Research Methods Ebulletin - February 2011
News
New book: Key Concepts in Family Studies NCRM Co-director Ros Edwards has a new book out "Key Concepts in Family Studies" (Sage). This is a critical introduction to core ideas in studying families and themes in a variety of disciplines. This book's individual entries introduce, explain and contextualise key topics within the study of family lives. Definitions, summaries and key words are developed throughout with careful cross-referencing allowing students to move effortlessly between core ideas and themes. Read further |
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Talk to us on Twitter: NCRMUK The National Centre for Research Methods has set up a Twitter account to make it even easier for you to get in touch with us. Our username is NCRMUK. Follow NCRMUK on Twitter |
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Apply now! Research methods training bursaries available from NCRM The ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is offering training bursaries up to £1000 to enable staff in the UK social science community engaged in research, teaching research methods or supervising research to update their skills. Contract researchers working in HEIs are also eligible for the bursaries. Read further |
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New four-volume set on Multilevel Modelling A four volume set by Professors Sophia Rabe Hesketh and Anders Skrondal. Data collected in the social sciences often have a multilevel or clustered structure. From this, we often have research questions that are of a multilevel nature, and multilevel modelling is now widely used across health, economics, demography, education and many other areas to analyze data clustered within units at higher levels. The editors of this essential four-volume set, Multilevel Modelling, are among the leading figures of multilevel modelling, an approach which is at once cutting-edge and well established within research methods and the social sciences. Read further |
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First data available from Understanding Society Data from the first wave of Understanding Society, the world’s largest household panel survey, is now available to researchers to use in their analysis. An interim set of data (14,000 of the planned 40,000 households) has now been deposited with the Economic and Social Data Service and can be accessed by researchers for use in their research. The study will give an unrivalled opportunity for the analysis of life course trajectories, and the influences that interact to impact on their health, personal relationships, finances and well being. Read further |
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London 2012 meta-evaluation - Methodological advancement DCMS has commissioned a consortium led by Grant Thornton, including Ecorys and Loughborough University, to undertake a comprehensive three-year meta-evaluation of the Impacts and Legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. This is an unprecedented initiative that will pull together the results of evaluations of individual legacy programmes, projects and initiatives, and use these along with additional research to evaluate the overall legacy of the Games. It aims to address overarching questions such as the impact of the Games on the UK economy and on the uptake of sport. The Economic and Social Research Council has committed additional funding to help embed the advancement of meta-evaluation methods as an integral part of the study. Read further |
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New Head of Analytical Development for GSR David Johnson is to take on a new, high profile leadership role for the Government Social Research Service (GSR) as head of analytical development. Currently head of research in the cross-cutting pensions analysis division at the Department for Work and Pensions, David was in the first GSR Fast Stream cohort and is a member of DWP’s head of profession board for social research. In his new role he will be part of the Government Economic and Social Research team (GESR), the professional support unit for both GSR and the GES (Government Economic Service), based in the Treasury. This role has a particular remit for ensuring that the Treasury is well informed about social impacts and wider social research evidence. David will also help embed the use of social research in departments, ensuring non-analysts across government understand the contribution of social research to a well-rounded evidence base and informed decision making. |
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Training courses and events
Policy analysis with incredible certitude, a Leverhulme Lecture by Charles Manski Analyses of public policy regularly express certitude about the consequences of alternative policy choices. Yet policy predictions often are fragile, with conclusions resting on critical unsupported assumptions or leaps of logic. Then the certitude of policy analysis is not credible. I develop a typology of incredible analytical practices and gives illustrative cases. I call these practices conventional certitude, dueling certitudes, conflating science and advocacy, wishful extrapolation, illogical certitude, and media overreach. This lecture is organised by IFS and cemmap and forms part of the IFS-STICERD Public Economics seminar series. Read further |
Methods for Missing Data: Multiple Imputation and Inverse Probability Weighting The focus is on methods to adjust for item nonresponse, which occurs when sample members do not answer some of the questions in a survey. Read further |
Choice and change – Sharing Experiences of a Qualitative Longitudinal Study The Choice and Change study has longitudinally examined the experiences of welfare service users that have made choices about their services and support, within the context of changing circumstances. In this seminar the study team will present a selection of the research findings and share their experiences of conducting a qualitative longitudinal study. The seminar is free to attend, but please contact Sarah Finney if you wish to attend. Email: S.J.Finney@leeds.ac.uk Tel: 0113 343 8489. Lunch will be provided. Read further |
