Centre for Methodological Innovations (CMI)
This research centre is concerned with improving the understanding and application of innovative approaches to the research of the social world drawing upon techniques and methods from the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities.
This inter-disciplinary membership provides a platform for both informal and formal discussion of methodological issues in a supportive environment. It encourages and facilitates the adoption of both good methodological practice and innovative methods.
The Research Centre is concerned with both Qualitative and Quantitative methods, methodology, and epistemology in health, education, and social research. Particular expertise includes auto/biography, narrative research and analysis, participatory research techniques, and Social Network Analysis.
Members of CMI established the Methodological Innovation Online journal in 2006. The journal includes a number of special editions reflecting contemporary issues in methodological innovation including 'Case-Based Approaches to the Analysis of Quantitative Data', the 'Impact of Research on Policy', 'Survey methods for hard to reach populations' and 'Making qualitative data more re-usable'. Members of the Centre also edit the journal Sociological Research Online.
Working closely with external partners in the private, public and third sector our team have been successful in obtaining research funding and ESRC Case Studentships. Staff have an active role in disseminating research through the teaching of advanced research methods in CPD, postgraduate, and undergraduate courses.
CMI has a strong working relationship with the ESRC NMRC (National Centre for Research Methods) and the biannual ESRC Research Methods festival. In addition we have established external national and international links, including those with colleagues from the Universities of Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield, UEL, Manchester, Southampton, Simon Fraser (Canada), Waterloo (Canada), Groningen (the Netherlands) and Bergen (Norway CUNY (US), and the Marmot Review Team.
CMI staff have longstanding research interests relating to pedagogical aspects of teaching research methods and have been successful in achieving national funding from JISC and HEA C-SAP.
Publications
Recent publications include:
'Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Teaching in Quantitative Methods', Williams, M., & Sutton, C. in Payne, G., & Williams, M. (2011) Teaching Quantitative Methods: getting the basics right. London: Sage.
Objectivity and Subjectivity. Gayle Letherby, John Scott, and Malcolm Williams, London: Sage Publications, 2012)
Social Network Analysis: A Handbook, Third Edition, John Scott (London: Sage Publications)
Social Research: An Introduction (2011), Second Edition, Matthew David and Carole Sutton (London: Sage Publications)
'Social Survey Design', May, T. and Sutton, C. in May, T. (2011) Social Research: Issues, Methods and Process. 4th Edition. (New York: McGraw Hall)
The Sage Handbook of Social Network Analysis, edited by John Scott and Peter Carrington (London: Sage Publications).
Research Events
CMI staff organised the sixth annual Methods@Plymouth conference 'Methods and Methodology: Innovations, influence, impact and ethics' held on the 19 and 20 May 2011. As with previous years the highly successful format of longer papers and discussion time proved a valued aspect of the conference for delegates. Reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature papers varied from 'advanced quantitative methods' through to 'ethical decision making by researcher practitioners'. Key note speakers were Dr. Gill Clarke, formerly of University of Southampton, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen, University of Bournemouth. Details of the current and past conferences are available online. The committee is now busy planning for the seventh conference provisionally set for the 24 and 25 May 2012.
Training Events
Methods expertise within the Centre is recognised at undergraduate level training. Members are part of the team who successfully bid for the JISC 'Learn to work' initiative (247,000). Carole Sutton and Alison Green are delivering work package One, Numeracy and Quantitative Methods, and Alison Anderson and Kevin Meethan, Work Package Three, Qualitative Methods. Alison Anderson and Carole Sutton have also received HEA C-SAP funding to develop a 'oolkit for Embedding Methods Teaching within a Sociology Field Trip' involving practical quantitative and qualitative methods training.
