Programme: Research Methods Rendezvous

I wonder how AI will change authoritarian governance and development

Speaker(s):

Chao-yo Cheng, Birkbeck, University of London

Abstract:

Researchers and advocates have noted the growing use of artificial intelligence technologies in daily authoritarian governance. I am collaborating with former colleagues in China and the United States on a new survey project. We aim to investigate how technologies such as facial recognition, tracking apps, and generative AI powered by large language models (LLMs) have reshaped the functioning of the Party-state apparatus. Preliminary qualitative evidence from focus groups suggests many local officials are concerned that the increasing presence and use of artificial intelligence could undermine their discretion and influence. Meanwhile, we are working on a new project to explore how different LLMs in the United States and China, through exercises such as prompt engineering, fine-tuning and simulations, can aid in studying public opinions in dictatorships and other politically challenging environments.

I wonder how we could operationalize everyday organizational practices

Speaker(s):

Iikka Meriläinen, University of Oulu

Abstract:

This session explores how abstract concepts of everyday organisational practices, drawing on Schatzki and Reckwitz, can be translated into measurable and comparable entities. It considers the challenge of moving from descriptions of routines, embodied know-how, and material arrangements to a level of systematicity that allows for benchmarking practices across different organisations. The talk outlines potential approaches such as ethnographic observation, process mapping and other mixed-methods setups, that could systematically capture the frequency, sequence and material context of practices to be operationalised. The session aims to open a discussion on which methods might best illuminate such routine actions in a way that is sufficiently objective for comparative examination. Ideally, participants’ practical experiences and ideas will enrich the session and contribute to methodological development during the interregnum.

I wonder how we can better understand behaviour in a fast-changing and complex world?

Speaker(s):

Emily Oliver and Benjamin Rigby, Newcastle University's Centre for Behaviour

Abstract:

This session discusses the need to evolve our methods of conceptualising, capturing, and examining behavioural data in real-life environments, if we are to meaningfully understand, predict and change how people behave. The emergence of a wide range of exciting new behavioural datasets presents great promise, alongside both valid and at times exaggerated ethical and public concerns. I wonder how we can better use available data while building and maintaining public trust? We additionally need to discuss how to maximise opportunities as a community to design and deliver research that can move us past traditional blocks and failures (e.g., how to drive sustainable behaviour change; how to change population behaviour at scale) to prioritise research pursuit based on global and local needs, rather than data availability (or lack of). Lastly, we aim to discuss whether our methods are ‘up to scratch’ in exploring behaviour when the environments, places and spaces in which behaviour happens are often rapidly and radically changing.

I wonder if words are entirely the problem?

Speaker(s):

Charlotte Marshall, Nottingham Trent University

Abstract:

Was Foucault on to something when he said words are entirely the problem? Did Lyotard prepare us for the language game? The more time I spend in creative research spaces the more I hear about the heaviness of words and the problems of using existing language structures. In this lightening talk, using other means of communication, we will think with what could happen if we relied less on words and more on making tools to dismantle the master's house.

I wonder how ageing and disability activists can learn from one another?

Speaker(s):

Catherine Marie Pemble, University of Stirling

Abstract:

British Disability Studies has long been shaped by disabled activists and scholars, from UPIAS’s foundational principles to contemporary voices like Carol Thomas and Tom Shakespeare. It has a long history of grappling with critical issues, from the body’s role in disability to institutionalisation, independence, and inclusion. Contemporary dementia studies increasingly mirrors these discussions yet rarely engages with either Disability Studies’ rich literature or its potential insights into the experiences of people living with dementia. This represents a missed opportunity for collaboration. This talk queries how we might identify the theoretical, systematic, and interpersonal barriers and facilitators to integration between ageing and disability theory and activism. It also asks how emancipatory and co-productive methodologies could contribute to meaningful research—not only to better understand these barriers but to create outputs that enable stakeholders to overcome them more effectively.

I wonder if autistic girls and young women are more adept at recognising the early signs of a potentially abusive relationship with a partner?

Speaker(s):

Chris Magill, University of Brighton

Abstract:

My wondering should be selected because there are intersections of invisibility around autistic young people who experience, or are at risk of experiencing, intimate partner violence. Abusive behaviour between adolescents in intimate relationships remains relatively unseen. This is due, in part, to a persistent, unfounded assumption that domestic abuse is something that only occurs between adults. Intimate partner abuse is an under-researched experience in autistic people’s lives. However, there is emerging evidence suggesting autistic people may be more likely to have been victimized than non-autistic people. Alongside these intersecting invisibilities, this wondering is timely. There is growing recognition of autism in girls, and their experiences in relation to, for example, missed or late diagnosis, due to differences in presentation. There is also increasing concern about high profile, on-line influencers (‘manfluencers’) pushing harmful masculinist ideologies towards the younger generation and how this is impacting on attitudes and behaviour towards young women and girls. On an official level, the UK Parliament has recently proposed a special inquiry committee to carry out post-legislative scrutiny of the Autism Act 2009. The committee is due to conclude in November 2025.

