Programme for the 8th ESRC Research Methods Festival 2018
09:15 - 10:45
Strategies for working with combined qualitative longitudinal sets
Convenors:
Professor Ros Edwards (University of Southampton)
Professor Lynn Jamieson (University of Edinburgh)
Archival storage of data sets from qualitative studies presents opportunities for combining small-scale data sets for reuse and the ‘scaling-up’ of qualitative analysis. This session focuses on strategies for conducting secondary analysis across multiple archived qualitative and qualitative longitudinal studies. Using material deposited in the Timescapes Archive, presenters will outline the merits and challenges of combining data sets for ‘big qual’ analysis. Participants will gain hands-on experience of two new analytic strategies: (i) an archaeological approach to working across multiple qualitative longitudinal data sets; and (ii) collective secondary analysis using combined qualitative data sets.
09:15 - 10:45
Quantitative methods pedagogy
Convenor:
Dr Victoria Gorton (University of Edinburgh)
We present the results of a new empirical study into 'anxiety' experienced by undergraduates when doing quantitative work, and a meta-analysis of previous empirical studies on the topic. We suggest that despite its prominence in discussions of pedagogy, statistics anxiety and any link to student performance may be less well established than supposed. We discuss what other features of statistics pedagogy might warrant more attention than that given so far to anxiety.
09:15 - 10:45
Infrastructure to Support Access to Administrative Data for Research
Convenor:
Professor Peter Smith (University of Southampton)
This session, organised by the Administrative Data Research Network, will discuss current best practice in data release and access infrastructure. The session will look at models for decision making around data release (the ‘5 safes’ model), then discuss existing and potential infrastructure and skills gaps in light of the opportunities offered by the Digital Economy Act, which received Royal Assent on the 27th April 2017. Finally, the session will look at the advantages offered to the UK public and government by the Digital Economy Act and existing data access infrastructure.
09:15 - 10:45
Anonymisation: what is it and how do I do it?
Convenor:
Professor Mark Elliot (University of Manchester)
Researchers and data owners are increasingly asked to share and even publish data under transparency and reproducibility agendas. Often in order to do that and still be compliant under data protection laws they have to anonymise the data. But what is anonymisation and how do you do it? and what do you do about the ever-changing data environment? This workshop will consider these questions and others; presenting a tried and tested approach entitled “the anonymisation decision making framework” that has been developed in collaboration with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.
09:15 - 10:45
Patterns of data and method use by academics: current motivating factors and changes over time
Convenor:
Dr Rebekah Luff (National Centre for Research Methods, University of Southampton)
In this session three papers will consider the types of data being used and published by academic researchers today and how this has changed over time. The first examines which types of data is used in papers published in Social Sciences journals in 2015/16 and how this has changed since the 1940s. The second considers both impact factors and gender in relation to research method choices. The last investigates the research areas that are the most influenced by big data availability, and on which aspects of large data handling different scientific communities are working.
09:15 - 10:45
Blog like you mean it: workshop
Convenor:
Ms Christine Garrington (Communications and impact consultant)
Blogging about your research is a great way not just to share your findings but to really engage with people who might use and benefit from your work. From a technical point of view it's so easy to set up a blog now, but what about the content? What will you write about, how will you write and how will you make sure that it's not just you reading it? How can you get to write for other blogs that have big worldwide audiences? This practical workshop shows you how!
09:15 - 10:45
Do participatory visual methods give 'voice'
Convenor:
Dr Daniel McCulloch (The Open University)
This project evaluates claims that participatory visual methods give ‘voice’ to participants. Such claims are often made by researchers, with little evidence coming from research participants or audiences of research. Part one of this session presents findings about researcher perspectives on ‘voice’ and participatory visual methods, drawn from workshops with researchers. Part two of this session explores findings which examine participatory mapping as a case study of a participatory visual method. This considers the extent to which participants feel that this method ‘gives voice’; as well as audiences understandings of the ‘voice’ presented in visual outputs.
