School Professor runs seminars to help research students
Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:45:00 BST
Professor Helen Colley recently ran a seminar entitled ‘Revisiting research paradigms: Basic principles of methodology and how to apply them in your thesis’ aimed at helping our students understand and how to use research paradigms in context.
This is one of a number of useful seminars for School research students. The School has a research forum for students with support provided by the current School research student representative, Kathryn Lavender. Sessions include talks by external speakers and high-flying university professors on topics such as what examiners look for, devising good research questions, visual research methods, presentations and on planning helpful to doctoral students.
In addition, these meetings also focus on developing confidence, encouraging the sharing of research ideas and methods, allowing students to receive feedback on their work from their peers and generating ideas for future events.
As Professor Helen Colley explains her session addresses a variety of issues by “giving people a chance to really think through the practical importance of their studies, seeing where it fits in with their work, it can be either in a research chapter or about the methodology. It is really relevant no matter what stage they are at”.
Attendees from recent sessions have offered positive feedback:
One student commented saying “I found the seminar extremely useful. It built from the basics of terms and their applications to applications in research. The activities were thought provoking and shared between all present. The discussions were enlightening. I would recommend that this should be repeated for the benefit of other students at different stages of their research programme. Thanks for organising it. “
Another explained that they “found the seminar very useful. Helen was really good at explaining the research paradigms in a way which made sense and now I understand my position in my research. The group exercises were really good in thinking about the topic area but also offered an opportunity to interact with other students. I'd definitely recommend this seminar to others.”
Another student said ”this seminar was particularly timely for me and reinforced the importance of really getting to grips with my worldview and approach. I'm now actively working on the underpinnings of my research. “
Seminars continue to be held throughout the year for all research students.
