National Centre for Research Methods

A new report showcases NCRM's wide-ranging impact over the past five years, including the training of more than 14,000 researchers. The Impact Assessment Report 2020-2025 shows how NCRM has improved researchers’ skills and knowledge, enabling them to conduct research that benefits society. Using surveys, case studies and other forms of user feedback, the report highlights the ways in which NCRM has supported people at different career stages in a variety of disciplines and sectors. This feedback includes the finding that, after taking part in NCRM training, 94 per cent of responding participants said they had applied their learning to their work. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/ez2UcwxG #Research #ResearchMethods #SocialScience #QualitativeResearch #QuantitativeResearch #SocialScience #ResearchImpact

NCRM has published a new online tutorial on how to use generalised additive models – sometimes seen as a middle ground between linear models and machine learning. Generalised additive models (GAMs) are a flexible class of statistical models that aim to explain the relationship between an outcome of interest and one or more covariates. GAMs differ from traditional regression models (also known as generalised linear models) as they allow users to include nonlinear relationships between the outcome and covariate(s). They can cope with complex relationships that are beyond simpler linear models, but uphold the interpretability that is often lost when using machine learning approaches. Access the tutorial: https://lnkd.in/ecKbPgdC #Research #ResearchMethods #SocialScience #QuantitativeResearch #Statistics

Learn about large text data analysis, corpus linguistics, thematic analysis, and more. Join Rhys Sandow and myself for a day workshop sponsored by National Centre for Research Methods "Meaning extraction from large text data: Thematic analysis via corpus linguistics" 9th June 2025 via zoom https://lnkd.in/eWMxggrN

A free NCRM tutorial explains how to use sequence analysis to identify patterns in people’s longitudinal trajectories. The online tutorial guides researchers through four steps: creating sequences, comparing sequences, cluster analysis and interpreting clusters. The TraMineR package in R is used to conduct sequence analysis, with the underlying concepts also generally applicable to other computer software, such as Stata. The tutorial features four videos, diagrams, simple explanations of the key concepts, a worksheet and downloadable code. Access the tutorial: https://lnkd.in/exPCVJyM #Research #ResearchMethods #SocialResearch #SocialScience #QuantitativeResearch

A new one-day course will provide an introduction to the Education Outcomes Linkage (EOL) database. The course takes place online on Wednesday, 26 March 2025. It will include a mixture of lectures and interactive discussions with experts. EOL is a longitudinal relational database comprised of a range of tables containing post primary schools’ data for pupils aged 14 and over in Northern Ireland. No specialist prior knowledge of the EOL or statistical software is needed to attend. However, a basic knowledge of research design and quantitative data analysis would be beneficial. The course is being delivered by NCRM, NISRA and ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK). Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gMzfwtAD #Research #ResearchMethods #QuantitativeResearch #Statistics #SocialScience #EducationResearch

Want to learn how to visualise and analyze spatial data in the social sciences? My course Introduction to QGIS: Spatial Data and Spatial Analysis course is coming up in April 2025, with National Centre for Research Methods https://lnkd.in/eniJQhka #GISchat

NCRM has published a free online tutorial on how to conduct focus groups. The tutorial features a video, worksheet, list of key terms and simple explanations of the key concepts. As a qualitative method, focus groups are used to obtain a range of views or opinions in social research from social actors, including citizens, community members and groups, customers, policymakers, politicians, business leaders and experts. Participants are selected based on their knowledge or experience of the topic to be explored. The interactions which participants have during a focus group are crucial for providing insights into their different perspectives. Access the tutorial: https://lnkd.in/eg3uYw6s #Research #ResearchMethods #SocialResearch #SocialScience #QualitativeResearch

Education Outcomes Linkage is a newly available longitudinal relational database from Northern Ireland containing data from the School Census, School Leavers Survey and the Exams Database. The National Centre for Research Methods has teamed up with NISRA to run a short course explaining the data, how it can be used and how to access it. A rich resource for social researchers right across the UK, this database can be used to explore comparisons across ethnicity, religion, geography, special educational needs and more. The course will stimulate ideas for research and give help directly from experts. Book your place for the online course on 26th March 2025 here: https://lnkd.in/ePrsGk-q ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) Queen's University Belfast Ulster University UK Research and Innovation

The deadline to submit contributions to the Research Methods Rendezvous is Tuesday, 4 March 2025. The two-day, online event will provide attendees with the opportunity to present ideas for new research and develop them with other researchers. It is designed to be a source of inspiration, a research incubator and a networking opportunity for researchers at all career stages. The rendezvous will take place on 10 September and 29 October 2025, with a seven-week interval between the dates providing time to collaborate on the discussed projects. Read the call for contributions: https://lnkd.in/e8evgjmW #Research #ResearchMethods #SocialScience #QualitativeResearch #QuantitativeResearch #CreativeResearch #MixedMethods #Methodology