Daycourses In Social Research

New daycourse programmes are run each Spring and Autumn. Write, email or phone (01483 689458) to make sure that you are on our mailing list

Day Courses in Social Research runs a programme of one and two day training courses designed to support students, researchers and lecturers in their ongoing development of social research skills and techniques. We have been running short courses for social researchers since 1981. We are located within the highly reputed Sociology Department at the University of Surrey, UK, which has an international reputation as a centre of excellence in both research and teaching. The department houses the CAQDAS (Computer Assisted Qualitative Data AnalysiS) Networking Project and the Centre for Research on Social Simulation (CRESS), and is associated with the ESRC's Resource Centre for Applied Social Surveys (CASS). It also publishes Social Research Update, a quarterly for social researchers. In the 2008 RAE the department was ranked joint 6th out of all the Sociology departments in the UK. As a result, our courses and workshops are run by experts in the field.

Forthcoming courses and training workshops are listed to the left.

Courses vary in length and structure, depending on the content, but all include practical exercises, discussion and instruction. Courses are held on the Stag Hill Campus in Guildford. Please check individual course information for specific locations and timings of individual courses.

Course Fees

Course fees vary according to your role and status. See table below for current fees.

Note that there are a limited number of reduced fee places for students on each course. These places will be offered on a first-come-first served basis, and students are therefore not guaranteed to get a reduced fee place. Students will be notified approximately one week before the course whether there is a reduced fee place available. Students who wish to receive a guaranteed place more than one week ahead must pay the Academic rate.

We are able to offer reduced fees for students on some of our more advanced courses and workshops from April 2012 as a result of our collaboration with the South Eastern Doctoral Training Centre (SEDTC). Courses and workshops which qualify for the reduced fees are as follows:

- All CAQDAS Two Day Training Workshops

- All CAQDAS Analytic Support Workshops (intermediate/advanced project-specific advice)

- Research Management One Day Courses

- Advanced Focus-Group Courses

Student Fees for other courses :

One Day Courses : £75 'standby' places for PhD students.

Two Day Courses : £110 ‘standby’ places for PhD students.

Costs will depend on the institution you are based at and your student status, as follows:

		Up to end July 2012		From September 2012
		One Day Courses	Two Day Courses	One Day Courses	Two Day Courses
Advanced Training Courses (includes all CAQDAS training events, Research Management, Advanced Focus Groups)	Government / commercial sector researchers	£175	£335	£180	£340
	Academics registered at Educational Organisations / Charitable sector	£135	£250	£140	£265
	SEDTC students (all PhD students based at Kent, Reading, RHUL & Surrey)	£20	£40	£20	£40
	Students from Linked DTCs (all social science PhD students registered at the Universities of Essex and Sussex)	£20	£40	£20	£40
	Non-SEDTC UK PhD students (all social science students registered for a PhD and based at any UK HEI)	£30	£60	£30	£60
	Non-Social Science UK PhD students (all PhD students registered at any UK HEI, not in a social science department)	£75 on standby basis	£110 on standby basis	£80 on standby basis	£125 on standby basis
	Non-UK PhD students	£135	£250	£140	£265

		Up to end July 2012		From September 2012
		One Day Courses	Two Day Courses	One Day Courses	Two Day Courses
All other Day Courses (Introduction to Qualitative Interviewing, Introduction to Focus Groups, Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis)	Government / commercial sector researchers	£175	£335	£180	£340
	Academics registered at Educational Organisations / Charitable sector	£135	£250	£140	£265
	UK registered PhD students (any institution and discipline)	£75 on standby basis	£110 on standby basis	£80 on standby basis	£125 on standby basis
	Non-UK PhD students	£135	£250	£140	£265

Cancellation refunds are as follows: Up to 10 days before - full refund of fee; Up to 5 days before - half refund of fee; Under 5 days - no refund.

8.Tuesday 8th & Wednesday 9th May 2012 - 2-day Nvivo 9 introductory workshop

Registration: 10a.m., Course start time 10.30a.m. Course closes 4.30p.m. day 1, 4:00p.m. day 2.