I wonder if we can bring people that are politically polarised together to talk to each other and find common solutions to problems?

Speaker(s):

Rosario Aguilar, Newcastle Universtiy

Abstract:

Potential interventions to bring people together in non-competitive setting to talk to each other and work with each other to come up with solutions to local problems that are affecting them and other communities. For example, deterioration in social services, increasing grocery prices, increasing prices for leisure, etc. The idea is also to have them talking about what they expect from their government and what principles should the government and politicians follow when governing. In other words, have people think and discuss on their expectations towards the government, parties and politicians and ways to keep them accountable. Thus, it would be a two-tiered intervention to bring them together, identify the problems they face even if they don’t agree in politics, work together and deliverer on their expectations and how to keep politicians and government accountable.

I wonder why states collaborate on intelligence collection and analysis?

Speaker(s):

Cynthia M. Nolan, American Public University System

Abstract:

I wonder why states collaborate on intelligence collection and analysis actually starts with failure. Intelligence failures are often very public events and the rest of the world wonders what the solutions to these failures could be. Surely someone knew (so the thinking goes) that something was going wrong. Surely someone had access to the intelligence that would have prevented this failure (or so most people think). This research project will work with the collective assumptions that most observers make on intelligence failures and asks whether collaboration avoids failure. In the aftermath of 9/11, a failure of communication within the American intelligence community was widely blamed for "not connecting the dots." Assuming that the same lessons learned from intrastate collaboration can be applied to interstate collaboration, this research would potentially ask: Can a network of intelligence cooperation solve intelligence failures and when is that cooperation most likely?

I wonder how we could use behaviour science methods to make campaigning and policy more effective?

Speaker(s):

Morgan Brown , Royal British Legion

Abstract:

Behaviour science encompasses a range of theories, methods, and tools that can be used to understand and change behaviour. Behavioural science has been used by public policymakers. However, this typically happens retroactively, for example as a way of trying to make an established regulation more effectively followed. What if these considerations were made at the earlier stages of policy asks and campaigning? Behaviour science could be used to identify behaviours or actors that influence a policy’s aims, allowing these to be considered and accounted for at the earlier stages of policy positions. But how exactly can this be accomplished? What issues might arise in trying to integrate these areas, and how could they be resolved? These questions can be explored using the case study of one of the largest UK Armed Forces charities.

I wonder how Natural Language Processing methods compare to traditional text analysis in social science research

Speaker(s):

Shunqi Zhang, University of Southampton

Abstract:

This lightning talk explores the strengths and limitations of Natural Language Processing (NLP) in social science research, drawn from our projects in education. We will begin with an introduction to NLP and key methods, followed by examples of how these techniques can complement traditional analytical approaches:

• Analysing public perceptions of mathematics through topic modelling and sentiment analysis of social media discussions.
• Applying NLP to interview data from existing projects to compare insights with those obtained through conventional qualitative analysis.

Our goal is to demystify NLP tools, highlight their potential applications, and critically examine their challenges.

I wonder how to effectively study online disinformation

Speaker(s):

Vassilis Routsis, UCL

Abstract:

Disinformation is not new on social media platforms, but recent developments have amplified its impact on society. With developments like the explosive growth of platforms like TikTok and Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, the ways people consume and share information online are constantly changing. The emergence of accessible generative AI technology has made creating and distributing false or misleading content easier than ever. Today, disinformation spreads rapidly across networks, often using sensational headlines, deep fakes, and manipulated visuals to capture attention and shape opinions. It takes many forms - from political propaganda and health myths to fabricated news stories and conspiracy theories. Disinformation is designed to exploit human emotions, biases, and trust in familiar sources. This digital landscape makes it challenging to discern truth from fiction, affecting public discourse, influencing elections, and even altering social norms.

I wonder how we ensure off-line human behaviour measurement belongs to social scientists, not only digital platforms?

Speaker(s):

Anne Motan, Kingston University London

Abstract:

There has been a considerable rise in the collection and analysis of egocentric or first-person video to support the development of applications for wearable computing. In addition, the platforms (Meta, Google) expect to commercialise wearable computing in the coming year. Wearable computing will of necessity measure physical human behaviour, the domain of social science. Unless we develop a research methodology that can passively and independently collect human behaviour data, the platforms will determine our access to this data. The technology is available, but the cost of scaling the measurement system as the industry did with audience-peoplemeters and till-purchase data is beyond the capacity of the research industry. I wonder if there is the will or how we could create the capacity for the research industry to invest in an independent passive scale measurement methodology for human behaviour.

