Postgraduate

Arts and Humanities Centre

Research Training Programme

2019 – 2020

2 3
 Welcome to PAHC 4
The Programme at a Glance 6

The desire to find out is woven into the PART ONE

way we are, as is our relationality: we need The Research Training Programme
others in order to survive. The PAHC Induction 11
Research Training Programme brings
Core Series 12
together these two fundamental forces.
Student Talks 16

Doctoral research is a practice of social Provocative Theory 17

participation between students, staff Methods and Methodologies 20
(support, academic, library, administration) Practice Research Group 23
and our research subjects. The Programme
Post – PhD: Employment after a PhD 24
is designed to assist the growth of this
Writing Groups 25
community of research practice.
The Digital Researcher 26
Student Initiatives 27

PART TWO
Resources
Skillsforge and Moodle 29
Departments and Research Centres 29
Manchester Met Graduate School 30
Manchester Met Library 30
Special Collections Museum 31
The North West Film Archive 31
Working with Archives and Collections 31
HARTS Online 32
Conferences 33
Social Media Research Training Group 34
Academic and Study Skills Team 34
RAH! (Research in Arts and Humanities) 34
Engage Arts and Humanities 34
Manchester Met Counselling, 35
Health and Wellbeing Service

4
 The PAHC
Management Team
Welcome to
PAHC
We are a team of administrators and academics
dedicated to helping you complete your
research degree. You can find us in the Righton
building. Bring any questions about the degree
procedures (Application to Register (RD1),
Progression Review (RD2) etc) to the degree
I always say that my PhD was the best time The Research Training Programme is a key administrators. If you have questions about the
of my academic life: that regardless of all the element of what PAHC does. It provides a wide Research Training Programme contact Myna
ups and downs, those were three or four years range of opportunities that will not only give Trustram. Your director of studies is the first
that made me the academic I am. you the tools you need to complete your PhD, contact for all other issues.
but also allow you to think about the bigger
The Postgraduate Arts and picture outside of it. A PhD isn’t ultimately
Humanities Centre (PAHC) is here just a qualification, it is a way of life that will
to make your own experience as help you think about what it is that makes a
memorable as possible. collegiate, reflexive researcher.
Prof. Steve Miles Head of Postgraduate Arts
Traditionally a PhD has always been about Please participate in as much of the Research s.miles@mmu.ac.uk and Humanities Centre
a project. Of course, the project is still at the Training Programme as you can and most
heart of what you will do for the next few years, of all remember that each event is another Dr Nikolai Duffy Assistant Head of Postgraduate
but the existence of PAHC tells us that the PhD opportunity for you to collectively shape the
n.duffy@mmu.ac.uk Arts and Humanities Centre
is changing. We see PAHC as something of PhD experience. Welcome to the Postgraduate
a ‘community of practice’; we are a group of Arts and Humanities Centre!
like-minded researchers working together to
Dr Myna Trustram Senior
make a supportive environment that helps you Prof. Steve Miles, m.trustram@mmu.ac.uk Lecturer
to produce the best possible research. Head of PAHC
Kate Johnson Postgraduate Arts
A PhD student has many homes. Within the k.johnson@mmu.ac.uk and Humanities Support Tutor
Faculty of Arts and Humanities, you belong
to one of nine departments, and one of four Anne-Marie Walsh Research
University Research Centres. In a sense these a.walsh@mmu.ac.uk Degrees Manager
provide you with your academic ‘house’: the
place where you engage with your supervisors,
Katherine Walthall Research
with disciplinary debates and possibly further
down the line, in teaching. PAHC, on the other
pahcresearchdegrees@mmu.ac.uk Group Officer
hand, is your academic ‘home’: the place where
you go not only to seek advice about passing Deborah Bown Research
through university processes, but where you pahcresearchdegrees@mmu.ac.uk Administrator
share experiences with other students, engage
in research training and reflect on what all this Jennifer Keane Research
means for the future. pahcresearchdegrees@mmu.ac.uk Administrator
6 7
At a Glance 20.11.19 10 – 12 pm

1 – 2.30 pm
Copyright and Your Research

Provocative Theory
Pg 12

Pg 18
Unless indicated otherwise, all sessions take place in the Righton building.
3 – 5 pm Writing Group: an Introduction to Doctoral Writing Pg 25