Longitudinal research and ethnic group comparisons, challenges, findings and future possibilities A lecture by Professor Lucinda Platt, Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Institute of Education. This lecture outlines the contribution of longitudinal approaches and explores a number of examples which have been able to shed light on comparisons between ethnic groups in dynamic processes. Looking at studies of welfare and poverty dynamics, social mobility, transitions into worklessness, and educational trajectories. Read further |
Cognititive Interviewing This course is designed to familiarise participants with a powerful and efficient method of testing survey questions called Cognitive Interviewing. Cognitive interviewing itself encompasses a range of methods. The most popular ones include think-alouds, probing, and observation. Other techniques include paraphrasing, rating tasks, response latency measurement and card sort classification tasks. Each of these methods will be discussed in the course as well as current trends and issues in cognitive interviewing methodology. The course will include practical information on how to implement the various methods as well as hands-on sessions. Read further |
QUIC Software Planning Seminar: Comparative Overview of CAQDAS Packages This seminar is hosted by the University of Hertfordshire, St. Albans (Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care). Places are free but must be booked in advance. To book a place please email k.m.haynes@herts.ac.uk . Read further |
Geographical Data Visualization and Geodemographics In addition to reviewing developments in Geographic Information Systems, this workshop will develop extended examples that deploy ‘geodemographic’ analysis – methods of simplifying the complex characteristics of urban areas into groupings of neighbourhoods sharing similar characteristics. The use of geodemographic information about neighbourhoods will be illustrated through numerous examples concerning the delivery of public services. Practical sessions will show how you can apply a geodemographic classification to your data, and how this can be visualised within a GIS. Read further |
Introduction to Qualitative Interviewing This two day course, run by the Health Experiences Research Group at University of Oxford, aims to introduce researchers to the method of qualitative interviewing using a combination of practical workshops, group discussions and formal lectures. |
Questionnaire Design Topics include: writing factual, non-factual and sensitive questions, for both interview and self-completion modes, question testing. The course has a practical approach. Read further |
Measuring living standards and wellbeing, a cemmap & NCRM workshop This workshop will explore the measurement of living standards and wellbeing, particularly at and individual and household level. Speakers will report new findings on the value of traditional measures such as income and consumption, as well as describing new approaches such as subjective measures of welling being and the Day Reconstruction Method (DRM). Confirmed speakers include: Michael Daly, Trinity College Dublin; Gunther Fink, Harvard; Bruce Meyer, University of Chicago; Steve Pudney, Essex; and Arthur van Soest, Tilburg. This is a joint workshop by the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) and Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice (cemmap). Please note this workshop is free of charge. Lunch will be provided. Read further |
Drugs, Lost Villages and Bank Failure: Multidimensional Scaling to the Rescue A lecture by Professor Tony Coxon, Emeritus Professor of Sociological Research Methods at the University of Wales and Professorial Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) covers a whole family of models, deals with a variety of levels of measurement and can be adapted to a wide range of data-types. MDS is often misrepresented as "a sort of Factor analysis" or merely as a visualization technique to portray complex data. Read further |
Developments in the analysis of qualitative data, NCRM & SRA join event NCRM and the SRA are collaborating to re-run some of the most popular sessions from the ESRC Research Methods Festival 2010. Places are limited and booking is essential to secure a place. There will be a charge of £5.00 to cover the cost of refreshments. Read further |
Moderating focus groups This two-day course gives participants an overview of the role and function of using focus groups as a method of data collection in qualitative research. It aims to equip them with additional skills and techniques necessary for facilitating focus groups to a high standard in applied research settings. The module covers the following topics: the role and use of focus groups in social research; designing focus groups; focus group demonstration; moderating with a topic guide; the role of the moderator; engaging group participants in the discussion, keeping focused on the research questions; focus group practical sessions. Read further |
Introduction to methods for analysis of combined individual and aggregate social science data This workshop provides an introduction to a new class of multilevel models (hierarchical related regressions - HRR) for estimating individual-level associations using a combination of group- and individual-level data. HRR differs from other methods by enabling analysts to model individual and aggregate data simultaneously, while including information on the dependent variable at the aggregate level, and data from aggregation units not available at the individual level. HRR models combine features of standard ecological regression models for aggregate data and multilevel models for clustered individual-level data, and have been shown to reduce bias and improve precision in many situations. Read further |
