HSC Celebrates Success of First Inter-Disciplinary Research Conference
23 September 2008
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Over 3 days, over 130 delegates from 15 different countries enjoyed presentations and case studies using qualitative research, collaborating on a range of subject areas across the HE sector. |
“I look forward to visiting Bournemouth again. Well done though, to all of you, for bringing together so many people from various corners of our world.”
“How exciting to have a creative department like yours in Bournemouth! Who'd have thought Bournemouth would be ahead of the game!”
“(I have) a wonderful set of memories about this conference, including new colleagues and new friends. It was an exceptionally well-run event, from my perspective.”
“This has been a very creative, open-minded and inspiring conference. Thanks a lot. This gives me a lot of courage to move further (in my work.”
These are just some of the responses from an international conference held at Bournemouth University recently, which discussed qualitative research methods using an inter-disciplinary approach, for the first time.
Over 3 days, over 130 delegates from 15 different countries, as well as representation across BU’s Academic Schools, enjoyed presentations and case studies using qualitative research, collaborating on a range of subject areas across the HE sector. These included health, social care, psychology, sociology, anthropology, media studies, education and organisational studies.
Participants discussed traditional and new qualitative research methods, including a focus on performative social science, such as the use of drama, mime, art, music and poetry, to aid research. Innovative talks and concepts included: ‘Research techniques to record women’s experiences of breastfeeding’; ‘Improving the quality of life for people with dementia and their carer-using case studies’; and ‘Let's talk about sex: using drama as a research tool to find out the views and experiences of young people with learning disabilities’.
One highlight was the ethnographic study of a Falklands veteran who recorded his return to the Island, 25 years after the war. His moving thoughts and experiences were captured using video, sound, drama and poetry. His work and his approach can help to understand and support victims of war trauma. Keynote speakers included Professor Kathy Charmaz, from Sonoma State University, Professor Rosemarie Anderson, from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, USA Professor Johnny Saldaña, Professor of Theatre, Arizona State University and Dr Emma Bell, University of Bath. Special guests included Ken and Mary Gergen, social psychologists from the USA, who presented ’In Conversation’ - a unique fly-on-the-wall approach to discussing how their lifelong, personal relationship relates to their academic work.
A unique way of recording feedback was displayed during the conference. Delegates were able to record their experiences of the conference via the ‘dreampod’ video booth, giving them their very own ‘Big Brother Diary Room’ experience. Dr Kip Jones, Leader of the Performative Social Science Group at the Centre for Qualitative Research, remarked: “There were stellar performances from a wide variety of keynotes, presentations with the panache of arts-inspired modalities, a Gallery Space with both digital and physical offerings, a diary room video-pod, a mime performance and even a FlashMob –all these elements coalesced to make this year’s Qualitative Research Conference at Bournemouth a huge leap forward for research presentation in a conference setting”.
Lorraine Brown, Senior Lecturer in Tourism Education in BU’s School of Services Management attended and was impressed at the inter-disciplinary focus.
“Within the higher education sector there are a growing body of researchers wanting to use a qualitative approach to their research. Colleagues in some academic disciplines can be nervous about identifying methods, techniques and processes.
“The conference was therefore a real confidence booster as delegates from a broad range of subjects were able to gain a deeper understanding of approaches, which may be new to them in their field. We were all able to share ideas, experiences and discuss the value of qualitative research methods, such as ethnography, case studies and the use of performance.
“The conference certainly helped to demystify qualitative research and I hope it gives colleagues the incentive to incorporate it and work collaboratively,” said Lorraine.
7th Qualitative Research Conference
Centre for Qualitative Research
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