Making Methods Matter: Inspiring Students to Value Research Skills in Politics and Int Relations
Date:
23/05/2012
Organised by:
University of Southampton
Presenter:
Dr Clare Saunders
Level:
Entry (no or almost no prior knowledge)
Contact:
Clare Saunders Email. c.e.saunders@soton.ac.uk
Location:
View in Google Maps (SO17 1BJ)
Venue:
Social Sciences, Murray Building, Salisbury Road, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton
We have four guest speakers; Professor Sandra Halperin, Dr Oliver Heath, Dr Jonathan Parker and Dr Emily Clough, who will be discussing their positive experiences of teaching research skills in politics and international relations.
Professor Sandra Halperin and Dr Oliver Heath will be talking about elements of their recent publication on research in politics and international relations; Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (OUP, 2012). Their work demonstrates an approach to teaching methods to both MSc's and undergraduate students in a way that encompasses an overview of key issues in the philosophy of social science. It also combines a comprehensive guide to designing and completing the various phases of a research project, with details of the different methods of data collection and analysis that can be used to answer research questions.
Dr Jonathan Parker will be talking about methods teaching as a programme responsibility. He emphasizes the point that research methods teaching shouldn't begin and end with one module on methods, instead advocating full integration of research methods throughout the degree programme. He proposes a collaborative bid which reflects a great deal of evaluation, suggesting a summative student survey be applied across the board. This should ask students a range of questions in order to gauge the student experience of research methods and the extent to which they perceive its presence and effectiveness.
Dr Emily Clough is currently embarking upon an ESRC funded project to create materials for teaching quantitative methods through substantive modules and will be discussing in part what she has proposed. She will also be talking about her use of student editorials/critiques of the use of statistics in the media. She will convey her experience of students reflectively expressing appreciation for the way in which a quantitative methods class has critically altered the way in which they approach news stories.
To realise the second aim, we shall present our idea of creating audio visual recorded interviews with eminent political science methodologists. We believe that this very hands-on style of teaching allows students to better understand the challenges that researchers face when designing their research project than a standard lecture. In Politics and International Relations at the University of Southampton, we have already piloted a project that involves telephone recorded interviews with key methodologists. We ask students to listen to the interviews after reading a key article by the said academic. This helps them understand how scholars craft their research questions, and the decisions and compromises they have to make when shaping their research design. We will present our preliminary results before discussing, with delegates, how we might collaboratively generate open-access audio and visual interviews.
Programme
11:30-11:45 Welcome and agenda setting (Clare Saunders)
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Professor Sandra Halperin and Oliver Heath, with 10 minutes of discussion.
13:30 Dr Jonathan Parker, with 10 minutes of discussion.
14:00 Break
14:30 Dr Emily Clough, with 10 minutes of discussion
15:00 Results of pilot study of audio-recorded interviews, with 10 minutes of discussion
15:30 Talk from Steven Curtis (HEA) on funding options available, with questions.
16:00 Brainstorming ideas on how we might move forward with a collaborative bid.
17:00 Formal session ends.
18:00 Optional dinner at local restaurant.
Please let us know if you would like to join us for dinner in the evening and if you have any special dietary requirements.
Cost:
Free
Website and registration:
Region:
South East
Keywords:
Teaching and Supervising Research Methods
Related publications and presentations from our eprints archive:
Teaching and Supervising Research Methods