Oxford Spring School 2011 short course: Analyzing network dynamics using RSiena The course will give an introduction to statistical modelling of longitudinal network data and demonstrate the basics of using the RSiena program, a package in the statistical system R. Attention will be paid to the underlying statistical methodology, to examples, and to the use of the software. The course will treat dynamics of networks as well as the simultaneous dynamics of networks and behaviour, and also other more advanced topics such as model specification, multivariate networks, structurally determined values, and goodness of fit checking. Read further |
Showcase Event: Exploring new developments in qualitative data capture and analysis Qualitative Innovations in CAQDAS (QUIC) and Digital Social Research are holding a Showcase Event to explore new developments in qualitative data capture and analysis, including mobile and location-based data generated. The event is free but places are limited. Please contact Megan Meredith-Lobay to register: Email. megan.meredith-lobay@oerc.ox.ac.uk |
Sampling for surveys This is a one day course is designed to give participants a practical understanding of the principles of sampling. Participants will learn about the key features of random probability sampling, and the factors that need to be considered to obtain efficient, unbiased samples. Course content covers:an introduction to the different sampling approaches with particular reference to random probability methods; over-sampling different sub-groups; selecting multi-phase clustered samples; selecting stratified samples; the impact of variable sampling fractions, clustering and stratification on sample efficiency. Read further |
Operational Research Society Simulation Special Interest Group Meeting Agent-based - or multi-agent - simulation (ABS) has been employed for over two decades in theoretical work in the social sciences, but its practical use has been limited compared to other approaches to simulation, especially Monte Carlo, discrete-event simulation (DES) and system dynamics (SD). The Centre for Research in Social Simulation (CRESS) at the University of Surrey plays host to a day of presentations on agent-based simulation models that have already led to or are close to leading to influencing decision makers in a range of application areas, including healthcare, consultancy and economics. Read further |
Involving Children and Young People in Research and Consultation A new course which explores how children and young people can be meaningfully and ethically involved in research and consultation at an advanced level. The course will give participants an opportunity to critically evaluate different ways of involving children and young people. It will look in detail at current ethical requirements and questions in involving children and young people in research and consultation. This new course builds on CRFR’s previous successful course, Listening to Children Research and Consultation. Cost: £350. Includes access to wide range of online resources for 9 months after course. Read further |
Longitudinal Data Link The aim of this course is to focus on longitudinal studies created by linking Census, vital registration records and health registration data including the Office for National Statistics’ Longitudinal Study, the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study and the Scottish Longitudinal Study. The strengths and weaknesses of these longitudinal studies will be discussed. Examples of research using these studies will be given and their potential will be investigated. Methods of analysis commonly used to analyse LS data in tabular form will be reviewed. Methods of dealing with sparse data, i.e. small counts, will also be discussed. Read further (opens a .pdf file) |
Beyond tokenism: How to effectively involve children and young people in policy research 29 March 2011 Westminster, London The NCB Research Centre is organising a national conference to debate the challenges and benefits of involving children and young people in policy research. This event aims to promote good practice in the involvement of children and young people in research. Read further |
Essentials of Survey Design and Implementation Topics include project management, quality, ethical and reporting issues; interviewer vs. self-completion surveys; ways to minimise nonresponse, various issues in survey sampling, introduction to weighting; principles of data coding and processing. Read further |
Oxford Spring School 2011: Communicating Statistical Results: Effective Presentation of Relationships and Effects Statistical methods commonly employed by social scientists have become increasingly complex as computers have become more powerful. Often, however, the results of these methods are poorly displayed. With this in mind, this course deals with various methods for effectively displaying results from statistical analyses. In particular, we will demonstrate how relationships, differences, and effects can be clearly communicated using tables and graphs of fitted values derived from statistical models. All of the analyses for the course will be done using R, which has exceptional graphical capabilities. No prior knowledge of R is assumed, however. Read further |
New Perspectives on Survey Nonresponse and Attrition A serious and endemic threat to valid inference from surveys is differential nonresponse. Where sample members differ on analysis variables from those who are not contacted or who choose not to participate, estimators are biased and less precise than they would be under complete response. Yet, despite a growing literature on the topic, the causes of nonresponse are still rather poorly understood. This one day conference presents findings from four projects funded under the ESRC Survey Design and Measurement Initiative which adopt a range of research designs to shed new light on this important topic. Read further |
Stata for Beginners This course provides a good beginner’s guide to using STATA progressing to more advanced data handling techniques. Read further (opens a .pdf file) |
