Academic Skills

ACADEMIC ENGLISH FOR DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS (8ALDS001W)

The referral deadline for Semester 2 is 5pm on 19th January 2024.

This is an accessible and inclusive module for all students who would benefit from extra support with expression in English at doctoral level.
The module is delivered in the first semester of each academic year. It is delivered in the form of seven taught group sessions followed by three individual tutorials. The latter will be based on your own written work.

The taught group sessions will take place on the following dates from 2pm- 4pm. All classes will take place online via Blackboard Collaborate Ultra.

The module will run in Semester 2, 2023-24, as follows (all sessions run from 2pm – 4pm):

• 30th January 24
• 6th February 24
• 13th February 24
• 20th February 24
• 27th February 24
• 5th March 24
• 12th March 24

Referrals from DoSs will need to reach Richard Paterson by 5pm, Friday 19 January, 2024. You will receive an emailing confirming your place on the module.

If you would like to register for the module in semester 2, you will need to be referred by your Director of Studies. They will need to complete the referral form: 8ALDS001WReferral 2023 24 SEMESTER 2 and email it to Richard Paterson (r.paterson@westminster.ac.uk). Once you have been referred, you will be contacted to make sure that the module is right for you.

The individual sessions will be organised at mutually convenient times between the Module Leader and students during the second semester.

The university also provides support around writing through the Academic Engagement and Learning Development Team. One to one sessions and Postgraduate Cafes are available through them. Information on all they offer can be found here

CREATING and MANAGING EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS for YOUR RESEARCH.

12th October 2023
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In this workshop, we will discuss how we can best network with our colleagues, peers, publishers, funders, as well as the beneficiaries of our research and the wider public. Networking is all about building valuable relationships that can sustain and support us in our research journey. We will use this workshop as a space for you to develop your own individualised plan around networking, a plan that is tailored to your goals, needs, skills, and resources.

Through structured reflection both individually and as a group, we will help you identify your reasons for engaging in networking, the people and types of audiences you’d like to network with, as well as best practices for developing these relationships, from using social media and email, to striking up conversations in conferences, to presenting your research in a variety of venues, to building a public profile.

Please bring your laptop and, if you have time before the workshop, please reflect on your reasons for wanting to network more (or more effectively) and on the obstacles that you’re facing when doing so.

QUANTITATIVE METHODS TRAINING

The following three workshops are building on one another, guiding you through the process of designing an empirical study and analysing the findings with basic statistics as well as more advanced statistics. Doctoral researchers need to make an application for attendance on these workshops. More information will be circulated in late October 2023.

Workshop 1 – Design of Empirical Research Studies with Human Participants

13th February 2024

This workshop aims to give a broad overview of designing empirical research studies with human participants, covering research questions, sampling and required sample size (power analysis), choice of variables and measurement techniques, as well as design of experimental and correlational studies. It also provides a theoretical basis for techniques which may be practised during practical exercises.

• Introduction to the design of empirical research studies: experimental and correlational studies; experimental controls; selection and recruitment of subjects; piloting; ethical considerations
• Measurement through observation of behaviour: direct and indirect observation; recording techniques; measurement of behaviour; activity sampling
• Measurement through questionnaires and interviews: ranking methods, rating scales, application in interviews and questionnaires
• Good practice in research methods – an overview: ethics, avoiding questionable research practices, open science, preregistration

Literature:

Bourne, V., James, A. I., & Wilson-Smith, K. (2021). Understanding quantitative and qualitative research in psychology: A practical guide to methods, statistics, and analysis. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Prerequisites and preparation for this workshop:

Participants need to bring a laptop that has Microsoft Word installed and running on it.

Workshop 2 – The Basics of Statistical Analysis

16th February 2024

This workshop aims to provide an introduction to basic methods used to analyse data from empirical studies with human participants, describing the key features of the data in a study with scientific language. It explains how to compute descriptive statistics and create graphs to visualise quantitative data as well as how to test hypotheses, covering the most commonly used types of inferential statistics and their assumptions. This workshop will be run with the software package SPSS. This workshop will be run in a modular fashion, where some of those aspects shown in parentheses will be covered, depending on PhD students’ needs and wishes in this teaching year.

• Descriptive statistics
  • Types of data and data management
  • Distributions, esp. normal distribution
  • Central Tendency and Variability
  • Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode)
  • Measures of variability (range, variance, and standard deviation)
  • The importance of variability
  • (Tables and graphs)

• Testing Hypotheses
  • Probability
  • Null and Alternative Hypothesis
  • Sampling distribution and statistical decision making
  • Statistical significance and confidence intervals
• Inferential statistics

• (Non-parametric tests)
• (Chi Square)
• t-test, ANOVA (ANCOVA, MANOVA)
• Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression

Literature:

Field, A. (2018, 5th ed.). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics.

Prerequisites and preparation for this workshop:

• Participants need to bring a laptop that has the newest version of SPSS installed and running on it.
• Participants need to make sure they have a good understanding of the design of empirical research studies with human participants before attending this workshop. This can be from attending Workshop I in this series of workshops or from a BSc or MSc degree in a relevant discipline.
• To prepare for this workshop, participants are asked to read the first three chapters from Andy Field’s (2018) book and take notes of key points as well as any questions they may have.

