2018 will be the 8th biennial ESRC Research Methods Festival, a prestigious event attracting around 800 social science researchers and academics at various stages of their careers, from across disciplines and sectors.

The Festival will be held 3-5th July, 2018 at the University of Bath.

The provisional programme includes 58 methodological sessions consisting of 200+ presentations, activities and lively discussions. These include our session dedicated to Meeting the Challenges in Research Methods Teaching.

ABSTRACT

Teachers/trainers face the challenge of building competence with research methods. This session examines these challenges using the lens of pedagogic research in the field. Research has illuminated how practitioners are responding to the pedagogic challenges in the research methods arena. First, three researchers present evidence from their recent or current pedagogic studies. This is followed by an interactive workshop in which session participants use the typology from the Pedagogy of Methodological Learning study to share, explore and develop approaches, strategies, tactics and tasks for teaching different methods and responding to different challenges.

In this exciting session presentions include:

• Prof Graham Crow (University of Edinburgh) on ‘The Challenge of Research Methods Teaching’,
• Prof. Melanie Nind (University of Southampton) ‘Meeting the challenge of diversity among learners: Findings from the Pedagogy of Methodological Learning study’
• Dr Sarah Lewthwaite (University of Southampton) ‘Meeting the challenge of developing resources for teaching and learning research methods’ (discussing findings from the SRHE pedagogy of social science research methods textbooks scoping study)
• Debbie Collins (University of Southampton) ‘Meeting the challenge of teaching research methods online: Findings from the Pedagogy of Methodological Learning study’

Prof. Melanie Nind & Dr Sarah Lewthwaite will also be running an interactive session engaging delegates in ‘Planning for meeting the challenges: Making practical use of a typology from the Pedagogy of Methodological Learning study’. We hope to see you there!

Additionally, methods teachers will be interested to know NCRM’s WP6 on Quantitative Methods Pedagogy, and a new innovation project: Big Qual Analysis: Innovation in Methods and Pedagogy also have sessions in the programme on Wednesday 4th July.

In addition to these sessions, confirmed festival keynote speakers include: Professor Danny Dorling (Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at the University of Oxford), Professor Donna Mertens (Professor Emeritus at Gallaudet University, Washington D.C.) and Professor Nancy Cartwright (Professor of Philosophy at the University of Durham and the University of California).

Save the date and keep in touch with NCRM for the Festival updates through the NCRM festival pages.