I wonder in what ways we can reimagine belonging in sport for South Asian and Muslim heritage communities in the UK if we take a decolonising approach to sports research methodologies?

Speaker(s):

Pamela Jabbar ,

Abstract:

Reimagining invites us to revisit the master's tools and their complicity in maintaining the master's house (Lorde 1983). Rather than dismantle and discard Western ideas and techniques, this talk is an invitation to imagine new tools, new houses, and new ways of knowing (Mignolo and Walsh 2018); to repurpose existing tools, develop new methods that hold the spirit of decolonising values and position new ways of knowing within non-hierarchical systems of knowledge production (Spivak, 1988, Smith, 2022). The turn to non-extractive, non-exploitative, storytelling and story-catching, and not data-snatching research methods is an act of resistance. Calling us to resist dominant ways of knowing and knowledge production, and embrace “epistemic disobedience” (Mignolo 2009). Decolonising methodologies promise collective knowledge co-creation, shifting power relations that decentre the researcher and privilege the knowledge-holder. However, translating and operationalising decolonial principles into concrete research methods remains difficult due to a lack of practical protocols. In this research methods rendezvous (RMR) I seek collaborations to co-design context-specific, participatory practices that foreground multi-voiced, collectively situated knowledge creation. I take the specific example of sport to work through an idea of “subaltern hauntology” (as collectively unheard hauntings of lost futures). Specifically, I ask: a) How do the spectres of Empire, colonial histories, and the colonial matrix of power persist and (re)surface as “ghosts” of lost futures in subaltern sporting experiences? b) How might decolonising approaches offer new reinterpretations of “exclusion” as resistance and agentic mechanisms of belonging for South Asian and Muslim heritage communities in the UK?

I wonder how qualitative research methodologies can be adapted to truly co-produce knowledge with marginalised communities, ensuring that they are not just participants but equal partners in shaping research outcomes?

Speaker(s):

Valerie Chung, Raquel Caires Januario, Elaine Brown and Sylvana Walcott, Sedulous Collective CIC

Abstract:

In this lightning talk, I explore the question: "I wonder how qualitative research methodologies can be adapted to truly co-produce knowledge with marginalised communities, ensuring that they are not just participants but equal partners in shaping research outcomes?" Traditional qualitative research often extracts knowledge from communities rather than centring them as co-creators. At Sedulous Collective, we challenge this by embracing non-extractive, participatory and decolonised research approaches that prioritise equity, reciprocity and shared power. I will discuss how methodologies such as ethnography, grounded theory and participatory action research can be adapted to foster meaningful collaboration. Using real-world examples, I’ll reflect on the challenges and ethical tensions in co-production and invite discussion on how researchers can shift from knowledge extraction to co-creation. How can we reshape research relationships so that communities are not just researched but are recognised as producers of knowledge, policy and change?

I wonder how to TRULY flip the Research Model - allowing the community to lead, decolonise, and do the research.

Speaker(s):

Holly-Gale Millette, University of Southampton

Abstract:

This session explores if we as ‘visibly white’, traditionally imperialistic, assumed-to-be-privileged researchers can ever truly flip the research model in circumstances where decolonisation and reparation is on the table. Specifically, how might we do ethnography and oral history when surrounded by theoretical, systemic and interpersonal barriers. This talk also addresses the disparities and inequalities in research administration that further act as barriers to longitudinal and public engaged research. This presents us with a ‘double bind’ as these are key priorities for most our institutions and for UKRI now. Central to this talk is the failure of my own research projects to engage communities, emancipate participants through action, or co-produce methods and objectives. Nevertheless, this data stands as an impactful argument for a systemic shift within the academy and in how, it insists, research is conducted, funded and measured.

I wonder how we might break the link between wealth and health?

Speaker(s):

Emilie McSwiggan, University of Edinburgh

Abstract:

We pay for poverty with years of our life. In patterns seen within and between countries, people with less money and fewer resources tend to have poorer health & shorter lives than their wealthier counterparts, with differences that can span years or decades. This seems a fundamental injustice which demands action. Through this wondering, I want to explore: Are health inequalities inevitable, for as long as wealth inequalities exist? If so, what does that mean for those of us working in public health and related fields, in terms of what issues we put our energy and resources into resolving? Or if this link is not inevitable, what could we be doing better now, so that money matters much less for people's life chances? And what are the ethical issues at stake, in either way of approaching this challenge?

