Research Institute for Social Sciences

Internal Training

A wide range of training modules are provided through our MRes courses. Please see below for the full handbooks for both the MRes in the Humanities and the MRes in Social Sciences.

• Humanities Research Training Handbook 2012-13
• MRes Social Sciences Handbook 2012-13

The nature of Research Training is such that, together with your supervisory team, you may identify a modules / course elsewhere in the Faculty or the wider institution. Examples of other courses include:

EDU-40031: Introduction to theories and methods as an educational researcher

Module Convenor: Farzana Shain

Dates: 1st and 2nd November 2012

This module introduces students to theories and methodologies about educational research, particularly from the perspective of being a reflective practitioner. It provides guidance on conducting a self-reflection and the construction of a personal development plan (PDP) to support the development of an initial research design.

Contact: socialsciences.profdoc@keele.ac.uk

EDU-40032: Critical and feminist theories

Module Convenor: Farzana Shain

Dates:28^th February and 1^st March 2013

In this module students are introduced to a range of critical theories in the social sciences, including feminism, post-modernism, post-structuralism and critical realism and provided examples of their uses from the wide literature in education and education policy research. The assignment requires students to critically discuss theories in relation to their proposed thesis topic and/and area of professional policy/practice

Contact: socialsciences.profdoc@keele.ac.uk

EDU-40033: Research methods and evaluation (taught in 2 parts)

Module Convenor: Farzana Shain

Part 1 Dates: 13^th and 14^th June 2013

This module covers issues around research design with an emphasis on qualitative and ethnographic perspectives. The June residential introduces students to key debates in education research, presents issues around the nature and types of knowledge that get produced through different approaches to research, and explores the ethical and social/political issues entailed in designing and conducting various forms of enquiry. The module covers three commonly used approaches to education research (ethnography, case studies, and action research).

Part 2 (The Pilot Study) Dates: 26 January 2013 (2012/2013 only thereafter moves to November each year, 2013/14 - 25 November 2013)

Students will be enabled through the module to undertake a pilot study as  part of learning about and comparing  policy and practice. Students are encouraged to design a pilot study in the same organisation where they will do the main study. The aim of the pilot is to construct a preliminary research design which will be ‘tested’ before the main fieldwork for the doctorate begins. The pilot should allow students to identify research questions for the main study, to improve on areas of the research design, or even re-formulate the focus for the doctorate research.

There are two assignments associated with EDU-40033 as a whole: a general research methods critique (part 1), and a report and commentary on the Pilot Study (part 2).

Contact: socialsciences.profdoc@keele.ac.uk

EDU-40034: Preparing and presenting a thesis proposal (40 credits)

Module Convenor: Farzana Shain

Part 1 Dates: 17^th May 2013

Preparing for progression - The first part of the module helps prepare students for their progression by drawing together issues about the entire research process: theory, methodology, research design and analysis. It also addresses questions of proposal presentation: oral and in writing.

Part 2 Dates: October 2013 (for Professional Doctorate Students only but PhD students welcome to observe)

Thesis Proposal Conference - In the second part of the module, students are required to provide a 5,000-word thesis proposal in writing and present a thesis proposal orally (circa 1,000 words) as the initial (summative) assessment of their work on the programme. This conference is attended by other Professional Doctorate students, supervisors, tutors and other students conducting graduate studies across the Social Sciences. The 40 credits are awarded on the successful completion of the 5,000 word research proposal; PhD students are welcome to attend part 1 and to observe part 2.

Contact: socialsciences.profdoc@keele.ac.uk

LAW-40009: Rights to equality (30 credits)

Dates: 5-7 December 2012

This module introduces students to the concept of ‘equality’ and a diverse set of theoretical frameworks in which the concept can be located. It will distinguish formal from substantive inequality and identify different ways in which substantive equality might be realized. For the purposes of the module the concept of equality will be explored primarily in the contexts of gender, sexuality and race. This is assessed by a 5,000 word essay. 