Questionnaire design This two day course is aimed at giving participants a thorough grounding in questionnaire design. This course will be highly participatory, with sessions aimed at providing hands-on experience of designing questionnaires and survey questions. Course content covers: the purpose of surveys and questionnaires, identifying the key decisions researchers have to make; how to design questionnaires; design issues for self-completion questionnaires (paper and web-based;)question wording and communication with respondents;general principles of questionnaire design; measuring behaviour; and designing questionnaires for children and young people. Read further |
Regression Methods The course will review basic principles of multiple linear regression and then focuses on logistic and multinomial logistic regression. Read further |
Longitudinal Data Analysis This course is aimed at researchers and other analysts who want to know more about longitudinal research design, and how longitudinal research can be used to address issues in evaluation, as well as developing practical skills in longitudinal data analysis. It will provide students with a better understanding of a range of longitudinal research methods, including first-difference, difference-indifference, fixed-effects and random-effects models and will help students appreciate the strengths and limitations of longitudinal research. Regression modelling is a pre-requisite and it will be assumed that attendants understand multiple regression analysis. Read further (opens a .pdf file) |
Introduction to Multilevel Modelling in STATA This course provides an introduction to the theory and application of multilevel models for analysing continuous response variables. The course will be based around multilevel modelling concept sessions followed by hands-on practical sessions using the Stata software package. Example datasets will come from the Belfast Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of adolescent substance use. Please note that there will not be enough time to analyse participants’ own data during the course. Read further |
Analysing Qualitative Interviews This two day course, run by the Health Experiences Research Group at the University of Oxford, aims to introduce the principles and practice of qualitative interview data analysis, with particular emphasis on thematic analysis techniques. It uses a combination of practical workshops, group discussions and formal lectures. Read further |
Introduction to Focus Groups Focus groups are increasingly used in qualitative research as a method for exploring people’s experiences of specific topics. This one day course, run by the Health Experiences Research Group at the University of Oxford, aims to introduce participants to the principles and practice of organising, moderating and analysing focus groups. The course uses a combination of practical workshops, group discussions and formal lectures. Read further |
2 days Introductory course on Agent-based Modelling This course is appropriate for researchers and other professionals, from any discipline, who would like to apply mixed methods or use an innovative method for their research into complex social systems. Day 1 will show you what computational modelling can do. Day 2 is a hands on course, which will give assistance to anyone who is thinking of designing and building their first simulation model. It provides an introduction to designing, specifying and coding simple models, and supervised practice. The course will also briefly review other parts of a modelling methodology, including formulating a research question, validation, and reporting conclusions. Read further |
Using Digital Media in Research with Children and Young People In its 2nd year, this course looks at how digital media can be used in research with children and young people, giving participants a chance to explore in depth some of the important ethical issues around using online media. Cost: £295. Accredited option, additional cost: £75. Read further |
Sensory Ethnography The ‘sensory turn’ in scholarship across the social sciences and humanities has created new possibilities, potentials and challenges for ethnographers. This workshop will explore the implications of this theoretical and methodological shift for ethnographic practice, and introduce a sensory ethnography approach to doing qualitative research. It will cover: the theoretical ideas that underpin the notion of multisensoriality; the methodological principles that inform this approach to ethnographic practice; and discussions of practical applications of a sensory ethnography approach across a range of research contexts. It will also introduce the issues raised when using digital and visual media in sensory ethnographic research and representation. Read further |
Cognitive interviewing skills This two day course is aimed at giving participants a thorough grounding in cognitive interviewing skills. It will be delivered through a combination of taught and practical sessions. The course covers: Why do we need to test survey questions? What methods can be used to test survey questions? What is cognitive interviewing and why is it useful? Conducting cognitive interviews; Designing cognitive interview probe sheets; Try out some cognitive interviewing on friends/colleagues/partners; Feedback on participants’ cognitive interviews; Analysing and interpreting cognitive interview data; Making recommendations based on findings from cognitive interviews;and reporting findings from cognitive interviews. |
Structural Equation Modelling for Cross-Sectional and Panel Data Topics include: basic principles of structural equation modelling for both cross-sectional and panel data; simplex models; cross-lagged panel models, latent curve analysis, multiple group models, growth mixture models and parallel process models. |
