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The development of resources and local
structures of support for those engaged in
teaching research methods
Malcolm Williams, Carole Sutton,
University of Plymouth
The Context of Methods &
Methodology at Plymouth
• An emphasis on methods/ methodology
in teaching & links with research that
goes back to early 1990s
• MSc in Social Research (now part of
1+3 training structure)
• BSc Social Research
• ‘Methodological Innovations’
Methodological Innovations Research Group
• Started in 2005. Based in Faculty of Social Science & Business
but remit across the university. One of 4 Faculty Research
Groups Membership is informal with just a few ‘core’ members
http://www.research.plymouth.ac.uk/methodologicalinovations/h
ome.asp
• Wider membership includes sociologists, criminologists,
lawyers, educationalists, economists, geographers. Also open
to academics from other institutions & non academics involved
in research.
• Meets twice per term and holds a two day annual methods
symposium in April.
• Launched an on line peer reviewed journal in April 2006
Aim of the Group
• The aim of the group is to provide a platform
for both informal and formal discussion of
methodological issues, and to provide an
environment for collaborative work. This will
support and enhance the research culture
both within the faculty and beyond as well as
providing a valuable support network for
postgraduate students who are early into their
academic careers.
Methods@Plymouth
• Two day workshop/ discussion focussed
event with keynote speakers
http://www.research.plymouth.ac.uk/methodol
ogicalinovations/methods07/programme.doc
• At the heart of our strategy to link good
research practice with dissemination. This
year had a ‘teaching methods’ focus
Methodological Innovations Online
• Peer reviewed open access journal
launched in April 2006. Published twice
a year, but with additional ‘special’
issues.
• www.methodologicalinnovations.org
Methods training & teaching at
Plymouth
• Undergraduate
– generic methods
– Specialist pathway Social Research
• Postgraduate
• CPD
– Generic training
– Bespoke courses
• Market Research Society accreditation
– Advanced Certificate
Methods training & teaching at
Plymouth
• ESRC Regional Training Centre
– Survey link scheme workshop Feb 2007
– Multimodal Qualitative Research
(QUALITI) two day workshop May 2007
– Build links with Centres of Expertise
– Important resource given our geography.
– Workshops/courses well attended by UoP
post-graduates/staff across subject
disciplines
Arising Issues
• Management
– Small pool of staff committed to RM
teaching
– Ability vs willingness
– Generic vs specialist
– “Sociologists teaching methods”
Arising Issues
• Learning & Teaching related
– Timetable restrictions – 1hr seminar/ PC room
availability
– Delivery
• Problem based learning
• Fieldwork Trips (HEFCE TQEF funded)
– Teaching quantitative analysis
• Access to suitable and varied data sets
• Matching student interest
• Poor take up of secondary analysis at dissertation level
– Teaching Qualitative
• Software issues
• Timetabling
• Others???
Summary
• Attempt at Plymouth to integrate levels of
teaching and link to research
• Importance of a dedicated methods focus
(MI)
• Future challenges:
Under resourced – methods as ‘Cinderella’
‘Anti- quants/ pro-humanities bias’
Recruiting staff able/ willing to teach methods
Recruiting students willing/ able to learn about
methods