UKGRAD Midlands Hub Survey

We have received the following email from the Midlands Hub of UK GRAD:

Dear Student,

 

Are you studying in any of the following fields?

 

• Social Science
• Arts
• Humanities
• Education
• Health – sorry, non-medical / clinical only

 

If so, we would like your help in a large national study we are conducting on the learning journeys that doctoral students follow as they develop research knowledge and skills.

 

The project will result in the production of materials and resources for universities to use on doctoral training courses, including DVDs and printed resources. We believe that participating in the project will also provide you with an opportunity to reflect on your progress as a doctoral student.

 

We’d like you to complete a short survey – please click on the following link before the end of July.

 

http://tinyurl.com/yq3g89

 

You can choose to complete the survey anonymously but if you provide your contact details, you will be entered into a prize draw and the chance to win £50 of Amazon Vouchers.

 

If you have any queries please contact:

 

Mark Warnes, INSPIRE, Anglia Ruskin University: mark.warnes@anglia.ac.uk  

 

SRHE Postgraduate and Newer Researchers Conference, 8th December 2008, Liverpool

Now in its fifth year, the Postgraduate and Newer Researchers Conference is designed to facilitate a number of activities. It aims to enable networking for newer researchers in the field of higher education, build the capacity of such researchers, explore the latest research agenda and methodological practices, provide a supportive environment for those newer to presenting conference papers and, last but not least, provide a lively and stimulating event.

The conference is open to a broad community, including those in the early stages of a research career in higher education, those currently studying in the field and those who may have more experience but are new to the issues in higher education research and want to find out more.

As well as the opportunity to present papers, there will be a range of events and opportunities for networking: small-group discussions about developing a career involving newer and established researchers in the higher education research field; an ‘academic speed-dating’ activity aimed at widening networks; and an evening event.

For more details visit: http://www.srhe.ac.uk/conference2008/postgraduate.conf.asp

New Approaches to Postgraduate Supervision and Supervisor Development, 23rd June 2008

 

Arguably our postgraduate research students are the sector’s most valuable assets.  But is the type of supervision they are receiving appropriate for the world they are entering? A recent EPPI review (Leonard 2007) demonstrates how isolated doctoral students can become, the recent UK Grad report on the destinations of postgraduate students shows that only 50% continue to work in any education sector. The future of the doctorate is under debate (Park 2007). In Sweden every doctoral student is legally entitled to supervision by a trained supervisor. What is competent supervision in the UK environment?  The Roberts agenda has raised the profile of the skills agenda. Employability sits in one corner defined as ‘the utilitarian view’ opposite ‘proper’ curiosity-driven research. Barnett (2000) suggests that research skills are vital in a world of supercomplexity. The cultural backgrounds that our students are coming from are diverse and their expectations complex. They may carry out their enquiries within organisations, for employers or for governments. These all add to the pressures on the supervisor. Co-supervisors, supervisory teams, advisors and supervisors of students taking professional doctorates will have complex relationships with employers.

 

This seminar proposes a neutral framework for examining postgraduate supervision arising from qualitative research with experienced supervisors and students.  It suggests a paradigmatically different approach to supervision to complement the functional approach (eg: Cryer 2000, Taylor & Beasley 2005). It identifies different conceptual models of supervision which either the University or the individual may hold and questions whether that view wittingly or unwittingly creates a particular type of experience or student.   It builds on the phenomenological study of concepts of research carried out by Brew (2001) and subsequent work by Pearson and Kayrooz (2004).  Dr Lee’s research on supervision was originally based in the UK and she has led seminars and workshops in the UK, South Africa and Sweden.  The seminar will include updates of the continuing research into this subject which has been carried out from the Centre for Learning Development at the University of Surrey.  It will also review and compare the training for supervisors that is carried out in the UK and Sweden.

 

This seminar will take place as part of the Postgraduate Issues Network, Society for Research into Higher Education, 76 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT, 1pm.

 

For more details or to book visit: http://www.srhe.ac.uk/events.asp

 

Noses Needed !!

Hello everybody,

I am aware of the fact that most of you already get scared when they find one of my emails in their inbox. And, yes, you have been right! I am once again looking for noses!

But do not fear! All I want to do this time is place a particle of saccharin in the front of your nose to measure the time your nose needs to clear this particle to the throat (i.e. the time from particle placement to sweet taste). Every test will take about 15 minutes. Again I will come to your office and you can keep working during the tests. I will have to test you at 6 different occasions, 3 baseline measures and 3 times after Nasaleze application to examine whether it changes the clearance time.

This test is not invasive and the only inconvenience will be a sweet aftertaste (I will provide sweets to overcome this).

I need about 15 people and would be very grateful if some of you weren’t too fed up with my experiments already to help me.

Thank you very much!

Please contact Bernadette Diethart if you are willing and able on: b.diethart@worc.ac.uk or phone: 01905 855513

Social Research Association – Training Seminars

 

Please find below an update on upcoming courses run by the Social Research Association over the next few months, these courses are pitched at both introductory (I) and advanced (A) level. 

 

12^th June – Developing a Knowledge Transfer Strategy (A) – London -  Bookings close this week as there is a number of questionnaires to be completed prior to the 1 day workshop.

 

17^th / 18^th June – Ethics in Social Research (A) – Leeds – This 2 day workshop will provide an opportunity to reflect on the ethical dilemmas and issues that researchers face during their day to day experiences of research.

 

18^th June – Introduction to dissemination and Knowledge Transfer – London – This aims to provide a clear grasp of the importance of ensuring a coherent strategy for knowledge sharing at the proposal and design stage of research. A variety of contemporary strategies and techniques available for disseminating research findings will be introduced with opportunities to consider how they have been used in research practice.

 

25^th / 26^th June – Interpretation and Explanation in Social Enquiry (A) – London – Whether based on quantitative or qualitative approaches, interpretation and explanation raise important questions about the contribution of social research to the development of knowledge about the social world.  Based on many examples the course will provide participants with a range of opportunities to bring their own experience to the group and to practice the art of interpretation and explanation at different stages of the research process.

 

17^th / 18^th July – Advanced Qualitative Data Analysis (A)  – London – This 2 day course is aimed at mid career social researchers with specialist experience of conducting qualitative research. It will cover 5 key areas; the principles of qualitative data analysis; the challenges of managing qualitative data; moving beyond description; integrating multiple data and analysis for policy.

 

23^rd July – Cognitive Interviewing for Survey Methods (I) – London – A course designed to familiarise participants with cognitive interviewing methods for testing survey questions. A range of popular techniques will be introduced and discussed including think-alouds, probing, and observation, paraphrasing, rating tasks. Practical information will be given on how to implement key methods and a chance to practice.

 

Should you wish to book on any of these courses or have any queries you are advised to contact Mark Roche, Social Research Association, 24-32 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HX. Tel: 020 7388 2391, email: mark.roche@the-sra.org.uk  

 

www.the-sra.org.uk