We have a DREaM: the Developing Research Excellence & Methods network

DREaM Project participant Dr Alison Brettle, @BrettleAli

with DREaM Project co-investigators:Professor Hazel Hall, @hazelhProfessor Charles Oppenheim, @CharlesOppenh

Aim of the DREaM project

To develop a formal UK-wide network of LIS researchersJanuary 2011 until August 2012

• Overview– Five events• Launch conference• Three linked workshops• Concluding conference (9th July 2012, British Library)

– Event amplification• Extensive use of social media

– @LIS_DREaM, DREaM online community, Vimeo, SlideShare…

DREaM ConferencesDREaM Conferences

http://bit.ly/DREaM5_proghttp://bit.ly/DREaM5_prog

• Workshop content– Experts & methods– “Unconference” half hour– Interactive component

• “Social” aspects of workshops– Social evenings– Social networking– Event amplification

Workshop 1Edinburgh 25th October 2011

Workshop 2London 30th January 2012

Workshop 3Edinburgh 25th April 2012

Ethnography User involvement: action research

Horizon scanning

Social Network Analysis Techniques from history Repertory grids

Discourse analysis Webometrics Data mining

Unconference half hour Unconference half hour Unconference half hour

Ethics and legal issues Research and policy Research impact

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project/dream-event-2-workshop-tuesday-25-october-2011/

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project/dream-event-3-workshop-monday-30-january-2012/

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project/dream-event-4-workshop-wednesday-25-april-2012/

http://lis-dream.spruz.comhttp://lis-dream.spruz.com

• Impact of DREaM: participant level– Social network analysis• To be reported at DREaM

conference on July 9th

– Research skills audit– Critical incidents– See also feedback on each event

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project

• Research skills audit– Familiarity “before” & “after”– 5 point scale for each of 12

workshop themes– 22 “before” submissions– 25 “after” submissions

Never heard of this

Heard but unfamiliar In theory

Applied in practice Expert

Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post

Ethnography 2 0 9 1 8 23 3 1 0 0

Social network analysis 3 0 10 0 8 23 1 2 0 0

Discourse analysis 2 0 12 1 6 19 2 4 0 0

Ethics & legal issues 0 0 3 0 6 10 12 12 2 3

Action research 4 0 4 1 8 18 6 6 0 1

Research techniques from history 5 0 9 0 4 20 3 5 0 0

Web metrics 3 0 10 0 5 23 4 2 0 0

Tying research output to policy 0 0 8 0 5 14 8 8 1 3

Horizon scanning 4 0 7 1 7 17 4 5 0 0

Repertory grids 17 0 5 2 0 22 0 1 0 0

Data mining 0 0 11 2 10 21 1 1 0 0

Increasing research impact 0 0 5 0 8 13 8 10 1 2

• Critical incident analysis– Use of unconference half

hour at third workshop to collect data on “incidents” of impact

– Thematic analysis: 15 responses

• Themes: impacts– Influenced choice of PhD methodology or research

design– Increased knowledge and (research) confidence– Gave ability to demonstrate research knowledge

in the workplace– Widened network/research relationships– Generated new resources to share

Influenced choice of PhD methodology or research design

Adapted my research methodology for my PhD to analyse “discourses” in interviews and in the literature survey.

Adapted my research methodology for my PhD to analyse “discourses” in interviews and in the literature survey.

Able to suggest use of “Social Network Analysis” to colleague’s PhD student who was looking for suitable methodology to measure impact of digital media.

Able to suggest use of “Social Network Analysis” to colleague’s PhD student who was looking for suitable methodology to measure impact of digital media.

Methods from DREaM 2 useful in planning PhD methodology, especially introduction to ethnography and importance of reflexivity and discourse analysis.

Methods from DREaM 2 useful in planning PhD methodology, especially introduction to ethnography and importance of reflexivity and discourse analysis.

Increased knowledge & (research) confidence

In chatting with academic colleagues about another project… I had insight and confidence that I would not have had if I’d not attended LIS DREaM.

In chatting with academic colleagues about another project… I had insight and confidence that I would not have had if I’d not attended LIS DREaM.

[We] have input in areas where we might not have previously, because we can make a contribution “wearing [a] DREaM hat”.

[We] have input in areas where we might not have previously, because we can make a contribution “wearing [a] DREaM hat”.

I’ve been more reflective in my own practice, and also considered a wider range of methods and how they overlap or fit together.

I’ve been more reflective in my own practice, and also considered a wider range of methods and how they overlap or fit together.

Gave ability to demonstrate research knowledge in the workplace

In general it has given me a profile at work which allows me to be interested in research and its relation to practice.

In general it has given me a profile at work which allows me to be interested in research and its relation to practice.

[When] evaluating a service to continuously improve and measure outcomes… the ideas for designing the study came from DREaM.

[When] evaluating a service to continuously improve and measure outcomes… the ideas for designing the study came from DREaM.

When discussing the importance of evaluation with my manager I mentioned different tactics that had been explored at DREaM.

When discussing the importance of evaluation with my manager I mentioned different tactics that had been explored at DREaM.

Widened network & research relationships

[I] met Tom Haigh (speaker) who suggested I join his email list... I now have useful responses to my questions and it’s an interesting list.

[I] met Tom Haigh (speaker) who suggested I join his email list... I now have useful responses to my questions and it’s an interesting list.

[I] posted details of regional event and [am] now in regular Twitter contact with [an] LIS DREaM member.

[I] posted details of regional event and [am] now in regular Twitter contact with [an] LIS DREaM member.

It was part of developing a closer working relationship with my PhD supervisor.

It was part of developing a closer working relationship with my PhD supervisor.

Generated new resources to share

Following each workshop I have delivered short sessions for fellow IS researchers where I shared the content and how it impacted on our organisation.

Following each workshop I have delivered short sessions for fellow IS researchers where I shared the content and how it impacted on our organisation.

Delivering the sessions has focused my learning and highlighted techniques to others who intend to apply some for research or work purposes

Delivering the sessions has focused my learning and highlighted techniques to others who intend to apply some for research or work purposes

[I met a] DREaM delegate doing academic research. [She] shared [a] questionnaire she had used for similar project to [mine]. [This was] very helpful for [a] current project.”

[I met a] DREaM delegate doing academic research. [She] shared [a] questionnaire she had used for similar project to [mine]. [This was] very helpful for [a] current project.”

My tweet on ethnographic research methods was RT’d by a colleague who’d found it useful and recommended it to other students using the phdchat hashtag.

My tweet on ethnographic research methods was RT’d by a colleague who’d found it useful and recommended it to other students using the phdchat hashtag.

• Some conclusions– DREaM project impact to date• Largely tied to increase in knowledge and capabilities of

the workshop cadre• There is evidence that participants now have a different

relationship with research• Event amplification has contributed to potential for

impact beyond the core group

– What next?• DREaM2 follow-on grant to capitalise on, and develop

further, the impact so far• DREaM Conference, British Library, Monday 9th July

We have a DREaM: the Developing Research Excellence & Methods network

DREaM Project participant Dr Alison Brettle, @BrettleAli

with DREaM Project co-investigators:Professor Hazel Hall, @hazelhProfessor Charles Oppenheim, @CharlesOppenh