Presenter: Christina Silver

Course Outline: NVivo 9, developed by QSR, is a CAQDAS package which now integrates the handling of textual data with quantitative and multimedia forms of information/data.

The two-day workshop provides the opportunity to gain a thorough introduction to the software and practice tasks using one’s own data. The focus is on gaining confidence in the early tasks of setting up projects efficiently, exploring and coding data whilst having an eye on longer term tasks. The first day uses sample data in order to become familiar with tools and functions, following through common tasks as a group and practicing exercises as individuals. Work is structured to provide step-by-step support for commonly used early software tools, with others demonstrated to illustrate longer-term potential.

The second day provides participants with the opportunity to get started using NVivo with their own project data. This may comprise interview/focus-group transcripts, audiovisual data, documentary evidence etc. The first part of the day focuses on translating the tasks explored on day one into practice. Individuals and teams work independently with the support of the tutor. The remainder of the day focuses on experimenting with more sophisticated interrogation tools. Possibilities and implications are discussed, demonstrated and practiced.

The course will suit those who are complete beginners and those who have looked at the software and tried to use it in a limited extent. However you should have some idea about what your approach to qualitative data analysis will be. The course does not teach you 'how to do' qualitative data analysis per se. The workshop is accompanied by fully step-by-step documentation and is led by an expert user of NVivo who has been working with and training in qualitative software packages for many years. In the two day format there is time to discuss individual needs and particular methodological approaches.

9. Tuesday, 15th May 2012 - Introduction to Focus Groups

Registration 10.00am, Course start time 10.30am Course closes 4:30p.m.

Presenter: Ann Cronin

Course Outline: This course is an introduction to the methods involved in organising and conducting focus groups. It covers planning for focus groups, developing questions and moderating focus groups. The course also provides the opportunity for participants to experience being a member of a focus group. Issues relating to the analysis of focus group data are explored, although the main aim of the course is to provide a practical introduction to focus groups for those people who have little or no experience of running them.

10. Wednesday, 16th May 2012 - Introduction to Qualitative Interviewing

Registration 9.30am, Course start time 10.00a.am. Course closes 5:00p.m.

Presenters: Sarah Earthy and Sophie Sarre

This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of qualitative interviewing in both academic and applied social research, including the evaluation of services. The course is primarily designed for researchers with little or no experience of qualitative interviewing. It will also be useful for more experienced researchers who have had little formal training or who wish to reflect on their practice. The day combines sessions exploring the nature of a qualitative approach, the interview process and the use of qualitative interviews in evaluation with practical exercises on the interview as interaction, developing an interview guide and conducting interviews. We will explore a variety of ethical issues as these arise in discussion. (Please note: the analysis of qualitative data is not covered in this course.)

11. Thursday, 24th May 2012 - Research Management

Registration: 10.00am., Course start time 10.30a.m. Course closes 5:00p.m.

Presenter: Roger Tarling

Course outline: This course is aimed at researchers who are beginning to assume greater responsibility for managing projects. It will identofy the issues and problems which may arise in developing and conducting a research project, including relationships with sponsors and funders, planning and resource management, negotiating access, report writing and dissemination. Roger Tarling is author of ‘Managing Social Research: A Practical Guide’, published by Routledge 2006.

12.Wednesday, 30th & Friday 31st May 2012 - 2-day ATLAS.ti introductory workshop

Registration: 10a.m., Course start time 10.30a.m. Course closes 4.30p.m. day 1, 4:00p.m. day 2.

Presenter: Christina Silver

Course Outline: ATLAS.ti 6, developed by Scientific Software, is a CAQDAS package which now integrates the handling of textual data with quantitative and multimedia forms of information/data.

The two-day workshop provides the opportunity to gain a thorough introduction to the software and practice tasks using one’s own data. The focus is on gaining confidence in the early tasks of setting up projects efficiently, exploring and coding data whilst having an eye on longer term tasks. The first day uses sample data in order to become familiar with tools and functions, following through common tasks as a group and practicing exercises as individuals. Work is structured to provide step-by-step support for commonly used early software tools, with others demonstrated to illustrate longer-term potential.

