Research Methods Summer School

   

 

 

Neuchâtel SWITZERLAND

2014

Welcome    MetLab   Research   Methods   Summer   School   attracts   a   cohort   of   well-­‐informed,  engaged   students   and   professionals   from   around   the   world.   Many   of   the  participants   are   likely   to   be   graduate   professionals   working   in   a   wide   range   of  fields   including   the   private   and   public   sectors,   as  well   as   NGOs   and   third   sector  organisations.   A   significant   proportion   of   participants   will   be   enrolled   at  universities  and  other  higher  education  institutions  in  their  home  countries.      Participants   in   the  MetLab   summer   school   take   four   intensive  modules,   typically  comprising   three   hours   of   study   each   morning   and   two   hours   each   afternoon  (excluding   excursions)     –   a   total   of   40   formal   class   contact   hours.   over   10  days.  Each   course   is   assessed   through   a   final   examination,   enabling   the   award   of   a  certificate  and  transcript  to  successful  students.    If   you   are   interested   in   studying   the   challenging   issues   facing   researchers   in   the  21st   century   in   the   inspirational   lakeside   setting   of   Neuchâtel,   Switzerland,   we  hope   that   you   will   consider   applying   to   our   2014   Research   Methods   Summer  School.    

WELCOME TO THE METLAB 2014 RESEARCH METHODS SUMMER SCHOOL

Contact  Hours      The  Summer  School  is  an  intensive,  ten-­‐day  programme  consisting  of  a  total  of  40  contact   hours   over   the   ten   days   (plus   self-­‐study   time).   Usually   this   involves   20  hours   of   lectures,   attended   by   all   participants   each   morning   and   20   hours   of  seminar  classes   in  groups,  held  each  afternoon.  However,   teaching  methods  and  schedules  may  vary  depending  on  the  module.  A  course  pack  of  reading  material  is  provided   to   each   participant   at   the   start   of   the   programme.   Participants   are  advised  to  have  purchased  any  required  textbooks  prior  to  the  start  of  the  MetLab  Summer   School.   Due   to   the   intensive,   academic   nature   of   the   programme,  participants   are   advised   to   engage   in   some   appropriate   background   reading   (a  reading  list  is  available  on  our  website).    

Certificate  or  Statement  of  Attendance      All  modules  feature  a  final  examination,  which  are  two  hours  in  length  and  held  on  the  final  day  of  the  programme,  Wednesday  the  25th  of  June.  All  participants  are  encouraged  to  take  the  final  examination,  but  those  who  choose  not  to  do  so  are  eligible  to  be  awarded  a  Statement  of  Attendance.  Successful  examination  candidates  will  be  awarded  a  certificate.    

Accommodation    Accommodation  is  not  usually  arranged  by  MetLab  Summer  School  and  is  not   included   in   the   tuition   fee.   This   allows   participants   to   arrange  accommodation   which   fits   their   personal   requirements   and   budget.  However,   if  you  would   like  us  to  arrange  accommodation  on  your  behalf  we   will   be   happy   to   assist   you.   Please   contact   us   with   details   of   your  requirements.  

Social  Programme    Social  and  sightseeing  events  are  arranged  for  the  weekend  in  the  middle  of   the   programme.   This   usually   includes   a   visit   to   Interlaken   and   an  excursion   to  Geneva,   including   the  UN  and  other   sites  of   interest.  These  events  are  optional  and  can  be  booked  on  the  first  day  of  the  programme.  A  gala  dinner,  for  all  participants  on  the  Summer  School   including  faculty  and  other  staff,  is  arranged  in  a  local  restaurant  on  the  final  evening  of  the  programme.  

School  Fees    The  tuition  fee  for  taking  the  Summer  School  is  as  follows:    Standard  rate:  CHF  3,200  (including  excursions)    Economy  rate:  CHF  2,500  (excluding  excursions)    A  CHF200  discount  is  available  for  all  fully  completed  applications  received  and  paid  for  by  Friday  25th  of  April  2014.  The  fees   include  all  programme  materials  as  well  as  lunch  and  two  refreshment  breaks  each  day.  Payment  instructions  will  be  provided  in  your  offer  letter.    

Refund  policy    If   a   fully   registered   participant   chooses   to   withdraw   from   the   MetLab  Research  Methods   Summer   School,   they   should   request   this   by   e-­‐mail   to  the   Summer   School   office   at   ss2014@metlab.ch    Withdrawals   are   eligible  for  a  partial  refund  in  line  with  the  following  guidelines.  If  you  withdraw  on  or  before  Friday  25th  April  2014    a  95%  refund  of  tuition  fees  will  be  made.    Between  Friday  26th  of  April  2014  and  Monday  6th  of  May  2014  a  refund  of  75%  of  fees  will  be  given.  No  refund  will  be  given  after  the  6th  of  May  2014.      Please  note,  no  refunds  can  be  issued  against  any  additional  costs  incurred  for   travel,   accommodation,   or   changes   in   exchange   rates,   etc.   In   the  unlikely   event   that   the   MetLab   Summer   School   is   cancelled,   registered  participants  will  receive  a  full  refund  of  their  tuition  fees.    