For more information please see: http://www.keele.ac.uk/law/studylaw/postgraduatedegrees/llmgendersexualityandlaw/

To ask about registration please contact law-postgrad@law.keele.ac.uk

Law-40024: Introduction to Socio-Legal Research Methods and Skills (20 credits)

Module Convenor: Fiona Cownie

Runs 17-18 October 2012

Moot Court Room, School of Law

The purpose of this module is to enable students to gain an increased understanding of the nature of socio-legal studies, and an appreciation of the wide range of research which is covered by that term. The module will also allow students to begin to think critically about the selection and use of appropriate research methods for carrying out socio-legal work, and the ethical issues which may arise in doing such research.

For more information or to register, please contact Andrea Scott: a.j.scott@keele.ac.uk

LAW-40027: Health and Embodiment (30 credits)

Dates: 6-8 February 2013

This module focuses on law and ethics in health care policy and provision. It engages with a number of diverse issues in the area of health and embodiment, such as abortion, genital cutting (circumcision); the regulation of reproduction and engineering hybrid embryos; and transsex pregnancy. Practical issues of law and ethics in a health care context are paramount and are considered through viewing the body as a site at which ideas of gender and sexuality are inscribed and constituted. This is assessed by a 5,000 word essay.

For more information please see: http://www.keele.ac.uk/law/studylaw/postgraduatedegrees/llmgendersexualityandlaw/

To ask about registration please contact law-postgrad@law.keele.ac.uk

LAW-40028: Family, work and state (30 credits)

Dates: 13-15 March 2013

This module explores questions of regulation, social control, and alternative family structures within the context of contemporary work practices and the welfare state. Thus, students will consider issues such as: the relationship between care-taking labour within the family and paid work outside of it; the legal recognition of gay and lesbian families; protections for and care of vulnerable adults and children; public care decision-making; welfare reform; and the ‘Big Society’. This is assessed by a 5,000 word essay.

For more information please see: http://www.keele.ac.uk/law/studylaw/postgraduatedegrees/llmgendersexualityandlaw/

To ask about registration please contact law-postgrad@law.keele.ac.uk

PIR-40110: Power, Knowledge and the World (30 credits)

Module Convenor: Sorin Baiasu

Dates: Semester 1

Further details can be found here: www.keele.ac.uk/spiredev/postgraduate/coursecontentformasters/

PIR-40082: Global Environmental Change and its Political Consequences (15 credits)

Module Convenor: Brain Doherty

Dates: Semester 1

Further details can be found here: www.keele.ac.uk/modcat/current/pir-40082.htm

PIR-40103: Diplomatic Law (15 credits)

Module Convenor: Lorna Lloyd

Dates: Semester 1

PIR-40095: Research in Action (15 credits)

Module Convenor: Liz Carter

Dates: Semester 2

Outline: This module aims to provide an in-depth and hands-on advanced introduction to research design and evidence gathering in the social sciences. It provides students with an overview of different research designs and approaches to data gathering, examines the ethical issues involved in conducting research, and acquaints students with examples of research that uses a range of leading-edge research methods. It then offers students an opportunity to design and conduct their own small-scale practical research task and to later reflect upon their choices of research design and methodology and their experiences of hands-on research. Through the conduct of this task, students will also have the opportunity to develop their team working skills.

PSY-40034: Theory and Methodology in Psychology (30 credits) *Available to Psychology Students Only*

Module Convenor: Ken Rotenberg

Dates: October 2012 - May 2013

The aims of this module are to enhance students’ understanding of theoretical and methodological issues in psychology, and to equip students with an evaluative understanding of specific research techniques in psychology.

On successful completion of this module you will:

(1)  Be familiar with a range of theoretical and empirical issues, as well as specific research methodologies and statistical analyses, in psychology.

(2)  Be able to make use of your critical understanding of theory, research methodology and statistical analyses when formulating research.

Contact:  Bev Davies (b.davies@keele.ac.uk)

PSY40034 Course Detail

PSY-40035 Qualitative Research Methods (20 credits)

Module convenor: Alexandra Lamont

The aim of this module is to introduce students to a range of qualitative analytic methods with a view to conducting their own data collection and analysis, whilst appreciating the merits of qualitative inquiry and its position within psychology.

