Newcastle University Qualitative Special Interest Group Annual Symposium 2025

***ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN***

This year’s theme is “Beyond the Interview”: Interviews, whether semi-structured, narrative, or unstructured, are probably the most used method of data collection in qualitative research. But are we overly reliant on this method? What have we lost and gained from the increase in remote interviewing? Do we need to be more inventive in our approach to interviewing? For the 2025 Qualitative Special Interest Group Annual Symposium we are keen to hear about novel and creative approaches to qualitative data collection and analysis and encourage honest discussions about our experiences as qualitative research-academics – both the good and the not so good.

Further details and a link to the submission can be found here: https://research.ncl.ac.uk/ima/qualitativesig/events/nuqualitativespecialinterestgroupannualsymposium2025.html

Qual Data and Methods Group

The Qual Data and Methods Group have hosted and co-hosted four meetings over the past six months.

Imposter participants: Back in May Keaton Irvine, Morven Brown, Benjamin Rigby, and Marie Poole presented their experiences of ‘imposter participants’ which was followed by an in-depth an interesting discussion with attendees. The issue of “…dishonest, fraudulent, fake, or false participants in qualitative research” (Roehl & Harland, 2022) has become a hot topic across many disciplines where qualitative approaches are used. Due to the volume of interest in this issue within the QualSIG we are working to develop guidance around recognising and responding to potential imposter participants for qualitative researchers and those involved in patient and public involvement and engagement activities. If you would like to be involved in the development of this guidance, please get in touch.

MAXQDA: In July Mark Adley provided an overview of using MAXQDA to support the analysis of qualitative data. Newcastle University currently does not have a site licence for this software. This offered attendees the opportunity to get a flavour of MAXQDA and consider whether this would be an alternative to NVivo to write into grant applications. The overview of MAXQDA was followed by an open discussion on the variety of approaches qualitative researchers use when analysing data, many of which do not involve qualitative software packages.

Longitudinal Qualitative Research: In September we hosted a session on experiences of conducting longitudinal qualitative research where Shelina Visram, Lucy Robinson, and Naomi Griffin all provided overviews of their own longitudinal research followed by an open discussion on the benefits and potential challenges of longitudinal approaches.

Creative Methods: Analytic approaches and ethical considerations: In October the QualSIG co-hosted this workshop with the NIHR Policy Research Unit (PRU) Behavioural and Social Sciences. Led by Dr Louise Couceiro from the University of Oxford, this workshop provided an overview of creative methods, with suggestions for how researchers might adopt creative approaches to data analysis, and a discussion of important ethical considerations when using creative methods.

The purpose of the Qual Data and Methods Group is for qualitative researchers at any level to present, discuss and seek advice around qualitative data, the methods used to collect and analyse it, and theoretical ideas and frameworks that could support approaches to data collection and analysis. We hope that this group will support learning, collaboration, and provide a platform for innovation. Please note, any qualitative data presented at Qual Data and Methods Group must be fully anonymised and only excerpts of transcripts can be presented.

If you have an idea for a session, please get in touch QualSIG@newcastle.ac.uk

QualSIG Peer 2 Peer Network

Qualitative research is more than the methods and methodologies we use. It comes with several challenges, be that research ethics applications or emotionally taxing research topics. It is also typically fascinating, exciting, and stimulating work. Since the QualSIG steering committee was established in Spring 2022 we have been aware of an appetite among qualitative researchers for opportunities to develop better networks with other qualitative researchers across the University, and for safe, supportive spaces to talk about, and reflect on, the ups and downs of our research, that goes beyond discussing methods and presenting findings. The QualSIG Peer Support Network aims to be such a space.

If you would like to hear more about the Peer Support Network, please send an email to QualSIG@newcastle.ac.uk with the subject title “Peer Support Network”.

QualSIG Teams Group

If you are not yet aware, the QualSIG has a Teams group which you can request to join. The purpose of the Teams group is to provide a space for conversation and collaboration, and somewhere for QualSIG members to post about news and events relevant to fellow qualitative researchers. The Teams group has a jobs board channel for circulating both internal and external opportunities.

If you would like to be added to the Teams group, just send an email to QualSIG@newcastle.ac.uk with the subject title “Teams group”.

QualSIG Email and Mailing List

As you will be aware, the QualSIG has an email address QualSIG@newcastle.ac.uk. Please use this email address if you wish to communicate with the QualSIG steering committee.

Please note that sending an email to this address does not result in the email being received by those on the QualSIG mailing list. Only members of the QualSIG steering committee are privy to the associated mailbox.

If you would like to be added or removed from the mailing list, or have your email address updated, please use this form: https://forms.office.com/e/BEqUgT1rfF

CALLS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Qualitative teaching opportunities

Opportunities to gain experience in teaching qualitative methods from paradigms and epistemologies, data collection and analysis, through to ethics, often pop up. If you are keen to gain experience or want to keep topping up the experience you already have, please get in touch by sending an email to QualSIG@newcastle.ac.uk with the subject title “Teaching opportunities”.

QUALSIG STEERING COMMITTEE

Lead: Siân Russell
Deputy lead: Matt Breckons
Early Career Researcher Reps: Kat Jackson and Abisola Balogun-Katung
Student Rep: Julie Guest
Training and Teaching Co-Leads: Steph Scott & Matt Breckons
Social Media Co-Leads: Beth Bareham and Laura McGowan
IT/Tech Lead: Rachel Stocker
General members: Jo Lally, Marie Poole, and Jennifer Dene.

Email: QualSIG@newcastle.ac.uk

The QualSIG steering committee consists of qualitative researchers from students to mid-career research-academics. All are volunteers who run the QualSIG on top of their existing workloads.

Last modified: Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:50:56 BST