Podcasting as a research method
Speakers:
Bio: Simone Eringfeld is an educationist, artist-researcher, poet and writer whose work explores new ways to blend academia with art. She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a master's degree in Education and International Development in 2020. Her thesis on the future of the post-Covid University, which used podcasting as its principal research method, won the BERA Master's Dissertation Award (1st Prize, 2021). In April 2021, she released her first spoken word music EP in which she presented data from her research at Cambridge. Most recently, she has been focused on further developing podcasting as an action research method and 'data music' as a new way of communicating research results.
This session explores the potential of podcasting as a qualitative research method. While academics have increasingly started to discover podcasting as an effective digital medium for research communication; podcasting can also be used as a method and platform for data collection. In this session; we explore some of the ways in which podcasting can be used to this end. This firstly includes podcasting as a participatory action research method with podcasts serving as public outward-facing platforms for collective action and reflection. Secondly; podcasting can be used as a sonic elicitation technique during interviews and focus groups to elicit rich; detailed; embodied and affective responses from participants. To illustrate the creative methodological possibilities as well as practical considerations attached to audio production; the podcast 'Cambridge Quaranchats' (hosted & produced by Simone Eringfeld) will be used as an example.