Principal speaker
Dr Judy Rose
Other speakers
Associate Professor Sam Low-Choy
This workshop is the first in a two-part series about critical inquiry of method. This first workshop aims to provide guidance on how to transparently describe and justify a method, regardless of whether it is qualitative, quantitative, or mixed (qual/quant). We present published examples of studies where methods (or their reporting) have been assessed as flawed, biased or discredited in some way. We then provide better examples having clear explanations of aim, rationale, and logic of the method when applied to a particular research question. There is also a responsibility to report benefits as well as biases and other limitations. We refer to quality criteria and checklists that can be used to support evaluation of published papers (or your own), using qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. Finally, we provide some strategies for moving to more critical inquiry about choice of method. Referring to published studies, exercises in small groups will assist you to reflect on how methods are reported and justified, especially how they help address research question(s).
Format: This workshop will be delivered, via an online mode. We adopt active learning approaches. Participants should aim to attend one each of Workshop 1 and Workshop 2 to gain full benefit.
Pre-requisites: While these workshops cater to all levels of experience, they are best attempted by researchers (including HDR candidates) who have already researched method choices, and are at least at the stage of proposing, applying or writing up a method. This means you have some basis for beginning the process of critical inquiry on method. For instance you could have completed a series of RED workshops (say 4-6) on a particular methodological topic.
Examples of RED topics include: • Statistical concepts and how to think statistically (4 sessions) • Statistical and Mixed Methods in Reproducible Research (seminar series) • Mixed Methods: Foundations (4 sessions) • Mixed Methods, in Action (5 sessions) • Surveys in the context of mixed methods (6 sessions) • Interviewing in the context of mixed methods (4 sessions) • Formulating and validating questions, for survey or interview (7 sessions) • Analysis of survey data (4 sessions) • Regression and extensions, for explainable and reproducible research (6 sessions) • Structural equation models (6 sessions) • Computation for statistical modelling (3 sessions) • Meta-analysis (6 sessions) • Use of expert knowledge in quantitative modelling (3 sessions) • Bayesian thinking (seminars and/or book reading) • The Case for Bayesian (paper reading).
Scholarly teaching aspect. This is the first time that these workshops are being delivered. Participants will be invited to focus groups or interviews, where they may share their feedback on this training, including what they would like to see covered in the future.
Pre-reading activity, before attending: Choose 2 journal articles that look at a similar research question. One week before the workshop you will be sent a link to a brief online survey, to add bibliographic details of the articles, and answer three questions. Please be prepared to share your responses in small groups, within the workshop.
Please note there are two sessions available:
Monday 22 November: 10:00am-1:00pm - general focus
Thursday 25 November: 10:00am-1:00pm - Arts Education and Law (AEL) focus
Part 2 of these workshops are expected to be conducted in late January 2022, date to be advised.
Acknowledgement: We gratefully acknowledge AEL Teaching and Development Grant scheme for funding to support development of these workshops.