NEWS

QualSIG Inaugural Symposium: The State of Qualitative Research

On the 18^th of January 2024 at the Frederick Douglass Centre, the QualSIG hosted our first symposium. Over 80 people registered for the event, including registrations from research-academics working outside of Newcastle University.

Summary of the Symposium

QualSIG Co-Lead, Dr Siân Russell, gave opening remarks, outlining the aims of the Innovation, Methodology and Application (IMA) theme, which supports special interest groups across all Newcastle University’s faculties, and an overview of the work of the QualSIG.

Prof Cath Exley delivered the opening plenary, which looked back over her career, thus far, as a qualitative researcher, reflecting on what has changed, from ethical approvals, the technology we use, to recognition of the value of qualitative work. However, despite these changes, Cath stressed that the fundamentals of qualitative work have remained the same, and while qualitative research revolves around people, it can, at times, be isolating work, highlighting the value of peer support and networks with other qualitative researchers.

Prof Amy O’Donnell gave the closing plenary. In similar vain to Cath, Amy spent some time reflecting on her career, including her shift from public policy to research, and the “chaos” of engaging in a research career while raising a family. Amy presented an overview of her core research around alcohol dependency and depression and how challenging it can be for people to access appropriate services when the two issues co-exist. Amy’s plenary highlighted the importance of qualitative research in enabling understanding of individual experiences which are often more complex than we realise. Qualitative research plays a vital role in recognising and accounting for this complexity.

The QualSIG steering committee received a high number of abstract submissions for the symposium. To enable as many students and staff to present their work as possible, the committee offered a variety of presentation streams. The diversity of applications of qualitative research were clear to see over the course of the day. The symposium included two streams focusing on methodology and distinct streams on older people and frailty, and healthcare professions and practice, as well as a panel discussion on reflexivity in qualitative research. There were also the “Research Wraps” presentations (short pre-recoded presentations delivered during the lunch break), and a lunchtime stall for the development of the Interviewing Excellence Centre which is being led by Gary Pankhurst.

During the day delegates were encouraged to vote for the following categories: best presentation, best poster, and most thoughtful or creative approach to qualitative research. Arwa Katab won both best presentation and most thoughtful or creative approach to qualitative research, and Caitlin Thompson won the best poster category. Well done to them both.

Dr Jo Lally, Co-Lead of the QualSIG, closed the event, summarising the day, thanking our speakers, and presenting Arwa and Caitlin with their prizes.

The steering committee received verbal feedback during the day and received 29 responses to the feedback form. The steering committee are delighted to report that the symposium was well received. The clearest piece of feedback received was that the QualSIG should host another symposium in 2025 and that qualitative researchers across the University have a clear desire to network with follow “qual” research-academics. There has been a particularly positive response to the methodology and reflectivity streams which suggests that there is a desire among qualitative research-academics to have more opportunities to engage in events that enable discussion around these issues.

A brief outline of the feedback received is reported at the end of this newsletter.

Qual Data and Methods Group

As many of you will be aware the PHSI led Qualitative Data Group recently came under the wing of the QualSIG and has been reimagined as the new Qual Data and Methods Group.

The purpose of the group will be 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. It might be that you have recently engaged in a novel form of data collection or analysis and would like to present its pros and cons to your peers, or you may be keen to seek advice about the best approach to data collection and analysis for a specific project. If there are certain methods and methodologies you would like a session to focus on, please do let us know.

In time, and with funding secured, this group could hopefully support hosting invited speakers who are experts in qualitative methods and methodologies. If there are any qualitative experts that you would like the QualSIG to consider contacting, again, please do let us know.

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.

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. 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/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=yRJQnBa2wkSpF2aBT74-h4ihNcNZN2tGuV2OMQQUcjVUOTNSUTNPUEI4OERMWjJPUzdKWE9aMVlYQy4u

UPCOMING EVENTS

Launch of the QualSIG Data and Methods Group – 27.02.2024, 14:00-14:45 - Dame Margaret Barbour Building (DMBB).4.35 (Board Room)/Teams

This session provides an opportunity for qualitative research-academics across the university to contribute to the development of the QualSIG Data and Methods Group. Please join us to discuss what you want from the QualSIG Data and Methods Group.

To register please use this form:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=yRJQnBa2wkSpF2aBT74-h4ihNcNZN2tGuV2OMQQUcjVUQUhGWklCUjlXS1VXVUVONjc3VFNKUjhNVS4u 

If you cannot make the session in person or at all and have some suggestions, please email the QualSIG on QualSIG@newcastle.ac.uk.

QualSIG Peer 2 Peer Network meetings

Next meeting: Wednesday 6th March 2024 12:30 (12.30pm) – 14:00 (2pm), in the Dame Margaret Barbour Building, Room 2.16

NU QualSIG Annual Symposium 2025

Given the success of your inaugural symposium and clear desire for the QualSIG to host annual symposiums, planning for next year’s symposium will be starting soon. We anticipate that the symposium will be held on the 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, or 17^th of January 2025. Please keep an eye out in the coming months for further details, and please let us know if you would like to be part of the organising committee.

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

Co-leads: Jo Lally & Siân Russell

Deputy lead: Matt Breckons 

Early Career Researcher Reps: Kat Jackson & Abisola Balogun-Katung

Student Reps: Julie Guest & Arwa Katab

Training and Teaching Co-Leads: Steph Scott & Matt Breckons 

Social Media Co-Leads: Beth Bareham & Laura McGowan 

IT/Tech Lead: Rachel Stocker 

General members: Marie Poole & Jennifer Dene

Email: QualSIG@newcastle.ac.uk

Website: https://research.ncl.ac.uk/ima/qualitativesig/

Newsletters: https://research.ncl.ac.uk/ima/qualitativesig/newsletters/

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.

QualSIG Symposium 2024: Feedback and Reflections 

In terms of the overall satisfaction (see Table 1) the majority of those who completed the feedback form reported a positive experience.

From the oral feedback received during the day and the free text responses reported in the feedback form, simply attending an event that was focused on qualitative research with fellow qualitative research-academics was a key source of satisfaction. Another was the diversity of presentations, exposure to a variety of qualitative approaches, and a strong focus on methods, methodologies, and reflexivity. There is a clear desire for the annual symposiums to continue, and for the event to widen attendance beyond Newcastle University.

The QualSIG steering committee are all pleased that the event was well received. How the committee build on this success is dependent on funding and time available within the committee to deliver future symposiums. As such, volunteers to support the organisation of the QualSIG symposium in 2025 are welcome.

However, as reported in it was also clear from responses to the feedback form that there was room for improvement, with a minority feeling that there was not enough time to network, that time management and communications in advance of the event could have been improved (see Table 2). Some would have also appreciated healthier options for lunch.

Table1: Overall satisfaction with the symposium

However, it is also clear from responses to the feedback form that there was room for improvement, with a minority feeling that there was not enough time to network, that time management and communications in advance of the event could have been improved (see Figure 2). Some would have also appreciated healthier options for lunch.  

Table 2: Satisfaction with key aspects of the symposium