:00 - 16:00 Wed 11 July
Introduction to SPSS
K5
Facilitator: Dr. Dave Elliott, University of Cumbria Aim The key aim of this workshop is to introduce participants to the use and understanding of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). In addition, the workshop aims to link specific research designs to appropriate statistical analyses. It is anticipated that this workshop will be attractive to postgraduate students undertaking research projects and staff at the early stages of research, as well as other researchers who require a more quantitative analysis for their projects. Intended Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this workshop, students should be able to: Use SPSS for data entry and analysis Select and run appropriate statistical tests. Interpret the statistical results Indicative Content Statistical analysis need SPSS environment and data entry Fundamental statistical tests Understanding and interpreting SPSS Output 10
Wed 11 July
A Black Dog Came Calling/Melancholy Objects: A Case Study into Practice Led Arts Research
13:00 -15:00 DCR
Facilitator: Dr. John Darwell This presentation will discuss the production of the above named bodies of work leading to a PhD in 2007. The illustrated talk will discuss in detail the thought processes and methodologies behind the image making and the decision making processes leading to the works final incarnation. Within this will be a discussion as to evolution of such research/exploration and the potential benefits this can have in wider fields of research such as in this particular case within the fields of health and psychology. 10:00 -12:00 Fri 13 July
Research integrity and rigour
AXB014
Facilitator: Prof. Frank Peck, University of Cumbria Researchers and research communities have responsibilities to ensure that their activities, methods of analysis and findings are subject to constant review to ensure integrity and rigour. These include a concern for high academic standards and values such as openness and honesty. While serious misconduct in PhD research is rare (such as, fabrication of data, suppression of findings, plagiarism), poor practice in research can present dilemmas for researchers that pose a threat to integrity and rigour. What are these hazards? What can we do to avoid them? This session will: Examine the ways in which research communities define integrity and rigour as it applies to different types of research and data (qualitative, qualitative); Consider how research communities seek to promote integrity and rigour while also guarding against, and exposing malpractice; Identify issues related to integrity and rigour that might affect individual postgraduate researchers; Consider ways in which these issues can be addressed through good practice in research.
Fri 13 July
13:00 –15:00 Research design: Considerations for ontology and epistemology AXB014
Facilitator: Dr. Julie Taylor, University of Cumbria The aim of this workshop will be to examine critically our own practice with respect to the design of robust and situated research, choice of analysis and any subsequent claims. The session will be particularly valuable for colleagues working on their methodology chapters or in the early stages of research planning.
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15:15-17:15 Fri 13 July
Structuring your thesis
AXB014
Facilitator: Visiting Prof. Hilary Constable, University of Cumbria This session will give you an opportunity to consider and discuss how you are going to approach your thesis; what your main chapters or sections are likely to be. Different approaches to structuring your thesis, tips and considerations will be explored. It will use examples of completed theses, and consider aspects of layout, format, style, content and planning.
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