Real Life Methods ran from October 2005 to January 2009. This website is archived and no longer maintained. For up to date information, please see www.manchester.ac.uk/realities
News Archive
Young Lives: Summary findings leaflet for schools
One of the research methods used on the Young Lives project is a questionnaire survey of young people aged 13-14. Respondents were asked about their experiences, attitudes and expectations for the future. A summary report on the survey findings, designed as feedback for pupils themselves, has now been sent to participating schools. More detailed analysis will be reported in-depth in academic journals and other outlets.
View the report on the schools survey [132Kb, opens in new window]
Date added: 29 October 2007
Venue change: Rethinking the qualitative interview
Due to the interest expressed in this workshop on 29 November 2007, we have changed the venue. Please check the webpage for new details.
Date added: 23 October 2007
Registration open: Researching Ethnicity
18 October 2007, University of Manchester. This workshop, looking at different ways of researching the topic of ethnicity, starts our 2007/08 Methods Workshop series. Please note that we are asking people to register in advance for these workshops this year. More information and registration >
Date added: 2 August 2007
Registration open: Rethinking the qualitative interview
29 November 2007, University of Manchester. This workshop is jointly hosted by Real Life Methods and the Qualitative Methods in Psychology Research Section. Speakers: Brendan Gough and Anna Madill. More information and registration >
Date added: 1 August 2007
Forthcoming Office Move: University of Manchester only
The Real Life Methods team, based at the University of Manchester will be moving offices on 17 July 2007. Due to this move the team may well be unavailable for much of the week (16-20 July).
The new offices will be based in the Arthur Lewis Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL.
The building is still being built and therefore does not yet appear on the campus map, however it will be located between numbers 35 and 36 (Bridgeford Street).
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/visitors/travel/maps/numerical/
If you require information about the move or are planning a visit, please contact Victoria Higham.
Date added: 19 June 2007
Workshop Full: Methodological challanges of using participatory methods
This workshop is now full, however we have started a waiting list, if you would like to be added to this list please still complete the online registration form.
Date added: 19 June 2007
Real Life Methods to host Professor Richard Chalfen as visiting fellow
Professor Richard Chalfen (Temple Univeristy, Philadelphia and Center on Media and Child Health, Boston) will be a visiting fellow of NCRM, based with the Real Life Methods team, for six weeks in autumn 2007. His fellowship is funded by the ESRC/SSRC Collaborative Transatlantic scheme and is entitled ‘Advancing Visual Methodology in Social Science’.
Professor Chalfen is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Temple University, Philadelphia, and Senior Scientist, Center on Media and Child Health, at the Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School, Boston. His research interests are the study of visual culture, specifically cultural analysis of indigenous media, of how cultures reveal themselves visually, and in particular a special interest in visually mediated representation of home, family, and community life including the production, content, use, meaning and interpretation of visual images as they appear and are seen as part of everyday life. Professor Chalfen’s methodological approach combines observational exercises, observational diary writing, participant observation, photo elicitation interviews and content analysis.
Richard Chalfen's website: www.richardchalfen.com
Date added: 21 May 2007
Registration open: Methodological challenges of using participatory methods
21 September, Leeds. This workshop will investigate the challenges of using participatory approches in social science research and interrogate areas including the role of participants as users of research; the strong internal validity of the findings from participatory research and the possibilities for the generalisability and transferability of findings from this research; and addressing relationships of power, such as the demands of institutions, like universities and funding bodies, for auditable outputs from research activites.
Further details and how to register >
Date added: 10 May 2007
New working paper - Understanding Community: A review of networks, ties and contacts
The paper is written by Andrew Clark, who is the researcher on our Connected Lives project, a multi-dimensional study of a neighbourhood in Leeds. The paper gives an overview of research around the topic of 'community' from three perspectives:
- 'community as locality' approach, which sees contacts as bound to a geographical location
- 'social network analysis' where an individual's 'network' of contacts is studied
- 'small world' approach which attempts to understand the linked nature of different networks.
View paper as p d f [new window, 390kb]
Date added: 9 May 2007
Registration open: Qualitative Longitudinal Research Workshop
16 March, London. This workshop will provide an introduction to qualitative longitudinal (QL) research, exploring what it is, and how researchers can generate, analyse and interpret QL data, taking into account a range of practical and ethical issues.
Further details and how to register >
Date added: 14 February 2007
Registration open: Geodemographics and the Social Sciences
22 March 2007, Sheffield. The workshop will introduce participants to the technique of geodemographics, in which neighbourhoods are profiled to provide a simple measure of the character, similarities, and differences of local areas. Geodemographics is widely used in applied social science, for problems of resource allocation, market research, and population targeting.
Further details and how to register >
New working paper: Diversity and Subjectivity within Qualitative Pyschology
Brendan Gough and Anna Madill's paper aims to provide an account of the diversity within qualitative research in Psychology (and beyond). There is a special focus on subjectivity, as this concept has been central to criticism of qualitative research, but also because it is a topic of debate within Qualitative Psychology itself.
View paper as pdf [new window, 349kb]
Date added: 23 January 2007
New working paper: Anonymising Research Data
Our latest working paper is 'Anonymising Research Data' by Andrew Clark, who is working on our Connected Lives project. The paper outlines the approach developed by the team towards anonymisation of data throughout the entire research process.
View paper as pdf [new window, 2.26 MB]
Date added: 21 December 2006
Social Networks events
Registration is now open for two forthcoming events on Social Networks:
- Social Networks Methods Workshop, 3-5pm 30 November
- Social Networks Analysis 'Taster' session, 5 December
Date added: 6 November 2006.
Methods workshop series launched
We held the first in our series of Methods workshops on 19 October on the topic of Localities. Each workshops starts with two or three speakers describing and explaining their own methodological approach to the workshop topic. This is followed by discussion and debate from participants. View summary and presentations from Localities workshop.
Our next Methods Workshop is on Social Networks on 30 November.
Date added: 1 November 2006
PhD Studentship awarded to to Carmen Lau
The University of Leeds is funding a PhD studentship connected with the node, to start in October 2006. The studentship has been awarded to Carmen Lau, who se PhD is titled 'Investigating the experiences of Chinese children living in the UK'.
Date added: 18 July 2006
Creative Interviewing workshop, 21 September
Our third training workshop will be on Creative Interviewing skills. It will consist of a day workshop plus online follow-up sessions. This is a practical and hands-on course and participants will work in pairs to conduct short interviews on a topic of their choice. Interviews will be recorded, transcribed and feedback given by the course leader, Jennifer Mason.
To apply for a place, complete and return an application form before 7 July.
Date added: 7 June 2006
Mixed Method Evaluation Workshop, 28 July
There are few places left on our training workshop on Mixed Method Evaluation: From Synthesis to Policy on 28 July in London.
Date added: 2 June 2006.
PhD Studentship and Masters Bursary
Our fully-funded PhD studentship starts in October 2006 and is based at Leeds Social Sciences Institute at the University of Leeds. Applicants will need to propose a research project with methods which complement those of the Node, and substantive interests which connect with those of the Node. The deadline for applications is 1 May 2006.
Further details and how to apply (link opens in new window).
Our masters bursary covers the fees of one student on the MSc Sociological Research at the University of Manchester. The holder of the bursary will be expected to conduct a masters dissertation that is related to our methodological approaches and substantive themes. The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 10 July 2006. More information on how to apply (link opens in new window).
Date added: February 28, 2006