27.11.19 10 – 12 pm Digital Researcher Pg 13

Term 1 From 1 pm Departmental Events Pg 29

2.10.19 – Induction Pg 11
4.12.19 10 – 12 pm Research Ethics - an Introduction Pg 13
3.10.19
The research proposal and the Application 1 – 2.30 pm Feminist Methodologies Pg 21
9.10.19 10 – 12 pm Pg 12
to Register (RD1)
3 – 5 pm Writing Group: an Introduction to Doctoral Writing Pg 25
1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 18
5 – 6.30 pm Post-PhD: Academic Career Strategy Pg 24
16.10.19 10 – 12 pm Wellbeing with Photography Workshop Pg 12
11.12.19 10 – 12 pm Open Research Pg 13
1 – 2.30 pm Grounded Theory Pg 21
1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 18
23.10.19 10 – 12 pm The Literature Review Pg 12
3 – 5 pm Writing Group: an Introduction to Doctoral Writing Pg 25
1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 18
18.12.19 10 – 12 pm Student-staff Forum Pg 13
28.10.19 – NWCDTP Annual Conference Pg 33
29.10.19 1 – 2.30 pm Creative Methodologies Pg 21

30.10.19 11 – 12 pm SAGE Research Methods Pg 12 3 – 5 pm Writing Group: an Introduction to Doctoral Writing Pg 25

NB time and place for this session:
in Geoffrey Manton Lab 111. 5 pm Christmas Party Pg 11
12 – 1 pm Research Lunch Pg 11
Term 2
1 – 2.30 pm Covert Research in Social Science Pg 21
8.1.20 Induction Pg 11
3 – 5 pm Writing Group: an Introduction to Doctoral Writing Pg 25

5 – 6.30 pm Post-PhD: Getting a job Pg 24 Challenging the Imposter Syndrome.

15.1.20 10 – 12 pm Pg 14
A Creative Workshop
6.11.19 10 – 12 pm Practice Research Pg 12
1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 19
1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 18
3 – 5 pm What is Practice-led Research? Pg 23
Working with Archives and Collections
3 – 5 pm NB: This is in Special Collections Museum, Pg 31 5 – 6.30 pm The Digital Researcher: Working with Digital Media Pg 26
3rd floor All Saints Library
22.1.20 10 – 12 pm Reading Practice Pg 14
13.11.19 10 – 12 pm Going to Conferences Pg 12
1 – 2.30 pm Participatory Research Pg 22
1 – 2.30 pm Interviews in Social Research Pg 21
3 – 5 pm Practice as Research Pg 23
3 – 5 pm Writing Group: an Introduction to Doctoral Writing Pg 25
The Digital Researcher: Research Context
5 – 6.30 pm Post-PhD: Getting a job Pg 24 5 – 6.30 pm Pg 26
and Networks
8 9
29.1.20 10 – 12 pm Student Initiatives Pg 14 25.3.20 10 – 12 pm Vivas Pg 15

1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 19 1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 19

3 – 5 pm Linking Practice and Academic Research Pg 23 3 – 5 pm A Writing Group for Third Year Students Pg 25

5 – 6.30 pm The Digital Researcher: Digital Arts and Humanities Pg 26 5 pm PAHC Party Pg 11

5.2.20 10 – 12 pm Academic Writing Pg 14 1.4.20 10 – 12 pm Student-staff Forum Pg 15

12 – 1 pm Research Lunch Pg 11 1 – 2.30 pm Digital Methods Pg 22

Incorporating Philosophies of Social Science 3 – 5 pm A Writing Group for Third Year Students Pg 25
1 – 2.30 pm Pg 22
in your Thesis

3 – 5 pm Student Research Talks Pg 16 Term 3

12.2.20 10 – 12 pm Beyond Google Scholar Pg 14 29.4.20 10 – 12 pm A Writing-with-objects Group Pg 25

1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 19 12 – 1 pm Research Lunch Pg 11

3 – 5 pm Student Research Talks Pg 16 1 – 2.30 pm Historical ‘Wellbeing’: Tips from the Tudors Pg 27

19.2.20 10 – 12 pm The Progression Review (RD2) and the Annual Review Pg 14 6.5.20 10 – 12 pm A Writing-with-objects Group Pg 25

1 – 2.30 pm Video Methods for a Mobile World Pg 22 1 – 2.30 pm Getting started with NVivo Pg 27