I wonder when (or if) ‘fieldwork’ really begins or ends

Speaker(s):

Lucrezia Gigante and Manas Murthy Kallakuri, University of Glasgow

Abstract:

We will revisit some of our fieldwork experiences to interrogate - through introspection – when our respective engagements with the ‘field’ really began. We argue that often in field-based qualitative research, there is a tendency to treat the ‘field’ as a finite and distant space (and time), that is separate from the researcher. This seemingly also extends to the people, objects, and phenomena we study. However, often, in practice, we find ourselves leaning on our predilections and past experiences to reframe and look at the ‘field’ in our own way. Our emotions often even dictate what we choose to study in the first place, bringing the ‘field’ into the fold of our affective world. Consequently, maybe fieldwork does not really only begin when we ‘enter the field’ (the geography we set out to study), nor does it end when we leave it.

I wonder what would help people to embrace and take part in the 'everyday prevention' of sexual harm?

Speaker(s):

Rhys Turner-Moore, Leeds Beckett University

Abstract:

There are lots of examples of everyday experiences and activism online. For example, everyday sexism, everyday victim-blaming, everyday feminism. These fulfill an important purpose in providing a place for people to share their experiences, feel heard, and learn from others. However, the concept of the 'everyday' hasn't been applied to preventing sexual harm, such as sexual violence and abuse. People tend to see sexual harm as something that is inevitable and unpreventable. However, I believe that there are small everyday steps that we can all take to collectively create a world free from sexual violence and abuse. For example, engaging in dialogue with those around us (e.g. neighbours, family, friends, taxi drivers, people on social media) or challenging poor media representations or use of language (e.g. via social media, online posts, file a complaint with the news source). I wonder what it would take to help people embrace the idea of the 'everyday prevention' of sexual harm, feel inspired to take part in it, and to collectively build a public movement towards preventing sexual harm?

I wonder how we can use digital trace data to validate the accuracy of self-reported measures of online activity in conventional survey data

Speaker(s):

Conor Gaughan, University of Manchester

Abstract:

Survey data is commonly considered to be the gold standard in social and political research. However, it is well-established that reliance on self-reported measures are fraught with measurement bias, where there is a mismatch between what a respondent reports about their attitudes and behaviours, and what they actually think and do. I wonder how we can use a respondent’s digital trace data such as their social media activity or web browsing history to assess and validate the accuracy of their self-reported measures of online behaviour in conventional survey data. Specifically, I would like to discuss the ways in which we could do this methodologically, the theoretical and ethical considerations that we would need to make, and the sorts of research questions that this could help answer for us as social scientists.

I Wonder: Whose Story Gets Told in International Law?

Speaker(s):

Emma Nyhan, University of Manchester

Abstract:

In this lightning talk, I explore how methodological choices shape the narratives we construct in international law - and how more inclusive approaches might help amplify marginalised voices. Using Australia’s engagement with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the 1996 nuclear weapons advisory proceedings as a case study, I draw on archival research to examine its support for a preliminary objections’ procedure - an approach shared only with France. This move, often seen as a legal technicality, also functioned as a narrative strategy, which influenced the outcome of the case and how it has been remembered in legal scholarship. Through a combination of archival research, critical legal studies, and discourse analysis, I trace how procedural arguments and dominant narratives elevated certain state voices - particularly those of Australia, France, the UK, and Japan - while sidelining or silencing others, such as the Marshall Islands. This talk invites reflection: What kinds of stories do dominant legal methodologies allow us to tell, and which ones do they leave out? And how might we develop more inclusive, critical approaches to international law - approaches that engage not only with its narratives, but also with its silences and absences?

I wonder how deeply personal research methods can be ethical.

Speaker(s):

Linjin Man, University of Birmingham

Abstract:

Introspective and deeply personal research methodologies, such as heuristic enquiry, elicit unexpected and unconscious insights, through researcher immersion and self-dialogue alongside participants' experiences. However, some practical and ethical dilemmas thereby emerged. Drawing from my heuristic research on the transition experiences of students with vision impairment to mainstream universities in China, this talk will share real moments where heuristic inquiry illuminated tacit and intuitive knowledge, leading to self-recognition, transformation, and shared emancipation. Meanwhile, emerged issues of research ethics are also posed for open discussion as follows: • Where is the threshold between self-disclosure and self-protection? • How do we balance immersion in research with personal life? • How can we document, analyze, and present spontaneous insights and lived experiences in a manageable way? By sharing both inspiring discoveries and unresolved tensions, this talk invites the audience to reflect on their own experiences and explore how to navigate the complexities of deep researcher immersion.

I wonder what creative use of research methods we can apply to understand how young people understand, experience, and engage with health information mediated through digital technologies.

Speaker(s):

Henry Mainsah, Oslo Metropolitan University

Abstract:

What do young people observe, sense, make, and document about themselves with digital technologies? What role do digital technologies play in mediating how people understand and feel about their bodies, health and well-being? What role can creative methods play in generating new understandings and awareness about the changing health information ecosystem that they are part of?