Over the course of the module students will:

• Appreciate when it is appropriate to use qualitative methods in psychological research
• Learn the basics of, and be able to practice research interviewing skills
• Gain knowledge of different data collection methods
• Practice a range of data analytic techniques class based
• Gain knowledge of different transcribing conventions applicable to these techniques
• Demonstrate reflexivity as a qualitative researcher
• Learn how to present a qualitative research report

Contact:  Bev Davies (b.davies@keele.ac.uk)

Also available here is the Social Sciences Induction Presentation on Research Training: Social Sciences Induction

External Training

The Research Institutes for the Humanities and Social Sciences at Keele have strong collaborative links with a wide range of institutions providing research training. Details of external opportunities will be posted on this page on a regular basis, but these are examples of the programmes that you may wish to consider:

Training in Arts and Humanities - Arts Methods North West

Artsmethods North West intends to support research training in the arts and humanities across 7 institutions who are currently seeking AHRC BGP 2 funding to create the AHRC North West Consortium (NWC).

It will bring together institutions that have large volumes of world-class research with those that have smaller pockets of research excellence in the North West. Through its continuing partnership with the AHRC, the NWC will develop world-class postgraduates through high-quality subject-specific and interdisciplinary training. A distinctive feature of the NWC will be its combination of student learning and skills for employability through productive engagement with the creative economy in the region. It is uniquely positioned to build on disciplinary groupings, collaborations, established media and major knowledge exchange hubs such as the AHRC KE hub at Lancaster University and Salford’s MediaCityUK campus.

The NWC is committed to fostering excellence and diversity in arts and humanities training and research, and responding to the needs of the community.

Find out more on the website: http://www.artsmethodsnorthwest.ac.uk/

As part of this collaboration, a range of events at Manchester University are open to students at Keele. Please click here for the latest details of the events calendar run by Artsmethods@Manchester: ArtsMethods@Manchester Events 2012-13

Training in Social Sciences - MethodsNorthwest

MethodsNorthWest highlights the depth and breadth of methodological expertise in the social sciences within the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster. It promotes and facilitates methodological excellence, innovation and inter-disciplinarity - within and beyond the social sciences. They run events aimed primarily at doctoral students throughout the year. These events are styled and targeted to provide something a little different to the standards methods training, and many of them are open to students at Keele University.

Find out more on the website: http://www.methodsnorthwest.ac.uk/

Vitae Training

Vitae is the national organisation that provides research skills training on behalf of RCUK, the overarching body of
all the UK research councils. These courses offer the opportunity to meet and network with other PGR students from across the UK. All our research students are encouraged to attend at least one Vitae course during the three years of their research at Keele.

Find out more on the website: http://www.vitae.ac.uk/

Our Vitae contact at Keele University is Jen Smith: j.h.smith@keele.ac.uk

Please find some info below on two training days being held at Graduate School, Glyndwr University, Wrexham. Click on the links below for more info.

5th November 10.00-16.00 Vitae Researcher Development 'The Effective Researcher'. Book your free place by following: http://vitae1.eventbrite.co.uk

6th November 10.00- 16.00 Vitae Researcher Development 'The next 90 Days'. Book your free place by following: http://vitae2.eventbrite.co.uk

Day One is an introductory session for early PhDs and is a condensed one day version of ‘the Effective Researcher’, details can be found: http://www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/1404/How-to-be-an-effective-researcher-.html

Day Two is ‘The next 90 days’ Effective Researcher: The Next 90 Days – a one-day programme for those who are 6 to 12 months into their doctorate. It focuses on developing the supervisor relationship, engaging in the impact agenda, communicating their research to various audiences and career development beyond their doctorate

Research Funding

If you are considering attending an external event, please contact your supervisors and also the Faculty Research Office Finance Administrators to discuss an application for funding support.