3 – 5 pm Student Research Talks Pg 16 13.5.20 10 – 12 pm A Writing-with-objects Group Pg 25

26.2.20 10 – 12 pm Publishing in Academic Journals Pg 15 Emotive Research: Care, Self-care,

1 – 2.30 pm Pg 27
and Emotional Labour
1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 19 14.5.20 –
15.5.20 PAHC Annual Postgraduate Symposium Pg 33
3 – 5 pm Student Research Talks Pg 16

Manchester Met 12th Annual Postgraduate 20.5.20 1 – 2.30 pm The Archives Research Group Pg 27
4.3.20 Pg 33
Research Conference
17.6.20 10 – 12 pm Student-staff Forum Pg 15
3 – 5 pm Student Research Talks Pg 16

Impact and Public Engagement for PhD Students 1.7.20 5 pm PAHC Summer Party Pg 11
11.3.20 10 – 12 pm Pg 15
and Early Career Researchers

1 – 2.30 pm Provocative Theory Pg 19

3 – 5 pm Student Research Talks Pg 16

18.3.20 10 – 12 pm Media Training Pg 15

1 – 2.30 pm Thematic Analysis Pg 22

3 – 5 pm A Writing Group for Third year Students Pg 25

10 At a Glance 11
PART ONE The Research Training Programme
The Research Training
is designed to guide you through the
processes of doing doctoral or masters
Most of the Programme up to Easter
is presented by staff from the Faculty.
After Easter, we encourage students

Programme research. There are a small number of

students doing a Masters by Research
to design and run their own sessions.
These can be single sessions or
degree, who we particularly welcome to ambitious projects like exhibitions,
the programme. It explains and examines conferences, residencies, workshops.
both the practical and scholarly elements See the Student Initiatives section on
of doing doctoral research: come to the page 27. Talk with Myna Trustram if you
Righton building on a Wednesday and you have an idea.
can learn about how to acquire a locker
and discuss theoretical concepts. You can
meet other research students and share
the pleasures and difficulties of research.
PAHC includes a great range of disciplines:
you can share the deep knowledge that you
will develop within your field and learn from
others about new ones.

Being a doctoral researcher can be

demanding. One of the best ways to
protect yourself from being overwhelmed
by your task, is to be active in a research
community where experiences are openly
discussed. We urge you therefore to make
full use of the Programme, both the social
and the intellectual activities. All activities
involve meeting with others, whilst some
have a specific ‘wellbeing’ focus. If you
find you are struggling, talk with your
supervisors, other students, PAHC staff,
family or friends. Each term we hold a
research lunch and an end of term party.
Do come along to these.
Lunch: 12 – 1 pm on 30 October, 5
February, 29 April. Party: From 5 pm on
14 December, 25 March and 1 July.
Induction
There is an induction for new
students on 2-3 October 2019
and, for those starting after
Christmas, on 8 January. Details
of these will be sent to you.
At induction we will welcome you
to PAHC and to the University.
You will meet other students
and staff and we will give you
the basic information that you
need to get going. You can also
voice your hopes and concerns
for your research.

