Nind, Melanie and Lewthwaite, Sarah
(2018).
Pedagogy of methodological learning: Expert panel interviews and methods teacher focus groups.
[Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex:
UK Data Archive.
10.5255/UKDA-SN-853130
The pedagogy of methodological learning is a three-year research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of a package of research by the National Centre for Research Methods. It is intended to promote pedagogical development for advanced social science research methods.
Advanced research requires a unique combination of theoretical understanding, procedural knowledge and skills competence; nonetheless, there has been little research about pedagogy associated with this. In the UK, doctoral researchers have learned through an apprenticeship model of supervision, with taught courses and formal training becoming a more recent requirement. Subsequent capacity building has focused on the incorporation of core and advanced training tailored toward the professional and methodological development of researchers. The lack of ‘pedagogic culture’ i.e. lack of debate, investigation and evaluation regarding how research methods are taught and learned is problematic. Little is understood about how best to respond to the distinctive pedagogical challenges in this field.
This research seeks to:
• advance an emerging pedagogical culture and content knowledge for social science research methods teaching;
• create a typology of pedagogical approaches for social research methods teaching to inform national policy and practice;
• develop a coherent theoretical framework for methods teaching to inform national practice.
To this end, the project deploys four complementary components:
1) expert panel method, including interviews with a panel of international experts in research methods teaching and follow up focus groups with UK methods teachers;
2) diary methods and longitudinal analysis by and with researchers at different stages of doctoral and post-doctoral research careers about their methods learning experiences;
3) video-stimulated recall and reflection by researchers, teachers and learners in response to specific methods training events;
4) case studies of methodological and pedagogical innovation.
Data from our Expert Panel methodological strand is available through the archive where exit consent has been possible.
We have found encouraging aspects of pedagogical scholarship and increasing attention to the specifics of teaching and learning for particular research methods, approaches or techniques. We have developed methodological tools that will help in the ongoing research and we identify practical messages for methods trainers. This research will substantially advance and stimulate this nascent field, to inform teaching and learning, policy and practice within and beyond the National Centre for Research Methods.
Data description (abstract)
These data comprise qualitative transcripts from semi-structured individual interviews with eight international experts in social science research methods teaching as part of expert panel research. These interviews took place via Skype, phone and face-to-face over the course of Spring-Summer 2015. In addition, there are transcripts of five focus groups with a total of 17 experienced teachers of social science research methods based in the UK, conducted in 2016.
Data creators: |
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Sponsors: |
Economic and Social Research Council
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Grant reference: |
ES/L008351/1
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Topic classification: |
Education
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Keywords: |
educational research, social sciences, social research, teachers, higher education, learning, teaching methods, learning methods, methodology
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Project title: |
"Pedagogy of Methodological Learning" National Centre for Research Methods 2014-2019
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Grant holders: |
Melanie Nind
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Project dates: |
From | To |
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1 January 2015 | 31 March 2018 |
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Date published: |
19 Jun 2018 14:44
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Last modified: |
27 Jun 2018 14:16
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Temporal coverage: |
From | To |
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30 April 2015 | 4 November 2016 |
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Collection period: |
Date from: | Date to: |
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30 April 2015 | 4 November 2016 |
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Geographical area: |
Europe, North America, Australasia, |
Country: |
United Kingdom |
Data collection method: |
The expert panel component involved the formation of a panel of international experts involved in, or concerned with, the teaching of qualitative, quantitative, digital and mixed-methods research in social sciences. Themes arising from the analysis of semi-structured interviews with experts led to a follow-up exchange of views on these themes. Specifically, we wanted to explore particular challenges posed by teaching advanced research methods, the forms of pedagogical knowledge involved, and the role of innovations both in methodologies and in teaching and learning practice. The themes were then explored in focus groups with UK teachers of advanced social science methods. |
Observation unit: |
Individual |
Kind of data: |
Text |
Type of data: |
Qualitative and mixed methods data |
Resource language: |
English |
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Data sourcing, processing and preparation: |
Data comprises transcripts from interviews and focus groups. Interviews and focus groups were audio recorded and professionally transcribed, then checked by researchers and participants. Transcripts include eight skype and face-to-face individual interviews with internationally-based methodological teaching experts. Transcripts also include two face-to-face focus groups with methods teachers in the UK (n=5, n=7), and a further two skype focus groups (n=2, n=3) with methods teachers in the UK. All are supplied in Rich Text Format.
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Rights owners: |
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Contact: |
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Notes on access: |
The Data Collection is available for download to users registered with the UK Data Service.
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Publisher: |
UK Data Archive
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Last modified: |
27 Jun 2018 14:16
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