Workshop 3– An Introduction to R

22nd March 2024

This workshop aims to provide an introduction to R, targeted primarily at users of SPSS. As many advanced statistical techniques are not available in SPSS and as R packages are constantly being developed and updated by the research community inside and outside of academia, R is becoming the method of choice for many procedures. This workshop will build on participants’ skills of structuring and analysing data in SPSS and show how this can be implemented in R.

• Introduction to R: The R environment and R Studio, writing syntax in R
• Importing and managing data in R
• Creating graphs in R
• Running basic statistical analyses in R
• Outlook: How opportunities for data analysis in R go far beyond SPSS

Literature:

Field, A., Miles, J., & Field, Z. (2012). Discovering statistics using R. London: Sage.

Prerequisites and preparation for this workshop:

• Participants need to bring a laptop that has the newest version of SPSS installed and running on it.
• Participants need to have R and R Studio installed and running on their laptop.
  1. Installing R: https://cran.r-project.org/mirrors.html
  2. Installing R Studio: https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/
• Participants need to make sure they have a good understanding of the design of empirical research studies with human participants before attending this workshop. This can be from attending Workshop I in this series of workshops or from a BSc or MSc degree in a relevant discipline.
• Participants need to make sure they have a good understanding of the basics of statistical analyses with SPSS before attending this workshop. This can be from attending Workshop II in this series of workshops or from a BSc or MSc degree in a relevant discipline.
• To prepare for this workshop, participants are asked to read the first four chapters from Andy Field’s et al. (2012) book and take notes of key points as well as any questions they may have.

RESEARCH METHODS MODULES AT MASTERS LEVEL

Doctoral research can sometimes mean that you will need some training in new research methods. The university runs a large number of research methods modules across its many masters programmes and it may be that joining some or all of the seminars of one of these modules will be useful to you. If you think that sitting in on one of these would be useful for your research, please discuss it with your Director of Studies. If you decide together that it would be helpful, then you should contact the Module Leader to ask if they would be happy for you to sit in on the class.

You can find the lists of research methods modules on the link below:

Level 7 Research Method Modules 2023 24 v1 04.10.23

ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

A number of video resources are available:

Library Guide for doctoral researchers

This is a recorded presentation which provides a useful introduction to the resources and support available to you.

Introduction to Mendeley Reference Management Software

Introduction to NVIVO*

*The GS also offers access to a series of 3 NVIVO workshops for those who need more detailed training and support. Places are limited and the application process will be announced shortly.

Managing your References

A range of online workshops are also available – details below.

These run twice in the academic year, so you can attend the one you prefer, using the relevant booking link. Dates for 2024 TBC.

Literature Searching

26th October 2023
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A literature search is a considered and organised search to find key literature on a topic. Get top tips on how to get started with your literature searching by hearing from the experts in searching Learn how to get the best out of the library catalogue, subject specific databases as well getting an overview of other resources that are available to you beyond the collection at University of Westminster.

• define what you are searching for
• decide where to search
• develop a search strategy
• refine your search strategy
  
• save your search for future use.
• know where to find further help

An Introduction to Refworks Reference Management Software

3rd November 2023
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By the end of this workshop, you will know how to:

• Create a RefWorks account

• Import references into RefWorks from a variety of sources

•Use RefWorks to create a bibliography in your preferred referencing style

•Use the RefWorks Write-n-Cite plugin to create references within a word processing programme

•Know the advantages and disadvantages of using RefWorks as a reference management tool

Defying writer’s block: Using Mind maps to generate, visualize and structure ideas

A mind map helps generate ideas before you make a formal plan and can reveal themes, gaps and links between ideas. This workshop will help you to develop a mind map on key words or themes so that you can use it as raw material for your earliest thinking and research. Mind maps are also a fantastic way to get started without the pressure of producing beautiful sentences, as such they can be highly beneficial in defying writer’s block. Additionally, they can also become the basis for creating a possible structure for your ideas!

13th November 2023
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An Introduction to Zotero Reference Management Software

Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. In this session we will introduce you to Zotero and it’s functionality.

14th November 2023
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Effective Use of your Resources in your Writing

Doctoral researchers at all stages are welcome to attend this session. We will discuss the principles behind referencing, quoting, paraphrasing and synthesising to ensure sources are effectively and ethically integrated into your academic work.

24th November 2023
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Critical thinking, argumentation and academic voice

To achieve a PhD you will present your original research in a structured, authoritative, academic thesis. You will need to master critical thinking, that is, reaching conclusions from evidence and reasoning.

This workshop will help you consolidate the notion of critical thinking, providing tools for critically analysing and evaluating information. It will help you demonstrate critical thinking in your academic writing, present compelling argumentations, and refine your academic voice.

This online workshop will be delivered in a friendly and interactive format so we will welcome your questions and contributions!