12 13
 Core Series
Term 1 Unless otherwise indicated, all sessions are 10 - 12 pm
9.10.19 The Research Proposal Prof. Steve Miles 27.11.19 Digital Researcher Dr Lewis Sykes
and the application to register (RD1) This session provides an overview of the challenges of undertaking
What makes a good research proposal? In this session we research in an increasingly digital world - from building academic
consider how best to put together an effective proposal and, in the profiles, research contexts and networks to making the most of
process, meet the needs of the Application to Register. digital media tools, services and work-flows. The session also
includes a comprehensive guide to creating a ‘Postgraduate
16.10.19 Wellbeing with Photography Workshop Anne-Marie Profile’ on news.harts.online - a requirement for all students who
‘Taking notice’ is one of the pillars of wellbeing. It is connected to Atkinson have completed their Application to Register (RD1).
(Doctoral student)
steadying our minds, becoming more focused, and appreciating
Research Ethics - An Introduction Prof.
the pleasures of our environment. In this hands-on workshop we 4.12.19
Susan Baines
will use photography to practice awareness. Bring a coat if it’s What is research ethics and why does it matter? The session
rainy as we will go outside. will give an overview of MMU policies and processes, noting
how they affect research students and what is expected of you
23.10.19 The Literature Review Prof. Steve Miles at different stages of your research. Advice about the process of
This session will look at the process of writing a literature review, gaining ethical approval and how to avoid common pitfalls will be
often the first piece of writing you will do for your research degree. offered by Professor Susan Baines who is Chair of the Arts and
Humanities Research Ethics and Governance Committee.
30.10.19 SAGE Research Methods Rebecca
NB This session is 11 – 12 pm in GM Lab 111 Evans, (Senior 11.12.19 Open research Claire Wilson
This session will introduce you to Sage Research Methods, Library Training NB This session is 10 - 11.30 am
a valuable resource that guides you through every step of the Manager, SAGE Open Research is the process of sharing your research findings
research process. Comprising books, journal articles, case studies, Publishing) with others, for example through Open Access publications,
sample datasets, videos and more, you can find information on Open Data or blogging. It increases the visibility and accessibility
topics such as developing a research proposal, data collection of your work. This session covers the key areas: how to create a
and interpretation methods, research ethics, writing and simple data management plan; obtaining informed consent for data
disseminating your work. sharing from research participants; anonymising and storage of
sensitive data.
6.11.19 Practice Research Dr Nikolai Duffy
What sort of knowledge can practice produce? How do we 18.12.19 Student-staff Forum Dr Myna Trustram
conceive practice as theory? What is the relationship between Come and discuss with fellow students and staff your experience
practice, research, and original contributions to knowledge? of doing research in the Arts and Humanities Faculty. What has
What are some of the ways we might articulate that relationship? worked for you and what needs to change?

13.11.19 Going to conferences Dr Myna Trustram

Conferences are a sporadic but important element in academic
life. We will discuss how you can get the most from attending and
presenting your work at a conference.

Nicola Beck &

20.11.19 Copyright and your Research
Louise Koch
This session focuses on copyright issues that you should be aware
of during your research process. It is important to understand why
copyright matters when presenting research in a thesis and/or a
published article as this will involve the use of the work of others.
You should be aware of the rights that apply to your own work and
consider how you want others to use the content that you create.
14 15
 26.2.20 Publishing in academic journals Dr Nikolai Duffy
Term 2 Unless otherwise indicated, all sessions are 10 - 12 pm
This session will explore how to publish in an academic journal
15.1.20 Wellbeing. Challenging the Imposter Syndrome. Sarah Perry during your PhD. We will look at the different types of journals
(Doctoral student) you could publish in and discuss various forms of publication,
A creative workshop.
including book reviews, conference proceedings, and articles
When we are successful, many of us feel we are imposters. based on original research. A current PhD student will share
This isn’t the real me that is doing a PhD! Somehow, I’ve slipped their experiences.
through the net and I’m bound to be found out. This workshop will
explore behaviours that stem from this common feeling of not being
good enough. We will use creative writing activities and relaxed Manchester Met 12th Annual Postgraduate
4.3.20
games to build a different narrative. We will share strategies that Research Conference
build confidence individually and as a group, and we’ll each take
away a mini toolkit for when imposter syndrome flares up. 11.3.20 Impact and Public Engagement for PhD students Emily Goodier
and Early Career Researchers
22.1.20 Reading Practice Dr Myna Trustram
This interactive session will look at the current Higher Education
Reading is about thinking and imagining all at the same time. It is
landscape for public engagement and impact, the Research
about how you might use the facts and ideas you find to realise
Excellence Framework (REF) and beyond. It will be led by the
your own. It is as important to research as writing, experiment,
Faculty impact and public engagement team, helping you see the
practice, debate. The session will look at different ways of reading
potential for impact and public engagement opportunities within
for research purposes.
your own research.
29.1.20 Student initiatives Dr Myna Trustram
with doctoral 18.3.20 Media training Dr Nikolai Duffy,
In recent years students have organised symposia, exhibitions, Andrew McMillan
screenings, talks, residencies, reading groups and workshops. students Have you ever wanted to promote your research and/or practice
more broadly? This session will look at the ways you can translate & Ian McMillan
Students who have done this will discuss these collaborative
activities and you will be encouraged to develop your own your research and practice for different media outlets and boost
projects. After Easter (29 April – 24 June), we have left a space the impact of your work.
in the programme for you to run workshops. Longer and on-going The award-winning poet Andrew McMillan will discuss his
activities can take place at a time that suits you. experiences of working with different media, and the broadcaster
Ian McMillan will discuss his life-long career of working in
5.2.20 Academic writing Dr Myna Trustram broadcasting, what writers, artists and academics can expect from
What makes a piece of writing ‘academic’? How can you keep the media outlets, how to go about promoting your work, and how best
reader of your thesis interested in what you have to say? We will to talk about your research/practice for a general audience.
look at some examples of fine academic writing and consider how
25.3.20 Vivas Prof. Steve Miles
you too can write in this manner.
What can you expect from a viva? How can you best prepare for & Dr CJ O’Neill
12.2.20 Beyond Google Scholar Dr Geoff Walton
yours? Steve and CJ will discuss vivas from the perspective of the
In this session we will look at how you can be more effective at with Sheila
examiner and student.
finding good quality literature to contextualise your research. We Candeland &
will explore how to devise better keyword searches and how to Elaine Cooke
1.4.20 Student-staff forum Dr Myna Trustram
combine them on relevant subject databases; getting to know
Come and discuss with fellow students and staff your experience
databases and e-journal collections for your area and making the
of doing research in the Arts and Humanities Faculty. What has
most of the library portal. Finally, some tips on how to evaluate the
worked for you and what needs to change?
literature you find for quality and relevance.