The second day provides participants with the opportunity to get started using ATLAS.ti with their own project data. This may comprise interview/focus-group transcripts, audiovisual data, documentary evidence etc. The first part of the day focuses on translating the tasks explored on day one into practice. Individuals and teams work independently with the support of the tutor. The remainder of the day focuses on experimenting with more sophisticated interrogation tools. Possibilities and implications are discussed, demonstrated and practiced.

The course will suit those who are complete beginners and those who have looked at the software and tried to use it in a limited extent. However you should have some idea about what your approach to qualitative data analysis will be. The course does not teach you 'how to do' qualitative data analysis per se. The workshop is accompanied by fully step-by-step documentation and is led by an expert user of ATLAS.ti who has been working with and training in qualitative software packages for many years. In the two day format there is time to discuss individual needs and particular methodological approaches.

13.Monday, 25th & Tuesday 26th June 2012 - 2-day Nvivo 9 introductory workshop

Registration: 10a.m., Course start time 10.30a.m. Course closes 4.30p.m. day 1, 4:00p.m. day 2.

Presenter: Christina Silver

Course Outline: NVivo 9, developed by QSR, is a CAQDAS package which now integrates the handling of textual data with quantitative and multimedia forms of information/data.

The two-day workshop provides the opportunity to gain a thorough introduction to the software and practice tasks using one’s own data. The focus is on gaining confidence in the early tasks of setting up projects efficiently, exploring and coding data whilst having an eye on longer term tasks. The first day uses sample data in order to become familiar with tools and functions, following through common tasks as a group and practicing exercises as individuals. Work is structured to provide step-by-step support for commonly used early software tools, with others demonstrated to illustrate longer-term potential.

The second day provides participants with the opportunity to get started using NVivo with their own project data. This may comprise interview/focus-group transcripts, audiovisual data, documentary evidence etc. The first part of the day focuses on translating the tasks explored on day one into practice. Individuals and teams work independently with the support of the tutor. The remainder of the day focuses on experimenting with more sophisticated interrogation tools. Possibilities and implications are discussed, demonstrated and practiced.

The course will suit those who are complete beginners and those who have looked at the software and tried to use it in a limited extent. However you should have some idea about what your approach to qualitative data analysis will be. The course does not teach you 'how to do' qualitative data analysis per se. The workshop is accompanied by fully step-by-step documentation and is led by an expert user of NVivo who has been working with and training in qualitative software packages for many years. In the two day format there is time to discuss individual needs and particular methodological approaches.

14. Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis - Thursday, 5th July 2012

Presenters: Sarah Earthy & Judith Sleney

Registration: 9.30am., Course start time 10.00am. Course closes 4:30p.m.

This course provides an introduction to the analysis of qualitative data derived from in-depth interviews and focus groups. We will explore the relationship between the way in which data is generated and different approaches to analysis, and provide practical examples of analysis from initial coding through to the presentation of findings. Both thematic analysis and narrative analysis will be discussed. The course is intended for researchers with only limited experience of qualitative analysis. (Please note, the course will not cover computer software programmes designed to assist qualitative data analysis).

15.2-day Transana introductory workshop - Wednesday 11th & Thursday 12th July 2012

Presenter: Christina Silver

Registration: 10.00am., Course start time 10.30am. Course closes 4.30p.m. day 1, 4:00p.m. day 2.

The course will suit those who are complete beginners and those who have looked at the software and tried to use it to a limited extent. However you should have some idea about what your approach to analyzing video data will be. The course does not teach you ‘how to do’ qualitative data analysis per se.

During the two-day workshop format we spend some time familiarizing with Transana as a group using sample data. This enables the group to focus on the same tasks at the same time – to experiment with tools without it ‘mattering’. We will experiment with transcribing, creating clips, coding interesting or significant data segments and creating notes which centralize thematic work and writing. We will think about the organization of the data and the project itself, developing and visualizing connections between documents, themes, issues, and theoretical ideas. We will generate output files and reports which allow us to integrate work into other applications.