09:15 - 10:45
Ethics of care in the research process
Convenor:
Dr Tula Brannelly (Bournemouth University)
Democratising research methods have enriched research processes through partnerships with end users of research, but have limited success making the sorts of changes that end users of research value. Despite heightened emphasis on impact, research processes from designing research questions to knowledge exchanges fail to adequately plan and implement change, or be flexible enough for responsiveness throughout the research process. Researchers encounter procedural and institutional obstacles. In this presentation, the ethics of care is offered as a critique and guide for research to build solidarity with end users of research to plan and create change as part of research processes.
10:45 - 11:15
BREAK
11:15 - 12:45
Estimating and correcting for measurement error
Convenor:
Dr Alexandru Cernat (Unviersity of Manchester)
While the study of the social sciences has developed important concepts such as social class, attitudes towards politics or globalisation have been proposed. Unfortunately, often such concepts are not measured directly but through proxies such as survey questions. The difference between our concepts of interest and the observed/collected data is called measurement error. It has been shown that measurement error can lead biased results in statistical analysis if ignored. In the session we will discuss about what is measurement error, how to correct for it and what new methods are being developed in this field.
11:15 - 12:45
Big Qual Analysis: Innovation in method and pedagogy
Convenor:
Professor Lynn Jamieson (University of Edinburgh)
What's the most effective way to teach students and qualitative researchers how to analyse large volumes of qualitative data? Guidance about how best to work with and build skills in large scale qualitative data is scarce, as are resources to support effective teaching of methods of dealing with multiple sets of qualitative data. This session brings together two NCRM initiatives, a novel 'archaeological' method for analysing archived qualitative material across data sets (see session Wednesday 9.15-10.45) and a pedagogy project that uses multiple methods to develop cutting-edge knowledge about the teaching and learning of advanced research methods (see session Tuesday 10.00-12.30). Through small group activities/discussion you will be invited to engage with and evaluate the training resources that we are developing in order to teach rigorous secondary analytic practice across multiple data sets. The session is especially suited to those engaged in methods training.
11:15 - 12:45
Exploring and modelling dynamic patterns with social science data
Convenors:
Professor Philip Haynes (University of Brighton)
Professor Brian Castellani (Kent State University, USA)
Developments in methodology related to complexity and realism stress the indeterminate nature of social processes. If casual mechanisms exist, they are specific to a time and space boundary. New approaches identify the 'flows' of social patterns over time and space. This enables the theorisation of similarity and difference, as cases converge or diverge.
11:15 - 12:45
Multiscale measures of segregation data
Convenors:
Professor Richard Harris (University of Bristol)
Dr David Manley (University of Bristol)
The purpose of this session is to showcase and to discuss new data, software and methods for the methods of segregation. The focus is on moving away from measuring (ethnic) segregation at a single scale, using traditional indices, to treating segregation as a multiscale phenomenon. Various methods have been advocated including multilevel, geostatistical and ‘egocentric’ approaches, and software has been developed, including the multilevel index of dissimilarity (MLID) package for R, MLwiN, and Equipop. Gridded population data provide opportunity for scale effects to be considered independent of the varying size and shapes of Census tracts and areas.
11:15 - 12:45
Methodological mash ups
Convenors:
Ms Jo Howard (Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex)
Dr Joanna Wheeler (University of Western Cape, Political Studies Department )
This panel will discuss the use of creative and layered participatory action research (PAR) methodologies to i) generate understanding and evidence of how intersecting inequalities drive poverty and marginalisation, and ii) build accountable dynamics between marginalised groups and dutybearers. We will discuss how we are developing and testing out new participatory approaches to engage people living in the margins in exploring their experiences of intersectionality, and support them in communicating this knowledge to influence policy. We reflect on combining, sequencing, and adapting creative participatory methods in order to translate between the realities of marginalisation and policy.