Multilevel and Longitudinal Modelling The course introduces models for clustered data or repeated measures/panel waves nested in subjects. Linear and logistic random effects models and alternative approaches for continuous and binary data are covered. Prior to the course, participants should be familiar with linear and logistic regression. By the end of the course, they should have an understanding of the model assumptions, be able to choose an appropriate model for a given situation and interpret the parameter estimates. Participants may also take the computer lab where they will learn how to estimate the models in STATA. Read further (opens a .pdf file) |
The analysis of qualitative data This course is designed to equip participants with a clear understanding of the principles and practice of high quality, rigorous qualitative data analysis. Participants will also be introduced to ‘FrameWork’ an approach to qualitative data management developed at NatCen. The course will be delivered through a mixture of taught sessions and practical exercises This course will be useful to you if you: are an experienced qualitative researcher who wants to learn new skills in qualitative data analysis or to broaden and refresh your existing skills; are experienced in other aspects of qualitative. |
Gatekeepers and social research: hindrance or facilitation? Gaining access to a fieldwork site or a population is a key stage in most ethnographic studies and qualitative research, and gatekeepers are often sought by researchers to facilitate this process. Gatekeepers, however, may also hinder the development of research, and contribute to changing its scope entirely. This colloquium aims to offer a space for inter- and cross-disciplinary discussion on the difference that gatekeepers make to research. We invite abstracts addressing the theme of the colloquium - deadline 1 March 2011. Read further |
Longitudinal Data Analysis The focus is on panel data containing repeated measures. Topics include: methods for exploring longitudinal data; modelling repeated measures data for continuous and categorical responses; population average and random effects models; handling complex survey designs, weights and non-response. Read further |
Understanding Society/BHPS Conference International conference for longitudinal data and research. Call for papers open. Deadline March 15. Read further |
Reporting qualitative data This one day course is designed to provide researchers with core skills in writing reports based on analysis of qualitative data. It will focus on the techniques needed to display qualitative evidence effectively in both stand-alone qualitative and integrated mixed method reports. The course will be delivered through a mixture of taught sessions and practical exercises by members of the Qualitative Research Unit at the National Centre for Social Research. This course will be useful to you if you are experienced in other aspects of qualitative research such as data collection or analysis, but are new to writing reports. Read further |
Introduction to the National Pupil Database Lorraine Dearden Rebecca Allen This course will introduce people to the National Pupil Database (NPD). Elements of the NPD are routinely used by schools, local authorities, parents, government departments and academic researchers to look at a wide range of educational issues. This course will outline the structure of the data, its strengths and weaknesses, the best way to use the data given these strengths and weaknesses, and show examples of how the data has been used appropriately and inappropriately by different interest groups. Read further (opens a .pdf file) |
Presenting Qualitative Data at Conferences Presenting findings from your research at conferences is one of the key tasks of a qualitative researcher. This two day course, run by the Health Experiences Research Group at the University of Oxford, aims to develop participants’ skills and confidence in designing and delivering a conference presentation based on their research. The course is aimed at health professionals, researchers and postgraduate students with little or no experience of presenting at conferences. Numbers are limited to allow maximum time for individual practice and feedback. Read further |
Quantitative Analysis Using the National Pupil Database The focus of this course is to introduce students to the different methods that students can use analysing the NPD. Students will be introduced to different quantitative methods that can be used with the NPD and highlight the strength and weaknesses of these approaches. All sessions will involve actually using these different methods on data that looks like the NPD to examine questions like the impact of being in a grant maintained school on academic achievement and the impact of a mentoring program on student achievement. Read further (opens a .pdf file) |
ESSA Summer School on Agent-Based Modelling (bursaries available) The Summer school is aimed at those who have a basic understanding of social simulation and are taking their first steps in agent-based modelling. It is expected that most participants will be actively engaged in developing a simulation model. The programme will consist of two lectures per day from experienced modellers, together with group sessions led by experienced researchers when participants can discuss their modelling plans and experience. The lectures will focus on the stories behind successful examples of agent-based modelling, and will cover issues from defining a research question to writing effective reports. Read further |
LSE Summer School in Survey Methods and Analysis This three-week course develops an understanding of all of the key areas of survey methodology, from data collection to sampling, to questionnaire design and testing, to the analysis of survey data. The instructors are from the LSE’s Methodology Institute, the University of Michigan’s Summer Institute in Survey Research Techniques, and National Centre for Social Research’s (NatCen) Questionnaire Development and Testing Hub. The course is aimed at graduate students, early career academic researchers, researchers in the public and private sector, and managers/commissioners of research in the public, private and third sectors. Read further |