Sue Humphries, Finance Administrator for Social Sciences Centres for Economics and Management, Psycholgical Research and Social Policy - s.e.humphries@keele.ac.uk

Yvonne Lomax, Finance Administrator for Social Sciences Centres for Law, Ethics and Society and for the Study of Politics, International Relations and the Environment (RC4SPIRE) and for the Humanities - y.lomax@keele.ac.uk

We offer two funding schemes for PGRs. Our Research Support Fund (RSF2)‌, provides support for individual focused activities such as conference attendance, costs associated with fieldwork or archival work, and other project-related expenses.

Our Researcher Development and Transferable Skills Fund (RDF) provides support for a broad range of training activities, including support to attend external courses, the costs of coordinating research events at Keele, and generic skills training.

You can apply for both streams of funding by completing our Research Funding Form 2012-13

Learning and Professional Development Centre

The Learning and Professional Development Centre support all staff in their learning and development and many of their programmes are open to postgraduate research students. 

Details of a range of workshops in 2012-13 are available to download here: LPDC Training 2012-13

Visit the Centre webpages for more details on the training available and to book onto a course.

One of the training opportunities currently featured by the LPDC is the Introduction to Teaching Programme, which is compulsory for all Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). Full details on the programme are available at the following site:

http://www.keele.ac.uk/lpdc/coursesandworkshops/introductiontoteaching-workshops123and4/

See the course flyer here: Teaching Support for PGRs

The Centre can be found at:

59 and 60, The Covert (See map and photo)

Keele University

Staffordshire

ST5 5BG

Seminars, Workshops and Conferences

We have a busy programme of research events across the University. Virtually all of our research events are free to attend, and where there may be a charge involved, you can apply to one of our research support funds for financial assistance.

To see the full programme of Research Seminars and Events in the Research Institutes for the Humanities and Social Sciences, please visit our Calendar or Events

For details of Seminars being held across the University, please see: forums.keele.ac.uk

If you are interested in coordinating a research event, please contact your PGR Representatives and Directors.

Training Requirements

Formal research training for research students is required by the Universities’ funding council (HEFCE) and the Research Councils as well as the University, and the expectation is that you will evaluate your needs against the Joint Statement of the Research Councils’ skills training requirements for research students (RCUK 2001) – to be found as Appendix D5 of the Code of Practice and Appendix 2 of this handbook. Full details of the University’s RT requirements are given in Section2 of the Code of Practice on Postgraduate Research Degrees.

If you are a new full-time PhD student you will need to obtain 40 credits in your first year (20 credits for full-time MPhil). Those taking professional doctorates – EdD, DBA, DMedEth, DSW - take research training modules as part of their formal programme and do not need to choose modules.

Accreditation of prior learning and experience

If you can demonstrate that you have already acquired some of the skills needed, either through prior learning (eg masters degrees) or through experience (eg working as a research assistant), then you may apply for exemption from some or all of the required credits. The form on which you can apply for exemption (research module exemption request) can be downloaded from the web: http://www.keele.ac.uk/gradschool/codeofpractice/

Getting started and your Learning Plan

One of your first tasks will be to sit down with your supervisory team and develop a Personal Development and Learning Plan. Minimum requirements for a Personal Development and Learning Plan - please use the Progress and Monitoring link on the left hand menu to access further details.

Analysing your RT needs:

Research skills and techniques

Your needs will depend very much on the discipline within which you are undertaking your research project, and the specific nature of the project itself. In most cases you will start your research degree with an appropriate disciplinary background, but there may be gaps which you need to fill in relation to your specific project. In addition, there are likely to be specific techniques and methodologies in which you need to acquire competence, so you can evaluate their appropriateness for your project and then use them competently to ensure valid results. Your supervisory team will be able to advise you about these issues.

Transferable skills, personal development and employability

All students need to have acquired, by the end of their programme, the range of skills associated with personal development and employability set out in the Joint Skills Statement (JSS) under categories B-G. The normal expectation is that all research students need to include some of these ‘generic’ skills modules, applicable to all students, irrespective of discipline. You will find these are a good way of meeting and interacting with students from other disciplines and research institutes.

If you believe, and can demonstrate, that you are already competent in one or more of the skills listed in RCUK categories B-G, then you should discuss this with your supervisor from the start so that you are not spending time on activities which give you no additional benefit.