11:15 - 12:45
Harnessing CAQDAS packages
Convenor:
Dr Christina Silver (CAQDAS Networking Project, Department of Sociology, University of Surrey)
Qualitative software is well-established and its use is widespread. Yet using CAQDAS packages can elicit an unconscious mindset resulting in cut-and-dried software features influencing the choices made in emergent and idiosyncratic analyses – to the detriment of the research. The Five-Level QDA method overcomes this mindset by consciously distinguishing analytic strategies from software tactics to ensure that software capabilities do not drive the process. This session describes the genesis and principles of the Five-Level QDA method and illustrates its application in different methodological and teaching contexts using three leading CAQDAS packages - ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA and NVivo.
11:15 - 12:45
Writing creatively for academia (fully booked)
Convenor:
Dr Helen Kara (Director, We Research It Ltd)
This session is fully booked. Only participants who registered for this session with their festival booking can attend. Learn how creative writing techniques can be used in academia and at various stages of the research process. Examples will be given of methods such as stories, poems, play scripts, screenplays, and graphic novels, used innovatively in academic contexts by researchers from a range of disciplines. We will address the relevance of these methods for quantitative as well as qualitative researchers, particularly in increasing the accessibility of research to wider audiences. We will also discuss strategies for increasing the acceptance of these methods in the academy. There will be practical exercises and time for questions and discussion.
11:15 - 12:45
Connecting Meaning: Advances in Linking Text Mining and Social Network Analysis
Convenors:
Professor Susan Banducci (University of Exeter)
Dr Lorien Jasny (University of exeter)
In this session we demonstrate a range of techniques developed as part of the EXPONet project to model how individuals are exposed to information in the media ecosystem, combining traditional and social media, offline and online consumption. These techniques include types of network and text analysis such as ERGM, topic models, machine learning and are applied to data collected around social and political events of the last three years. We compare results across different types of data generation processes and methods. The session will be of interest to those working with social media data, text and networks.
12:45 - 14:00
Data Discovery Session
Convenors:
Dr Vanessa Higgins (UK Data Service)
Dr Sarah King-hele (UK Data Service)
Do you want to know what data are available for your research project? Do you want to know what resources are available to help? If so, come along to this data drop-in session from the ESRC-funded data and methods services including: • UK Data Service • CLOSER • Centre for Longitudinal Studies • Understanding Society • Administrative Data Research Network • UK Census and Administrative Data Longitudinal Studies • National Centre for Research Methods • Phase 2 of the ERSC Big Data Network Experts from the UK Data Service and CLOSER will be available for the session but will represent all of the aforementioned services.
12:45 - 14:00
LUNCH
14:00 - 15:15
Keynote - Mixed methods contribution to social, economic and environmental justice
Convenor:
Professor Donna Mertens (Gallaudet University)
We live in troubling times with less than stellar functionality in government, increasing human rights violations, and facing wicked problems such as climate change, violence, poverty and inequality, increasing numbers of refugees, and lack of access to basic human services for marginalized members of society. Given this situation, how can one take constructive action? The use of a transformative lens for the design of mixed methods research has the potential to provide meaningful contributions to addressing these wicked problems and giving us a reason for optimism. Such methods can provide a way forward for addressing the interdependence of social, economic and environmental justice.
15:15 - 15:45
BREAK
15:45 - 17:15
What is worldmapper? What is methodological pluralism? What is data quality?
Convenor:
Dr Rebekah Luff (National Centre for Research Methods, University of Southampton)
What Is? sessions are designed to provide an introduction to a range of research methods and related methodological issues. The methods will be presented in an accessible fashion and their uses will be described. In this session the presentations will be on Worldmapper, methodological pluralism and data quality. Each presentation will last about 20 minutes and will be followed by about 10 minutes of questions from the audience, who are assumed to be interested but to have no prior knowledge of the method under discussion. Presentations will be recorded and made available on the NCRM website.
