New research training announced

ARK is the Northern Ireland Social and Political Archive — a joint initiative by the University of Ulster and Queen’s University Belfast.

The sessions held over the past three years were a great success and all were oversubscribed. The overriding impression from these sessions was there is an increasing need for the ability to understand and undertake research amongst organisations. However, there are very few dedicated researchers in the sector and research is often part of an individual's broader job remit. Generally such staff have had little or no research training and the aim of these sessions is to give some basic guidance on how to conduct research. These five inter-linked sessions hopefully provide individuals working in the sector with the tools and insight into how to undertake research that is of value to their organisations.

Similar to last year, there are five sessions covering basic research skills from finding information, designing and analysing research to making presentations. A surgery will be held during the final session for one-on-one support with members of the ARK and NICVA research teams. Events can be booked individually or together as a block. However places are limited to 30 for each session so it is advisable to book early.

The sessions are free however there is a £20 cancellation fee if you book but do not advise us that you cannot attend within five working days of the event. Preference will be given to individuals on the waiting list from the previous sessions. Spaces will also be limited to one person per organisation.

Session 1: Finding Evidence/information
Thursday 04 February 2010, 10.00am - 14.00pm
Peter Froggatt Centre R 311, Queen's University Belfast
This session focuses on accessing sources of information and includes an introduction to ARK as well as NINIS and other governmental sources of research information.

Session 2: Designing research projects
Wednesday 17 February 2010, 10.00am - 14.00pm
NICVA, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast
This session focuses on designing research projects, including questionnaire design, conducting focus groups and interviews, undertaking audits and evaluations and issues of ethical approval.

Session 3: Quantitative data analysis with SPSS
Thursday 04 March 2010, 10.00am - 14.00pm
Peter Froggatt Centre R 311, Queen's University Belfast
This session focuses on quantitative data analysis, including data input and basic statistics and charts using SPSS.

Session 4: Qualitative Data Analysis
Friday 12 March 2010, 10.00am - 14.00pm
NICVA Duncairn Gardens, Belfast
This session provides an introduction to qualitative data analysis techniques including: questionnaire coding, content analysis and presentation of qualitative data.

Session 5: Report writing and dissemination (Report writing, making presentations, writing press release, Science Shop)Thursday 25 March 2010, 10.00am - 14.00pm

NICVA, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast
This session focuses on report writing and dissemination strategies including structuring research reports, writing a press release and giving presentations. It also provides a surgery for participants during which they can discuss their own projects.

To book a place for any or all sessions, please phone Cathy Breslin at 028 9087 7777 or email cathy.breslin@nicva.org

For further information about these sessions or NICVA's research please contact Andrea Thornbury at 028 9087 7777or email andrea.thornbury@nicva.org