Innovation in research methods

 

The Hub has conducted or collaborated on various research projects on innovation in research methods. Our interest has been in exploring what comprises innovation and how and why some developments or 'innovations' in methods achieve breakthrough status in terms of uptake and use in the social science community while others do not.

Specific research questions are i) What is methodological innovation? ii) What is the history of specific innovations in terms of their uptake and use? iii) How are they used and adapted in different disciplines? and iv) How are the methods publicised and promoted, and what impact has this had on their uptake?

 

Publications from these projects include:

 

Jaimie Ellis (PhD student at the Hub) conducted her research into socially excluded groups, specifically setting to discover what innovative methods are appropriate to be used in conducting research with children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) that captures their experiences and their social worlds. 11 students aged 11-15 years and diagnosed with ASC participated in the study and six methods were utilised. The students participated in writing an essay about one’s perceived futures; taking photographs of people, places and objects which are considered special; designing and making a patchwork quilt to reflect one’s personality; and writing and performing a documentary about their lives. In conjunction with these tasks observations of the students were made as well as their parents/ carers and teachers interviewed.


Staff

Rose Wiles, Melanie Nind and Graham Crow (NCRM Hub)