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