I wonder how to assess the impact of a major research training investment

Speaker(s):

James Hall, University of Southampton

Abstract:

Assessing the impact of major research training investments is complex and risks being underestimated. Traditional bibliometric indicators of research impact fail to capture wider influences on policy, practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This lightning talk will explore how impacts from major research training investments can cascade across individual, organisational, and national/societal levels, using the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) as a case study. We’ll examine how NCRM's training and capacity-building influenced decision-making in government, NGOs, and industry, sometimes in unexpected ways. But: Can we truly measure the long-term effects of investing in research capacity? And what happens when methodological innovation leads to creative, non-traditional outputs like Participatory Action Research, arts-based methods, or machine learning applications? This session invites discussion on rethinking impact evaluation methodologies to reflect the full breadth of a major research training investment’s role in shaping research culture and societal change. Attendees will leave with practical insights into alternative approaches to impact assessment.

I wonder if a combination of "MAIHDA" and intersectionality theory can be used to help policy makers uncover heterogeneous policy effects.

Speaker(s):

Andrew Bell, University of Sheffield

Abstract:

Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) is an innovative approach to analysing inequalities in society. In the MAIHDA approach, individuals are divided into intersectional strata, based on the combination of sociodemographic identity characteristics (for instance: gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status). The method has a number of good statistical properties that allow for reliable calculation of inequalities, in diverse outcomes. We are interested in using a MAIHDA framework to consider inequalities in the effects of policies. That is not only “Are these groups different?”, but “Is the effect of this policy different in different groups?” To do so requires more advanced versions of MAIHDA, utilising random slopes models, but also presents challenges relating to data formats, statistical power, challenges with non-continuous outcomes, different policy implementation, and theoretical understanding in the face of statistical complexity. We hope to work through these challenges here, and through our ESRC-funded grant.

How can we model, understand and influence complex behaviours and their contexts?

Speaker(s):

Emily Oliver, Benjamin Rigby, Newcastle University

Abstract:

This session will bring together participants with a range of disciplinary and methodological expertise to form catalyst pods for rapidly developing project grant ideas. Broadly, the session will foster open discussion and debate (amongst all attendees) focusing on: i) identifying the contexts and topics where improving our approaches to modelling and influencing behaviour is most critical; and ii) cultivating methodological solutions that may facilitate rapid advancement in these priority areas. We will bring examples of challenging areas and topics where we think creative methodological collaboration could be useful and will invite others to do the same. Please do bring along any challenges or contentious ideas in your home disciplinary, methodological and applied spaces; a further output of the session is anticipated to be a published ‘thought piece’ highlighting the areas identified and any commonalities between them.

How can we lighten the load of language?

Speaker(s):

Charlotte Marshall , Nottingham Trent University

Abstract:

In Rendezvous One, the lightening 'talk' was light on words but certainly spoke with power. From the stream of messages, to the emoji reactions, to the attendee that responded in BSL, language was loosened. In Rendezvous Two, the session will explore how language can be diffracted to inspire, encourage, and empower research methods.

How can we help people to embrace and take part in the 'everyday prevention' of sexual harm?

Speaker(s):

Rhys Turner-Moore, Leeds Beckett University

Abstract:

People tend to see sexual harm - such as sexual violence and sexual abuse - as something that is inevitable and unpreventable. However, I believe that there are small everyday steps that we can all take to create a world free from sexual harm. For example, maybe we read or share something on how to develop consent and care in our sexual relationships. Maybe we express support at our child’s school for Relationships and Sex Education. Or maybe there’s everyday conversations with family, friends or neighbours that provide an opening — maybe something in the news or something in their day — where there’s an opportunity to listen, share a helpful resource or offer a way of seeing the situation that dispels myths about sexual violence and abuse. I call this 'everyday prevention'. In this session, we will consider two ideas around how to help people embrace the concept of 'everyday prevention' and two ideas around how to help people to actually do 'everyday prevention'. Each idea will be explored in a breakout group and you will be invited to choose two breakout groups to join. In the breakout groups, you will have an opportunity to co-design solutions and research projects for that particular idea, and record these as text, images and hyperlinks on a digital bulletin board. Creative and participatory suggestions are particularly welcomed and encouraged. We will then reconvene altogether and look at each digital bulletin board to consider how each idea could be progressed to research and action.

How can we rethink fieldwork across disciplines?

