….to join a new social and health science message board.
A few years ago I found myself running countless workshops where I’d explain to people how to do research. I was hosting classes on everything from filling in ethics applications, designing interviews or questionnaires, cleaning and analysing data, publicising research, working with the media, or protecting researcher and participant well-being.
I got to hear of loads of practical tips on doing research as well as some disaster stories of studies gone wrong. And the more I read research methods books and academic papers, the more I realised they mostly all had the same thing in common.
They told you what to do, but never how to do it.
At the time I was also involved in analysing self-help books (which made a similar mistake, instructing readers what to do in their relationships but never how to achieve anything). Of the few good self-help books I found they detailed how to implement new things in a relationship. They didn’t just say ‘talk to your partner’, they said when to talk, and what to say, and how to cope if things didn’t go as planned.
I wondered whether this was what was missing in research, a book that filled in all the gaps left by existing methods texts.
In the months that followed I started building up a self-help research programme and implemented it into my teaching. People went crazy for it. So I thought ‘this might make a good book’.
Fate often has a way of intervening in things (even in research) and by chance I ended up sitting next to a publisher on a very delayed flight home from a conference. And like in the film Airplane! I bored the pants off her with my book idea. Perhaps it was the fact it was a good idea, or the fact that she was stuck in a confined space for several hours, but the book was commissioned and I wrote it. It’s called ‘The Research Companion: a practical guide for the social and health sciences’.
However from teaching about the ‘how-tos’ of research I became aware people needed more than just a book of instructions, they needed a place to talk over their questions, views and pointers about research. Often we’ve got loads of good ideas, stories of mistakes we’d rather not have made, a need for support, or perhaps just a pointer on how to do analysis better. For many lone researchers, those in developing countries, or those who’re experienced service users or practitioners that are new to research it’s not always clear what to do.
So as well as the book I asked if I could have a research message board where people could share their views and experiences, post hot topics, and talk about research.
I’d like to invite you to join the Research Companion Message board (sign up details at the end of this message).
You’ll find it will suit you best if you are a:
* researcher at postgraduate (MSc or PhD) level or above
* researcher with a first degree who is now working in the health or social sciences on a research assistant contract
* research manager
* lecturer in the health or social sciences
* lay, consumer or service user researcher or steering group member
* health service professional involved in research
* charity employee involved in health or social research.
The message board is free to use, you just have to agree to our terms and conditions when you sign up (mainly that you respect other people posting). It’s open to people anywhere in the world and I particularly welcome those working in developing countries or lone researchers.
The main Research Companion site also has spaces to post details of any conferences you are hosting or find links to other research-related books or journals that may help with your work.
Unfortunately the board is not a place to talk about undergraduate projects, or help undergraduates with analysis or basic questions already covered in The Research Companion. If you require further support ask your tutor for details.
So come and join us – feel free to get posting and use the Research Companion message board to help yourself and others, and join a vibrant global health and social science forum.
Click here to join. Please feel free to pass this link on to any other researchers you think might be interested
Researchers Invited….
….to join a new social and health science message board.
A few years ago I found myself running countless workshops where I’d explain to people how to do research. I was hosting classes on everything from filling in ethics applications, designing interviews or questionnaires, cleaning and analysing data, publicising research, working with the media, or protecting researcher and participant well-being.
I got to hear of loads of practical tips on doing research as well as some disaster stories of studies gone wrong. And the more I read research methods books and academic papers, the more I realised they mostly all had the same thing in common.
They told you what to do, but never how to do it.
At the time I was also involved in analysing self-help books (which made a similar mistake, instructing readers what to do in their relationships but never how to achieve anything). Of the few good self-help books I found they detailed how to implement new things in a relationship. They didn’t just say ‘talk to your partner’, they said when to talk, and what to say, and how to cope if things didn’t go as planned.
I wondered whether this was what was missing in research, a book that filled in all the gaps left by existing methods texts.
In the months that followed I started building up a self-help research programme and implemented it into my teaching. People went crazy for it. So I thought ‘this might make a good book’.
Fate often has a way of intervening in things (even in research) and by chance I ended up sitting next to a publisher on a very delayed flight home from a conference. And like in the film Airplane! I bored the pants off her with my book idea. Perhaps it was the fact it was a good idea, or the fact that she was stuck in a confined space for several hours, but the book was commissioned and I wrote it. It’s called ‘The Research Companion: a practical guide for the social and health sciences’.
However from teaching about the ‘how-tos’ of research I became aware people needed more than just a book of instructions, they needed a place to talk over their questions, views and pointers about research. Often we’ve got loads of good ideas, stories of mistakes we’d rather not have made, a need for support, or perhaps just a pointer on how to do analysis better. For many lone researchers, those in developing countries, or those who’re experienced service users or practitioners that are new to research it’s not always clear what to do.
So as well as the book I asked if I could have a research message board where people could share their views and experiences, post hot topics, and talk about research.
I’d like to invite you to join the Research Companion Message board (sign up details at the end of this message).
You’ll find it will suit you best if you are a:
* researcher at postgraduate (MSc or PhD) level or above
* researcher with a first degree who is now working in the health or social sciences on a research assistant contract
* research manager
* lecturer in the health or social sciences
* lay, consumer or service user researcher or steering group member
* health service professional involved in research
* charity employee involved in health or social research.
The message board is free to use, you just have to agree to our terms and conditions when you sign up (mainly that you respect other people posting). It’s open to people anywhere in the world and I particularly welcome those working in developing countries or lone researchers.
The main Research Companion site also has spaces to post details of any conferences you are hosting or find links to other research-related books or journals that may help with your work.
Unfortunately the board is not a place to talk about undergraduate projects, or help undergraduates with analysis or basic questions already covered in The Research Companion. If you require further support ask your tutor for details.
So come and join us – feel free to get posting and use the Research Companion message board to help yourself and others, and join a vibrant global health and social science forum.
Click here to join. Please feel free to pass this link on to any other researchers you think might be interested
I look forward to meeting you there.
Researchers Invited….