Have you ever wondered how research can be useful beyond academia? Are you interested in knowing more about different ways to understand a particular issue or tackle a problem?
The Methods for Change team is excited to invite anyone with an interest in creative, participatory, spatial, and mixed methods in social science research to our two Festival of Social Science events! The events are open to the public, students, academics, anyone working in business, public, third and policy sectors who would like to find out more.
Our interactive events involve sharing knowledge on research methods for social change with academics and non-academics alike. Delivered by the Methods for Change research team, we will present examples of using social science research methods with industry, third sector, government, and the public, and invite you to reflect on and share your own experiences.
In this series, our two sessions are:
Session 1: Creative Methods for Change: An Introductory Workshop – 9th November 10:30 am – 12:00 pm BST
This online discussion event held on Zoom is aimed at researchers across sectors and members of the public who are interested in finding out more about social science methods and how they can be used outside of academia. In this interactive workshop, Methods for Change Project contributors will introduce methods they have used with cross-sectoral partners, sharing ‘how-to’ guides and creative outputs, such as illustrations, posters, and short films. Participants receive both an introduction to creative materials for communicating research methods as well as the opportunity to engage with social scientists to learn about innovative research methods and their role in creating social change.
A collection of these methods is available online for free, featuring a range of creative, visual, and participatory methodologies developed by our 30+ collaborators from across a range of social science disciplines and UK institutions involved in the Aspect Network.
Session 2: Methods Zoo – Creative networking event (places limited to 20 participants, please register in advance) – 9th November 1 pm – 2:30 pm BST
This is a 1.5-hour online discussion and networking event held on Zoom aimed at social science researchers across sectors and members of the public who are interested in finding out more about social science methods. We encourage participants to think of a method used in their research or work in advance. The event is built on a creative exercise in which we invite you to reflect on the question: ‘If your method were an animal, what would it be?’ and to discuss your ideas in small groups. All the animals discussed in this participatory session will be visualised by an illustrator and sent to participants after the event.
As a participant, you will leave these sessions with ideas for engaging with academic research methods and the resources to start exploring these methods, as well as creatively communicating research methods across sectors.