During the afternoon of the first day participants will begin a Transana database using their own project data. This enables the efficient set-up of the project in light of the experimentations earlier in the day. The rest of the training is given over to participants working individually with the support of the tutor. At times the group comes together to consider more advanced tools and discuss the implications of their use on analysis.

VERSION NOTE: The software installed on our machines and to be taught will be Transana Version 2.42

OBJECTIVES: We aim to encourage the effective use of some of the many tools available in Transana, whilst staying in control of work. Time constraints mean that we focus on those parts of the software which provide fundamental and flexible ways to manage thinking about qualitative data. Overview demonstrations provide a longer term sense of direction.

Tasks covered:

Creating and saving databases

Working with video data

Transcribing tools and options

The creation of clips and their organization into collections

Coding data using keywords

Visualizing data

Note taking

16.Wednesday, 25th & Thursday 26th July 2012 - 2-day Nvivo 9 introductory workshop

Registration: 10a.m., Course start time 10.30a.m. Course closes 4.30p.m. day 1, 4:00p.m. day 2.

Presenter: Christina Silver

Course Outline: NVivo 9, developed by QSR, is a CAQDAS package which now integrates the handling of textual data with quantitative and multimedia forms of information/data.

The two-day workshop provides the opportunity to gain a thorough introduction to the software and practice tasks using one’s own data. The focus is on gaining confidence in the early tasks of setting up projects efficiently, exploring and coding data whilst having an eye on longer term tasks. The first day uses sample data in order to become familiar with tools and functions, following through common tasks as a group and practicing exercises as individuals. Work is structured to provide step-by-step support for commonly used early software tools, with others demonstrated to illustrate longer-term potential.

The second day provides participants with the opportunity to get started using NVivo with their own project data. This may comprise interview/focus-group transcripts, audiovisual data, documentary evidence etc. The first part of the day focuses on translating the tasks explored on day one into practice. Individuals and teams work independently with the support of the tutor. The remainder of the day focuses on experimenting with more sophisticated interrogation tools. Possibilities and implications are discussed, demonstrated and practiced.

The course will suit those who are complete beginners and those who have looked at the software and tried to use it in a limited extent. However you should have some idea about what your approach to qualitative data analysis will be. The course does not teach you 'how to do' qualitative data analysis per se. The workshop is accompanied by fully step-by-step documentation and is led by an expert user of NVivo who has been working with and training in qualitative software packages for many years. In the two day format there is time to discuss individual needs and particular methodological approaches.

17. Wednesday 19th & Thursday 20th September 2012 - 2-day Nvivo 9 introductory workshop

Registration: 10a.m., Course start time 10.30a.m. Course closes 4.30p.m. day 1, 4:00p.m. day 2.

Presenter: Christina Silver

Course Outline: NVivo 9, developed by QSR, is a CAQDAS package which now integrates the handling of textual data with quantitative and multimedia forms of information/data.

The two-day workshop provides the opportunity to gain a thorough introduction to the software and practice tasks using one’s own data. The focus is on gaining confidence in the early tasks of setting up projects efficiently, exploring and coding data whilst having an eye on longer term tasks. The first day uses sample data in order to become familiar with tools and functions, following through common tasks as a group and practicing exercises as individuals. Work is structured to provide step-by-step support for commonly used early software tools, with others demonstrated to illustrate longer-term potential.

The second day provides participants with the opportunity to get started using NVivo with their own project data. This may comprise interview/focus-group transcripts, audiovisual data, documentary evidence etc. The first part of the day focuses on translating the tasks explored on day one into practice. Individuals and teams work independently with the support of the tutor. The remainder of the day focuses on experimenting with more sophisticated interrogation tools. Possibilities and implications are discussed, demonstrated and practiced.

The course will suit those who are complete beginners and those who have looked at the software and tried to use it in a limited extent. However you should have some idea about what your approach to qualitative data analysis will be. The course does not teach you 'how to do' qualitative data analysis per se. The workshop is accompanied by fully step-by-step documentation and is led by an expert user of NVivo who has been working with and training in qualitative software packages for many years. In the two day format there is time to discuss individual needs and particular methodological approaches.

