The National Centre for Research Methods invites expressions of interest from PhD applicants interested in research methods development as a significant part of their study. NCRM includes the Universities of Southampton, Manchester and Edinburgh. It is funded by ESRC to increase the quality and range of methodological approaches used by UK social scientists through a programme of training and capacity building, and with driving forward methodological development and innovation through its own research. Part of this work involves supporting the research of doctoral students. Current students are addressing topics of methodological pluralism, methodological innovation, depth and breadth in methods training, the potential of digital technologies for teaching research methods, non-response in surveys, working with new biosocial data, and compensating for missing data.
Successful applicants will work with leading methodologists in NCRM in the social sciences and related disciplines; we are particularly interested in projects developing: new forms of data collection; online survey data collection; survey methodology; statistical modelling; paradata; administrative data; data linkage; longitudinal research; research ethics; research methods pedagogy; using mixed methods in innovative ways; participatory or inclusive research; secondary analysis of qualitative data; and historical comparative (micro) research. You should discuss your interest in a methods-oriented topic with a methodologist from NCRM before developing a proposal for consideration in one of our institutions/one of our ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships (South Coast DTP, North West Social Science DTP, Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences DTP). Contact our research administrator Penny White P.C.White@soton.ac.uk in the first instance to note your interest and identify an expert in your field.
Funding Notes
Fully funded ESRC DTP PhD studentships are becoming available to apply for. Funding is available to UK applicants and will cover tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at the standard ESRC rate (currently, £14,296 per year) starting from October 2017.