More than meets the eye? Higher Education Research in Scotland
Dr Darren ComberSenior Educational Development Adviser
www.abdn.ac.uk
Overview
1. Supporting higher education research...
2. ...in Scotland
3. Support at the national level 1: a gut feeling
4. Support at the national level 2: refining the question
5. Discussion
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1. Supporting HE research...
• Researching policies and practice
• Pedagogical research
• Research into L&T in HE
• Research into transitions (between school & HE, work and HE [and vice versa], others)
www.abdn.ac.uk
2. ...in Scotland
Close-knit community of educational developers
Universities Scotland EDSC
• Quarterly meetings – info. dissemination and more (US, QAA, HEA, Researcher Development)
• Community for new ed. dev. staff coming to Scotland: proactivity, overseen by a single body
• Representation. Non-traditional e.g. Colleges of Art - ed. dev. in those and linking them in
• Sharing, not competition
• SHED
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Support at the National level 1
Not starting from zero: SRHE / BERA / SERA?
Research focus varies between EDUs
REF / not REF / not relevant / “support”?
Many of us are doing research in our spare time (aye right), or outwith 9-5, or aligning with wider institutional priorities
Many of us are running / co-ordinating PG Cert / similar
• Revealing the tip of an iceberg?
• Tensions inherent in providing “support” for research
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Support at the National level 1
Mobilising your SHED...1.Use talent that’s on our doorstep2.Do we know what the person in the office next door does?Funding from Academy Scotland:
2007 Research methods (University of Strathclyde)2008 Research interviews (University of Stirling)2009 Research in the Social Sciences (University of Aberdeen)2010 Research methods (University of Dundee)
Not the “usual suspects” turning up
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Support at the National level 2
•USEDSC (Universities Scotland Educational Development Sub-committee) commissioned survey•Data gathered June-Dec 2010•Distributed via SHED network
Higher Education Research in Scotland: Report of a Survey undertaken by Universities Scotland Educational Development Sub-CommitteeBovill, C., Sheward, L. & Smyth, K. July 2012.ISBN 978-0-902703-86-5
Who are these people?Why did they come / what were they wanting?There are SO MANY OF THEM
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Findings - demographics
CAVEAT: N=120
16/20 Scottish HEIs responded
70% female, 30% male
41% lecturer, 12% senior lecturer
69% discipline based, 22% academic developers
…of 69%, medicine/health 19%, education 12%
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What proportion of your time do you spend on research?
What proportion of your research time is focused on research into HE?
Findings – HE research time
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Findings – experience level
Which of the following best describes your research experience in research into HE?
Newer researcher (<3yrs) 44%
Some experience (4-6yrs) 34%
Experienced researcher (>7yrs) 22%
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Findings – methodologies used most frequently
• Case study methodology 43%
• Action research 42%
• Survey 40%
• Grounded theory 17%
• Ethnography 14%
• Phenomenology 14%
Phenomenography, narrative analysis, mixed methods, activity theory, econometric analysis, socio-cultural theory, visual analysis, practice as research
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Findings – funding
Have you received funding to support your higher educational research in the last 3-5 years?
• No 52%
• Yes 48%
Top sources quoted: own institution, HEA, ESRC, SFC, Europe, JISC, QAA, Scottish Government, Carnegie Trust, ‘international’, Industry – Academic partnership, NES, SQA
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Findings – funding
Other funding sources mentioned (once)
Arthritis Research UK
Canadian Medical Council
Council for Industry & HE
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
General Medical Council
HEFCE
Department for BIS
Moray Endowment Fund
RCUK Fellowship
Rheumatology Society
Royal Pharmaceutical Society GB
‘Roberts’ funding
Sector Skills Development Agency
Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education
Universities UK
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Findings – Research excellence framework
Intending to submit to REF?
Yes 33%
No 30%
Don’t know 34%
If yes, will REF return be under ‘education’?
Yes 18%
No 20%
Don’t know 53%
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Findings – Dissemination practices
National conferences 61%
Institutional conferences 49%
International conferences 48%
Subject/disciplinary events 43%
Online networks 8%
Online blogs 8%
Research incorporated into teaching; academic staff development; involving students in research and discussing research findings with students ; journal paper publication; sharing findings/collaborating with colleagues; future programme/course design; local teaching and research networks; national networks and partners ; used to inform institutional policy and practice.
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Findings - support
Events: 81%
Communicate with others interested in similar areas: 81%
Being contacted by others interested in similar areas: 83%
Being contacted to join online / network: 78%
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Findings – areas of interest for development
Discipline-specific educational research
Technology-enhanced learning
Assessment & feedback
Graduate attributes & employability
Student attitudes and experiences
Academic development, international students, institutional culture, institutionalstrategy & management, transitions, action research, creativity in education, distance learning, internationalisation, PDP, qualitative research methods, study skills