Summer School 2017: Doing and Communicating Qualitative Research

Course information

Immerse yourself in the world of qualitative research this summer in the beautiful riverside surroundings of Kingston upon Thames.

The Summer School offers an opportunity to enrich your skills and tackle the principles of qualitative research in a practical, hands-on way.

Day-long workshops will bring together academics and professionals, and cover the whole span of the research process from design to writing up. Keynote speakers will provide insights into the past, present and possible future of qualitative research and advice on how qualitative research can make a practical difference in the world.

You can also get expert advice on your current and future research projects through our consultation clinics with experienced qualitative researchers, and have plenty of opportunities to share experiences and network with like-minded peers.

Programme

Workshops

The Summer School is made up of day-long workshops.

• Each day features a choice of four workshops.
• Days 1, 3 and 4 include keynote addresses from leading qualitative researchers.
• All days include research consultation clinics with experienced qualitative researchers.
• Download full programme (PDF)
• Download workshops and facilitator details (PDF)

You can book for individual days, several days or the whole four-day programme.

Please ensure that you have studied the programme carefully as you will be prompted to select your workshop choices when you complete your booking.

Consultation clinics

You will have the opportunity to book in for a one-to-one consultation session with some of the academics running the workshops (on a first-come, first-served basis).  A booking link will be sent to you in due course with further details.

Social and networking events

• Networking dinner: On Wednesday 19 July there will be a networking dinner in a local pub. The cost of this dinner is £25 or free to all those delegates who have booked the full 4 day programme.
• Trip to Hampton Court: On Friday 21 July we would like to invite you to a day at nearby Hampton Court Palace. This cost of entry is £12 or free to all those delegates who have booked the full 4 day programme.

What will you learn?

After participating in the Summer School and depending on the workshops you attend, you will be able to:

• make informed decisions about designing your qualitative research, generating and analysing data, and writing up your qualitative research findings;
• appreciate how different analytic approaches understand qualitative data;
• use approaches to the generation and analysis of qualitative data in systematic and insightful ways;
• understand the common challenges associated with particular approaches in qualitative research and know how to address these effectively;
• engage with ethical issues associated with qualitative data collection and analysis in informed and effective ways;
• appreciate the strengths and limitations of qualitative research; and
• understand when and how to apply the conclusions of qualitative research to  policy making and practice settings.

We recommend that you attend the whole whole four-day programme to gain maximum benefit.

Who is it for?

Whether you are new to qualitative research or are more experienced, the summer school will benefit postgraduate students, researchers and professional practitioners in disciplines such as:

• psychology;
• counselling and psychotherapy;
• sociology and other social sciences;
• social services and social work;
• social policy;
• nursing and healthcare;
• education; and
• market research.

Testimonials

This is the third year that Kingston University have hosted this prestigious summer school.  Testimonials from delegates in previous years:

"Really Valuable"

"[... the most useful aspects] meeting others and discussing topics with people at similar point in thinking"

"This was a mind blowing summer school: very very useful.  I did get enough chance to answer my questions either in workshops or in casual discussions"

"Each individual workshop was designed well. Structurally coffee and lunch breaks were useful to meet people and have conversations"

Fees and accommodation

Early bird fees

Available until 30 June 2017.

• 1 day – £160
• 2 days – £320
• 3 days – £480
• 4 days – £640 (including complimentary dinner on the evening of 19 July and a visit to Hampton Court on the 21 July with other participants)

Full price

From 1 July 2017 the workshop prices will rise to £180 per person per workshop.

Discounts

Each of the first five members of the British Psychological Society's Qualitative Methods in Psychology (QMiP) who register will receive a £100 discount, courtesy of QMiP.

To be eligible for this, please provide your BPS membership number.

Staff places

Subject to availability, Kingston University students or members of staff are eligible to a discounted rate of £125 per workshops and those within the School of Social and Behavioural Sciences may book on free of charge. These places are only available once the Early Bird period has ended (ie after 30 June 2017).

Accommodation

We have a limited number of rooms available in nearby student accommodation, on a first-come, first-served basis at £34.20 per night. Breakfast can be purchased separately in the University's canteen.

Book accommodation using the promotional code QR2017. Please book your place by Monday 1 June if you would like to make a reservation.

Alternatively, there are various private accommodation options in the area. Download the hotel and guest house list (PDF).