13th December 2023
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WRITING FOR JOURNALS

These on-line workshops are for PhD researchers who want to develop a strategic approach to their publishing.  Three weekly workshops explore benefits and challenges associated with developing a more strategic approach to publishing.  They include a series of activities, guided reflection, discussion, and advice to help participants’ develop a writing and publication strategy which reflects their personal and career objectives.  Workshop 1 will consider the benefits and pitfalls associated with writing in collaboration.  Workshops 2 and 3 will explore approaches identifying and selecting appropriate journals and then delving deeper into the conventions and existing debates within those journals.

Week 1: Writing in collaboration or alone
26th February 2024
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• How do we write?
• Exploring norms in different subject areas/specialisms
• Discussing the advantages and disadvantages of writing with supervisors or colleagues
• Collaborative writing – approaches to setting out the rules/norms

Week 2: Targeting and researching your journal (Part 1)
5th March 2024
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• Understanding journal ranking
• Thinking about your research strategy – what are your personal objectives?  What other factors are relevant?
• Starting to explore journals and select a shortlist.

Week 3: Targeting and researching your journal (Part 2)
12th March 2024
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• Selecting your journal  
• Exploring the conventions of that journal
• Starting to design a paper specifically for that journal
• Reflections and feedback  

HOW TO WRITE A LITERATURE REVIEW

12th March 2024
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The main purpose of a literature review is to situate new research (to be described in detail later), within the existing body (or bodies) of published knowledge. This requires the author to first undertake an analysis of all the relevant earlier and current research. This analysis is concerned with first describing the established knowledge, and then with identifying and articulating the earlier and current debates, inconsistencies, and tensions in the published work.

The analysis is followed by a synthesis, in which the new research is integrated creatively with the existing knowledge. This requires the development of arguments for justifying the new research undertaking, in terms of its contribution to progress in the field. Given that there are no precedents for the new research being described, this necessitates a greater presence of the author’s unique ‘voice’ in the writing.

Whilst the literature review in journal papers may be relatively brief in some academic disciplines, in a thesis it is always a more comprehensive undertaking. This requires the researcher to work continuously, in terms of planning and writing the review. Initially this may begin as an annotated bibliography, but later on it takes the form of an outline review that will be revised, edited and updated continuously as the research progresses.

This on-line presentation will describe how to write a literature review in five stages, and examples will be shown of reviews from different disciplines. In addition it will provide information and examples of some of the pitfalls that have been observed in reviews from the perspective of the reader (ie examiner/peer reviewer).

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY

Part 1
30th October 2023
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OR

5th February 2024
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Part 1 will consider accessibility practices that enable learners to navigate through resources more efficiently and read them more comfortably, including the following:

What are the accessibility requirements with headings, hyperlinks and tables?
How do you test them?
How do you remediate them?
How can fonts, colour and layout make reading more comfortable?
How does the format you provide influence the reader experience?

Part 2
21st November 2023
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OR

1st March 2024
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Part 2 will explore how digital accessibility tools can make content easier to understand or more meaningful to people with sensory disabilities. We will consider such topics as:

How to check for reading level.
How to check content works with text to speech and reads in a logical order in documents and presentations.
Practical (and achievable) advice on dealing with images, audio, video and tables so they make more sense to more readers.

RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT

Introduction to Research Data Management
This is a recorded presentation which provides a useful introduction to what Research Data Management is and why it is important.

Link to Panopto recording

Transcript_Introduction to Research Data Management

There is also a workshop available – see below.

INTRODUCTION TO MANAGING YOUR RESEARCH DATA

27th February 2024
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Do you have a plan for how will you curate and store all of the research materials and research data you will create during the course of your doctoral project? Do you have a plan to digitise or catalogue all of the physical artefacts you may create? Would you know what to do if a journal’s editor asked you to publish your research data alongside an article you’ve written? Would you know what a ‘data management plan’ is, if you are asked to write one as part of a future funding application?

This session provides an introduction for doctoral researchers to managing their research data: how to keep your materials and data well-organised and documented, so that it is easy for you to find the files you need, and so that it is easier to share your research data materials with other researchers and the public. After setting ‘research data management’ in the context of the wider field of ‘open research’ in academia, the session will cover some research data management basics, such as using file naming conventions and folder structures to organise your digital data. We will then take a look at two key scenarios you will encounter in your future career as a researcher, where you will need good research data management knowledge: publishing your data alongside a journal article, and writing a ‘data management plan’ as part of a funding application.

WORKING WITH OTHERS

All research involves working with others, whether that means thinking about what our reader needs when we are writing, engaging in discussion with supervisors and with others in our field, or joining with others to turn ideas into funding proposals or entrepreneurial schemes. This workshop will give you the opportunity to think about how best to work with others through your degree and beyond.

Click on the appropriate link below to book a place.

Working with Others in Social Sciences, Humanities and Architecture (SHAPE)
1st May 2024: book your place here

Working with Others in STEMM Subjects
8th May 2024: book your place here

Working with Others in Business
30th April 2024: book your place here

Working with Others in Arts, Media and Communication
13th May 2024: book your place here

WRITING RETREATS