Methods

Data visualisation has become synonymous with simple infographics in recent years, but for researchers this isn't necessarily a good thing. That's according to Dr Jonathan Minton from Glasgow University who uses data visualisation, including 3D printouts of data to visualise complex questions around social issues such as migration, fertility and mortality. In this episode of Methods he explains why and how data visualisation can help social researchers produce fascinating and important evidence for research and policy and makes the case that 'simple' isn't always best. Dr Minton will be presenting some of his work at the Research Methods Festival 2016.

There are many uncertainties surrounding end of life care for people with dementia living in care homes. From who is responsible for which aspects of a person’s care to what type of care they receive in the home or in hospital, and how everyone who needs to be heard can be heard. Research, led by Professor Claire Goodman at the University of Hertfordshire and due to be presented at The ESRC Research Methods Festival 2016, has been addressing these uncertainties and has led to the development of a new framework that is helping care and health professionals give the best support and service they can to the residents and patients and their families.

The night of the General Election 2015 was a surprising one in more ways than one! A series of opinion polls had led us all to believe that we were in for another Coalition Government, but, as we now know that turned out to be far from the case. For pollsters and statisticians it was a night of disappointment and even anger. So what went wrong and what lessons have been learned? In this episode of the NCRM podcast, NCRM Director Patrick Sturgis, who led an inquiry into what has become known as the polling disaster of 2015, looks back at how events unfolded, the aftermath, the inquiry that follow, what it found and the recommendations made by him and his team to put things right in the future.

Is it possible to use creative methods such as theatre work shops to research important topics such as migration and citizenship? Are these methods a good way to get information from study participants that other methods maybe can’t and can they be used effectively to engage policymakers and practitioners with research in this area?

In this podcast Dr Umut Erel from the Open University discusses work with Professors Tracy Reynolds and Maggie O'Neill and research fellow and theatre practitioner Erene Kaptani using participatory theatre workshops to explore the challenges faced by migrant women in becoming active citizens in their new home and the role they have in helping their children become active citizens. The research is being featured a session at the Research Methods Festival 2016.

We often assume that great musical partnerships are just that - relationships built on a mutual understanding, intensive practice together, learning how to be totally in sync to create an incredible performance. But is it essential that musicians have this 'special relationship' to produce great music? Psychologist and pianist Michael Schober from the New School for Social Research in New York has been investigating and, in this podcast, describes an experiment he has carried out to try to find out.

The growth of digital information provides social scientists with unprecedented opportunities to access the personal data of people all around the world and to transform our understanding. In this podcast, Professor Peter Elias, Strategic Advisor for Data Resources to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) explains the latest thinking around data linkage.

Linking data for the benefit of individuals and wider society is an important research area, not just for social scientists, but for us all. One of the most well known and most talked about practical examples of this is the somewhat controversial care.data programmme, designed to share patients' health and social care information in order to see what works and what doesn't in the NHS. Independent researcher Neil Serougi discusses the programme's rocky road and reflects on recent discussions hosted by NCRM on the ethical and social concerns around linked data."

This is a joint podcast by the NCRM and the International Journal for Social Research Methods (IJSRM). There is little research literature about teaching and learning of advanced research methods, which is the motivation for the NCRM research project 'The pedagogy of methodological learning'. NCRM and IJSRM are collaborating on a special issue, entitled 'Teaching and learning social research methods – Developments in pedagogical knowledge'.

The way we communicate in our professional and personal lives has changed dramatically in recent years. We can now Skype our banks, receive texts from our doctor, and our politicians use Twitter to try to win over voters.

For social researchers such digital communication technologies present many new and exciting opportunities for recruiting participants, carrying out fieldwork and publicising research findings.

In this podcast Dr Susie Weller from the University of Southampton discusses her NCRM funded Methodological Innovation Project 'The potential of video telephony in qualitative longitudinal research: A participatory and interactionist approach to assessing remoteness and rapport'

How we vote and why we vote the way we do has become a key part of how we look at politics in the UK. One of the best resources around to help us pick our way through those things is the well-established British Election Study. Professor Jane Green from the University of Manchester, one of a consortium of universities running the study, discusses what the study helps us understand, how it works and how researchers and other interested individuals can get their hands on this data.