18. Wednesday, 26th & Thursday 27th September 2012 - 2-day ATLAS.ti introductory workshop

Registration: 10a.m., Course start time 10.30a.m. Course closes 4.30p.m. day 1, 4:00p.m. day 2.

Presenter: Christina Silver

Course Outline: ATLAS.ti 6, developed by Scientific Software, is a CAQDAS package which now integrates the handling of textual data with quantitative and multimedia forms of information/data.

The two-day workshop provides the opportunity to gain a thorough introduction to the software and practice tasks using one’s own data. The focus is on gaining confidence in the early tasks of setting up projects efficiently, exploring and coding data whilst having an eye on longer term tasks. The first day uses sample data in order to become familiar with tools and functions, following through common tasks as a group and practicing exercises as individuals. Work is structured to provide step-by-step support for commonly used early software tools, with others demonstrated to illustrate longer-term potential.

The second day provides participants with the opportunity to get started using ATLAS.ti with their own project data. This may comprise interview/focus-group transcripts, audiovisual data, documentary evidence etc. The first part of the day focuses on translating the tasks explored on day one into practice. Individuals and teams work independently with the support of the tutor. The remainder of the day focuses on experimenting with more sophisticated interrogation tools. Possibilities and implications are discussed, demonstrated and practiced.

The course will suit those who are complete beginners and those who have looked at the software and tried to use it in a limited extent. However you should have some idea about what your approach to qualitative data analysis will be. The course does not teach you 'how to do' qualitative data analysis per se. The workshop is accompanied by fully step-by-step documentation and is led by an expert user of ATLAS.ti who has been working with and training in qualitative software packages for many years. In the two day format there is time to discuss individual needs and particular methodological approaches.

19. Wednesday, 24th october 2012 - 1-day Nvivo 9 follow-up workshop

Registration: 10a.m., Course start time 10.30a.m. Course closes 4.30p.m./5:00p.m.

Presenter: Christina Silver

Course Outline: This workshop is for researchers who have previously attended an introductory training workshop in NVivo and/or who have been using the software for a real project for some time. It is not an introductory workshop, but designed as a refresher to help researchers get going with their own data or to move on beyond the basic tasks, for those who have already started working with the software. The day will comprise discussion, demonstration and hands-on work and combine group and individual work. We will provide reminders of early tasks to structure work efficiently and cover the more sophisticated tools and tasks as required. Participants may bring data and/or copies of their own software projects to work with during the day and there will be an opportunity for each participant to talk with Tutors about their own work. Participants will be asked ahead of time for information about their progress with software and the aspects for which they require support such that the workshop can be tailored specifically for those attending. The workshop is accompanied by relevant documentation, some of which will be provided ahead of time.

20. Wednesday, 7th November 2012 - 1-day ATLAS.ti 6 follow-up workshop

Registration: 10a.m., Course start time 10.30a.m. Course closes 4.30p.m./5:00p.m.

Presenter: Christina Silver

Course Outline: ATLAS.ti, developed by Scientific Software, is a CAQDAS package which focuses on the analysis of video data.

This workshop is designed for those who have been working on a real project using ATLAS.ti for some time. Most participants will have previously attended an Introductory Workshop, although this is not a pre-requisite. The aim is to move participants on from the basic tasks of setting up a project and coding data. This is not a repeat of aspects covered in the Introductory Workshop and it is assumed that participants have a basic working knowledge of the software. Rather, this workshop covers more advanced tasks including query functions, model tool and data representation and reporting functions. The exact content of each intermediate/advanced workshop depends on the needs of the individual participants attending, and we enquire about progress and specific issues ahead of time to plan accordingly. Participants are encouraged to bring work-in-progress along to the workshop (either on a laptop or memory stick). The workshop is accompanied by intermediate/advanced documentation. The workshop is led by an expert user of ATLAS.ti who has been working with and training in qualitative software packages for many years.