Speaker(s):

Lucrezia Gigante, Manas Murthy Kallakuri , University of Glasgow

Abstract:

We propose a kitchen table session that invites multiple voices and perspectives to the wonder presented in our lightning talk. While dialogic and responsive in nature, the session will be structured around four key themes that have been co-selected with fellow attendees through board conversations and a group meeting. The themes include: - Positionality and Identity (insider/outsider status, place-based identity, lived experience, embodied knowledge) - Ethics and Institutional Constraints (bias, existing academic paradigms, cultural interpretations, and the pressures of institutional frameworks) - Temporality and Research Journeys (challenges, trauma from the field, time boundaries) - Methods and Tools (research skills and training) For each theme, we invite two respondents to share a vignette from their research experience, before opening the floor to reflections from the other participants in the session. The session’s overarching thread is discussing an alternative paradigm for fieldwork that reflects the complexities on the ground. We are aiming for people from all disciplines to reflect on their experiences as researchers to challenge the status quo as to what is acceptable or governed as fieldwork and as valid data within research. The output will be a co-produced manifesto on what’s next for fieldwork in academic research.

How can academics reach publics in meaningful ways, when their professional situatedness limits their manoeuvrability and perceived integrity in that space?

Speaker(s):

Dr. Holly-Gale Millette, University of Southampton

Abstract:

Can we talk? My institution's ethics form begins at 19 pages + 4 lengthy addendums... Yours? And getting approval is a minefield: “How are you going to protect the data if your subjects are leading the workshop/discussion/interview/”; “They may not view themselves as vulnerable, but you need to consider them this way”, and so forth. Do you, as I do, need to prove the worth of distrustful and damaged publics, half-way through an incomplete project (that may not even happen!) to secure future funding for its continuation? True, UKRI is now interested in ‘collaboration’, ‘innovation’ and ‘creative communities. But how do we involve publics meaningfully in research, when it may not feel appropriate for us to even be in the room? So, grab a coffee, check your privilege, and let’s have a kitchen-table style discussion on our bug bears, our creative research methods, and our workarounds when we meet our publics where they are. Maybe we can make something (a network, a toolkit, a failsafe, etc.) to buoy us!

How can we use art, community activities, and media to bring people together?

Speaker(s):

Rosario Aguilar, Newcastle Universtiy

Abstract:

In the Curiosity Lab setting we’ll be able to work in groups to discuss different approaches that we have to this question. It would be useful to think about how to create community, or bring people together who might think are very different from each other, before thinking on a specific policy outcome (i.e., environmental policy, etc.) The goal is to think about strategies to create networks/community who might disagree politically, but that disagreement won’t affect the core of the community. We could discuss theories that would explain how one strategy can bring people together, so we know what to expect and why! During the session, we could work in groups to think about what ideas could carry on for the project. We could also discuss whether there could be many projects, or a large umbrella project looking at different settings.

How can we combine "MAIHDA" and intersectionality theory to help policy makers uncover heterogeneous policy effects?

Speaker(s):

Andrew Bell, University of Sheffield

Abstract:

This session will start by introducing the Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) method, and the work that we have been doing to combine it with policy analysis techniques. The aim is to develop a method that allows us to uncover variation in policy effect sizes - that is, to see where policies that work on average actually only work for particular groups, and are ineffective (or even potentially cause harm) to other groups. Following an introduction, we will introduce two short presentations that show some of the work we are doing in this area relating to particular policies: national cancer screening policies, and online vs face-to-face primary care appointments. We will then introduce some of the challenges in implementing these methods, including conceptual, statistical, and data issues. This will be followed by discussion, in breakout groups, about how those challenges can be overcome.

How can we truly co-design research with marginalised communities within hierarchical systems? (How) Can we really do decolonial research within academic institutions that have not yet decolonised without it becoming performative?

Speaker(s):

Pamela Jabbar, Idependent

Abstract:

In Rendezvous Two, I invite the research community to an interactive and exploratory session to critically explore and reflect on our research projects through the lens of two critical questions and reflection points that have emerged from conversations with other RMR participants during the interregnum. 1) How can we truly co-design research with marginalised communities within hierarchical systems? 2) (How) Can we really do decolonial research within academic institutions that have not yet decolonised without it becoming performative? These questions interrogate broader debates within the research community, particularly when seeking to understand the tensions and conditions required to advance research methods innovation in our fields/disciplines (whether undertaking a decolonial approach or not). This session offers an opportunity to come together, reflect on the challenges of conducting (decolonial) ethical research, explore potential solutions, share resources, and showcase case studies of best practices. It invites participants to exchange ideas and knowledge while fostering a community of practitioners interested in co-design and/or decolonial methods. The session is an invitation to establish an active network of practitioners, scholars, activists, researchers, and creatives, interested in advancing theorising, dialoguing within and across disciplines, building praxis-led co-design research in partnership both inside/outside academia on (decolonial and anti-colonial) research methods, methodologies, and training. Format: Insight gathering - this is an open session that invites participants to bring case studies and experiences to explore and seek solutions to the critical questions and reflection points raised in session description. To reflect on deeper questions about who does research serve? How can we are a research community explore the conditions and tensions of doing decolonial and co-designed and ethical research within hierarchal systems and convert our wonderings into social projects that truly 'give back'. The format will be group discussions with a spirit of sharing, reflecting, and learning. By the end of the session we may leave with more questions than answers but in starting the conversation I hope we can build a community to explore our insights further.