15:45 - 17:15
Working on methods projects with non-academic partners: reflections of NCRM placement fellows
Convenors:
Professor Ros Edwards (University of Southampton)
Professor Patrick Sturgis (University of Southampton)
Academic social scientists are often encouraged collaborate with non-academic partners to achieve impact for their research and improve public policy. In this session we reflect on the benefits and challenges of working with government department and non-governmental organisations on a methods-based knowledge exchange. Do academic concerns about rigorous research practice and methods sit easily with administrative agendas, and vice versa? How do different modes of working and institutional incentive structures affect the viability of knowledge exchange? NCRM Placement Fellows reflect on their experiences of undertaking methods-based projects in collaboration with a range of non-academic partners.
15:45 - 17:15
Community researchers in Co-production: Reflections from the 'Productive Margins' and 'Imagine' Research Programmes
Convenor:
Mrs Helen Thomas-Hughes (University of Bristol, Law School)
This session opens a critical conversation about the utilisation of community researchers within co-produced research partnerships. The session draws on concrete examples from two UK research programmes: 'Productive Margins: Regulating for Engagement' and 'Imagine' to examine the potentiality and limitations of the role community researchers within co-produced research. In particular, asking what ‘training’ for community researchers can come to mean in practice. The session will facilitate a critical interdisciplinary dialogue about the positionality of the community researcher role within and beyond co-produced and collaborative research partnerships.
15:45 - 17:15
Artificial data in social science
Convenors:
Professor Vania Sena (University of Essex)
Mr Richard Skeggs (University of Essex)
The purpose of the session is to provide an overview of the role that synthetic data can play in social science when working with personal data. We also want to present different techniques that are available for the development of synthetic data and discuss the tests that are available to assess the accuracy of the synthetic data against real data.
15:45 - 17:15
Video methods
Convenor:
Dr Charlotte Bates (Cardiff University)
This session brings together sociologists who are using video methods as part of their research practice in innovative and inventive ways. It highlights a variety of possibilities for making and working with video data, including ethnographic documentary and video tours. In particular, the session focuses on the potential of video to research the multisensory, embodied, material and atmospheric qualities of spaces and places, from fish markets and bowling alleys to self-build homes and primary schools. Discussing a range of approaches, it illuminates the evolving opportunities that video offers for the growth and development of a more vibrant methodological repertoire.
15:45 - 17:15
The role of self and emotion within qualitative research
Convenors:
Dr Victoria Knight (De Montfort University )
Dr Irene Zempi (Nottingham Trent University )
This session demonstrates how to research emotions by drawing on two qualitative research projects - experiences of imprisonment and victims of hate crime. Within the framework of intersectionality of identities, we demonstrate how our insider/outsider status influenced the research process, and consider the important role that our emotions and subjective experiences occupied within the analytic stage. We consider the role of ‘critical reflexivity’ in helping researchers recognise the impact of their multiple identities and emotions on data interpretation. We emphasise that during data analysis it is important to look critically at the data rather than simply replicate participants’ stories.
15:45 - 17:15
How to expand your methodological comfort zone (fully booked)
Convenors:
Professor Alison Wray (Cardiff University)
Professor Mike Wallace (Cardiff University)
This session is fully booked. Only participants who registered for this session with their festival booking can attend. This workshop will explore with research students and early career academics one aspect of the transition over time from ‘novice’ to ‘expert’ researcher. Our recent investigations into the nature of expert thinking in social science research indicate that one needs a broad methodological ‘literacy’, so that the right tool can be used for the investigative job in hand. Participants will be invited to extend their comfort zone by considering different ways of addressing a complex research problem, identifying the risks and benefits of combining approaches, and considering the practicalities of managing a larger box of methodological tools.
15:45 - 17:15
Innovations in teaching statistics and quantitative methods
Convenor:
Professor Patrick Sturgis (NCRM)
This session will bring together leading statistics educators from across the UK to discuss new approaches to teaching statistics using new kinds of textbooks and resources and innovative pedagogical approaches. The focus of the session will be on sharing research evidence, as well as tips and advice, to empower statistics teachers to try new things in their own teaching.
18:00 - 19:00