How  to  Apply  

Please   download   the   appropriate   application   form   from   our   webpage.  Completed   application   forms   should   be   returned   to   us   at   the   address  shown  on  the  form.  Alternatively,  forms  can  be  scanned  and  sent  to  us  as  email  attachments  to:  ss2014@metlab.ch  

Forms  must  be  completed  in  full  and  returned  together  with  any  additional  information  as  specified  on  the  form.  Incomplete  application  forms  can  not  be  accepted.            

The  application  process  is  as  follows:  

Complete   the   application   form   in   full   (including   any   specific   additional  information  as  specified  on  the  form)  and  send  it  to  the  address  shown  on  the   form.  Your  application  will  be   reviewed  by  our  administrator  who  will  contact  you  and  acknowledge  receipt  of  the  documents.  If  your  application  is   in  order  and  we  have  a  place  available  we  will  contact  you  with  an  offer  (provided   we   have   a   place   on   the   programme).   The   offer   letter   will   also  include  details  of  how  and  when  to  pay  the  appropriate  fees.  Once  your  full  payment  has  been  made  we  will  confirm  your  place  on  the  programme.    

 Study  Facilities  

Our   2014   Summer   School  will   be   hosted   at   the  University  of  Neuchâtel  and   or   other   appropriate   premises   in   the   city.   In   addition   to   the  university   facilities   there   are   excellent   public   library   and   study   facilities  available   in   Neuchatel.   However,   the   lakeside   is   often   the   preferred  location  for  tranquil  individual  study,  or  for  informal  group  discussions.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In  addition  to  the  regular  Summer  School  Programme  participants  in  our  2014   programme  will   have   the   opportunity   to   attend   our   international  conference  on  Visual  Research  Methods,  which  will  be  held  in  Neuchatel  during  the  summer  school.    Further  details  are  available  on  our  website.    

The  Modules  

 

The  Summer  School  programme  includes  the  following  pathways:  

 

Qualitative  Pathway:  

§ Ethical  issues  in  qualitative  research    § Foundations  of  qualitative  Research    § Qualitative  interviewing    § Doing  ethnography  § Case  study  research      § Critical  discourse  analysis  

 

Quantitative  Pathway:    

§ Ethical  issues  in  quantitative  research    § Foundations  of  quantitative  Research    § Quantitative  sampling,  design  and  survey  § Introduction  to  statistics  and  data  analysis  § Introduction  to  regression  analysis  § Analyzing  social  networks  

 

Pick-­‐n-­‐Mix  Pathway:  

§ Participants  wishing  to  follow  the  pick-­‐n-­‐mix  pathway  select  any  two   modules   from   those   offered   in   the   programme   (two  qualitative  and  two  quantitative  modules).    This  must   include  a  research  ethics  module.    

 

 

*Individual  modules  will  be  delivered  by  highly  qualified  subject  specialists.  

   

Transport  

Air:  The  three  international  airports  most   likely  to  be  used  by  participants  are  Geneva,  Zürich   and   Basle.   The   Geneva   (GVA)   and   Zürich   (ZRH)   airports   are   recommended   as  there   are   excellent,   direct   train   connections   from   these   airports   to   Neuchâtel.   Trains  leave   at   least   hourly   and   the   journey   from   Geneva   airport   takes   one   hour   and   20  minutes,   from   Zurich   airport   two   hours.   There   are   many   budget   airlines   traveling   to  Switzerland  such  as  EasyJet,  Ryanair,  Jet2.    

Rail:  Neuchatel  is  75  minutes  by  train  from  Geneva  Airport  (direct).  It  is  two  hours  from  Zurich  airport.  There  are  good  connections  from  Neuchatel  main  station  to  other  cities  in   Switzerland   and  other   European   countries.   Full   details   of   rail   services   to   Neuchâtel  can   be   found   at:   http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-­‐services/am-­‐bahnhof/railway-­‐stations/station-­‐plus/neuchatel.html    Road:  Switzerland  has  an  excellent  network  of  highways  linking  all  parts  of  the  country  to  its  neighbouring  countries.    

Local  Transport:  Local  public  transport  services   in  Neuchatel  included  public  boat,  bus,  train  and  funiculaire.  http://www.transn.ch/fr/bienvenue.html  

There  are  a  range  of  discounted   ticket  options  available  which  can  significantly   reduce  the  costs  of  your  travel  in  Switzerland.  Please  check  with  the  relevant  service  provided  for  further  information.    

Bike  Hire:  All  you  have  to  do  is  show  some  ID,  sign  a  rental  agreement  for  the  day,  pay  a  20.00  CHF  deposit.  You  can  hire  a  bike  and  a  helmet  for  the  day  for  CHF  2.  

 

Accommodation  

Neuchatel  offers  a  wide  range  of  accommodation  to  suit  every  budget.  There  are  also  a  number  of  dedicated  student  accommodation  providers.  Please  visit  the  official  Neuchatel  Tourism  Website  for  information:  http://www.neuchateltourisme.ch/en/accommodation.html  

 

                                                          The Research Methods Laboratory P. O. Box 3169 CH2001 Switzerland     W: www.metlab.ch E: ss2014@metlab.ch T: 0041 (0)795541553

 

Neuchâtel SWITZERLAND

2014