How can best conduct research if autistic girls and young women are more adept at recognising the early signs of a potentially abusive intimate partner relationship (and, if so, how)? What methodology (or methodologies) would then themselves to such research?

Speaker(s):

Chris Magill, University of Brighton

Abstract:

In this session I wish to invite participants to join me in thinking creatively about how to approach research involving autistics girls and young women to explore if they are more adept at recognising the early signs of a potentially abuse intimate partner relations (and, of so, how?) Key challenges to consider – differences and diversity across the autistic community; co-occurring neurodiversity; appropriate language; untangling traits (over empathy, missing social cues, difficulties in communication) and behaviour; complexities relating to the recognition of the early signs of a potentially abusive relationship (earlier or later compared to neurotypical peers?) and response (e.g. reporting, recognition there but still more at risk?). In my curiosity lab, I would like to invite participants to join me in unpacking such challenges, identifying further challenges, and, hopefully, reflecting on possible solutions. I hope to end the session with at least five research questions (or objectives) designed to answer my initial wondering. I am also keen to develop an informal academic network for those interested in working collaboratively to develop a fuller research proposal.

Living the Research: Ethics, Possibilities, and the Messiness of Deeply Personal Research Methods

Speaker(s):

Linjin Man, University of Birmingham

Abstract:

Building on stage one wonderings, this kitchen table session dialogues on lived research experiences of possibilities and messiness that arise when researchers are deeply and personally involved in their work. We will not aim to give structural guidance but instead embrace flexibilities from multiple perspectives across traditions such as heuristic inquiry, feminist research, and autoethnography. Contributors will begin by sharing short stories and challenges of how personal insights have emerged — through fieldwork, reflection, or everyday encounters — and how they were documented, evaluated, and incorporated into research. We will then invite participants to reflect on their own practice: imagining how their research might look if approached with either more personal involvement or more detachment, and considering what new possibilities or risks this shift could create. Together we will exchange practices, strategies, and perspectives — even from non-personal methods — to elicit nuanced insights and to navigate the messiness of deeply personal research.

How can we use Coproduction to close the gap between ageing and disability research?

Speaker(s):

Catherine Pemble, University of Stirling

Abstract:

This session builds on the initial question "I wonder how ageing and disability activists can learn from one another?" to think through both the fundamental aspects and practical logistics of a potential collaborative project. This kitchen table session is hosted by two researchers with extensive co-productive experience: Dr Catherine Pemble (ageing and dementia studies) and Dr Dianne Theakstone (housing studies, social work, and disability). This session will grapple with key questions around building a co-productive project examining the barriers between ageing, dementia, and disability, from fundamental questions around whether the project is advocating for the right approach, to pragmatic issues of coproduction.

How can we operationalize everyday organizational practices?

Speaker(s):

Iikka Meriläinen, University of Oulu

Abstract:

Why do organizational practices matter? Why should we be interested in their similarities? When stakeholders perceive another organization’s practices as similar to their own, research on homophily suggests those organizations are more likely to associate with each other. These interorganizational dyads constitute proxies for organizational legitimacy. To examine this pathway rigorously, one must be able to operationalize everyday organizational practices, preferably without reducing them to thin “variables”. Drawing on practice theories, we treat a practice as a patterned constellation of doings, sayings, rules, emotions and material arrangements that cannot be decomposed into single elements. We consider an organization’s practice configuration as an evolving pattern of presence, absence and salience of these elements across time, and acknowledge that different audiences may perceive these configurations differently. The session will 1) co‑define “everyday organizational practice” in plain language, 2) shortlist traceable proxies for perceived similarity (e.g., documents, routines, artefacts), and 3) draft a pilot comparative research design to test the link between perceived similarity, tie formation and organizational legitimacy. The goal is a portable, interdisciplinary methodology for studying how practice perceptions influence interorganizational tie formation and organizational legitimacy.

How can we co-create research that communities both shape and share?

Speaker(s):

Raquel Caires Januario, Valerie Chung, Elaine Brown, Sylvana Walcott, Sedulous Collective CIC

Abstract:

This session explores how researchers and communities can move beyond tokenistic participation to genuine co-production. Ensuring communities are equal partners not only in shaping research but also in sharing its outcomes. Building on discussions from Rendezvous One, we focus on two recurring challenges: recruiting marginalised communities with trust and respect, and disseminating knowledge in ways that go beyond academic papers. Through collaborative activities, co-creators will reflect on the barriers they have faced, share creative recruitment and dissemination strategies, and consider how research outcomes can remain community-owned to create a lasting impact.

How can we tell the story of the health costs of financial inequity, in ways that might shape fresh ideas of fairness and values-based decision-making?

Speaker(s):

Emilie McSwiggan, University of Edinburgh

Abstract:

As the next step in this project, I am interested in working towards the creation of a training or educational resource for people who develop welfare (and related) policies: exploring the human story of poverty and health inequalities, and how it links to their work. During the Interregnum, we began to discuss how complex the story of poverty and health inequalities is, and we’ve acknowledged that this is often not well-understood in policy or research. Scotland’s Poverty Alliance discusses the importance of a ‘values first’ approach (one led by ideas of justice, fairness and common humanity) to build consensus and action on reducing poverty. In this session, I want to work with participants to explore how we could tell the story of the human cost of financial inequity, in terms of loss of health & lifespan, in collaboration with people and communities who have been directly affected. I want to think through how we might use this to help inform ‘values first’ decision-making on economic and welfare policies, and who an appropriate target audience might be. I’d like to take this forward beyond Session 2, with RMR participants and community partners. I’ll set up a Teams channel and mailing list as initial spaces for continued contact and collaboration – although we can change our mode of communication depending on what works best for the group as a whole.

How can we use Natural Language Processing methods to analyse interview transcripts?

Speaker(s):

Shunqi Zhang, Maria Pampaka, Laura Black Zhongyan Chen, Sophina Choudry, University of Southampton

Abstract:

One major challenge of the analysis of interview transcripts is the high amount of time required for manual analysis. In this session, we wish to explore how Natural Language Processing (NLP) methods can speed up transcript analysis with methods such as topic modelling and sentiment analysis. We will share some preliminary results of our application of topic modelling with transcripts also used for earlier published work to start the discussion. Then, we wish to collaborate towards a co-produced journal article that promotes applying NLP methods in social science (and in particular qualitative interviews analyses).. In this session, our aim is to explore NLP techniques for analysing interview transcripts, with two main goals: To gain quantitative insights from qualitative data, and To support and enhance the analysis process itself. We will demonstrate these techniques using material from our previous projects. However, we are also keen to co-produce a journal article with session participants to reflect a shared understanding of how NLP can be applied in broader social science contexts. To that end, we warmly invite participants to contribute in various ways. If they have applied NLP techniques in their own research, we encourage them to bring examples to share during the session. If not, we welcome contributions in the form of thoughts, concerns, or even raw materials that could be analysed during the session. These contributions will help shape the article and ensure it reflects diverse perspectives and practices.

How can we tell stories differently?

Speaker(s):

Emma Nyhan, University of Manchester

Abstract:

How do our academic and non-academic backgrounds shape the stories we notice - and the ones we tell? This workshop invites everyone, including those with little or no knowledge of law, to explore international law issues through images and videos from real events. Participants will bring their disciplinary expertise to the table as we practice seeing, interpreting, and sharing stories. The session encourages participants not only to think beyond disciplinary boundaries but also to 'stay with trouble,' as Donna Haraway puts it, exploring the challenges and complexities of global issues in a creative and engaged way. My aim, and that of the participants, is to co-create interdisciplinary and grounded stories of international law that challenge dominant narratives and foster more inclusive ways of describing and analysing the world. The session will aim to produce a skeleton of a project proposal for a funding application (£30,000), incorporating ideas and materials co-created during the session. Participants, along with the session lead, will gain a clearer, interdisciplinary understanding of the project’s aims, methodology, and storytelling approach, and feel equipped to develop it further into a competitive grant application. The session will further enhance disciplinary collaboration and shared insight among participants about framing international law creatively and inclusively

How can we explore the adoption of AI technologies and its impact on authoritarian governance?

Speaker(s):

Chao-Yo Cheng, Birkbeck, University of London

Abstract:

This workshop examines AI technology adoption in subnational authoritarian governance. We will develop a conceptual framework integrating different empirical approaches to analyze how these technologies shape government responsiveness and regime stability. First, we will try to establish a typology of governance technologies, distinguishing their functional characteristics and political implications. This enables systematic analysis of how technological configurations affect state-society relations and authoritarian resilience. We will then address the comparative scope of this project, considering cross-national and/or within-country strategies. This segment aims to evaluate multiple approaches, such as focus groups, elite interviews, survey research, and computational analysis of policy documents, with attention to ethical and practical research challenges in non-democratic settings. Finally, we explore using large language models to generate synthetic data for studying public opinion and political participation in restrictive environments. Through discussion and exercises, participants critically assess analytical opportunities and risks of AI-generated data in authoritarian contexts .The output will be a theoretically informed and practically feasible research design. Format: The workshop can use multiple formats in each stage. The first two stages (conceptualization and typology; scope condition and comparative research) can use "Curiosity lab." The last two stages on methods and design can use "In the studio."