19.2.20 The Progression Review (RD2) and the Annual Review Prof. Steve Miles 17.6.20 Student-staff forum Dr Myna Trustram
What is the purpose of the Progression Review (RD2)? Come and discuss with fellow students and staff your experience
How can you best meet its demands? What are the expectations of doing research in the Arts and Humanities Faculty. What has
of the Annual Review process and how can you ensure you make worked for you and what needs to change?
the most of it?

16 The Core Series 17

Student talks
Each year we invite first year students to
give a short talk (five to ten minutes) about
their research. This is a chance to practice
talking about your work with a friendly
audience of fellow students.
You are strongly encouraged to use this
opportunity: it builds confidence and helps
you find others with similar interests.
These will be from 3 - 5 pm on
5, 12, 19, 26 February and 4, 11 March.
Contact Myna Trustram by 20 January
to book a slot.
18
Provocative
Theory
This is a series of staff-led presentations Four of the sessions will focus on areas
and student discussions on key areas identified by students, commencing
of cultural theory, all intended to with the one on 20 Nov. These could
encourage participants to think about be used to either develop ideas
interconnections between theory and already raised, with directed reading
practice in your own research. You may selected by the group, or explore fresh
wish to participate in the entire series, theoretical ideas that have emerged
but each session is designed to work throughout discussions in the series.
independently so you can select topics
that are most relevant to you. The first half The four student-led sessions are
of each session will be a presentation by your opportunity to generate and
staff from across the Faculty, introducing provoke debate amongst yourselves.
a specific theme as it figures across
different disciplines. Presentations will
be followed by discussion when you are
encouraged to relate the material to the
development of your own practice.
There will be a short list of readings on a
weekly basis. If you’re planning to attend,
you should try to engage with this.
They are presented as stand-alones so
that students can select the theories that
are of interest to them.
19
Term 1 Unless otherwise indicated, all sessions are 1 - 2.30 pm Term 2 Unless otherwise indicated, all sessions are 1 - 2.30 pm

9.10.19 Introduction: Theory as Practice Dr Sian Bonnell 15.1.20 Student-led Reflective Discussion
What sort of knowledge can theory produce? How do researchers & Dr Andrew We will use material decided upon in the discussion on 20th Nov.
situate themselves in the research they are deploying? How can Moor
we conceive theory as practice? And... most importantly, what 29.1.20 Movement: Diaspora/Migration/Cosmopolitanism Alison Welsh &
might theory mean for you, and your research as it develops? Prof Ola Uduku
The session will examine how Participatory Action Based research
theory can be used to underpin cross-cultural research within rural
23.10.19 Embodiment Dr Esperanza communities. How can a process of cultural design investigation and
A discourse on two very different aspects of embodiment and Miyake & collaboration lead to outcomes and sustainable livelihoods?
gender, regarding food and eating, and machines and technology. Dr Angelica
Michaelis 12.2.20 Decolonizing Research Dr Muzna
In what ways do food and eating construct body concepts? How
What does it mean to decolonise the curriculum? How is this Rahman & Dr
does the alimentary act as the embodiment of theory and vice versa?
different to diversifying the curriculum? What does the ‘decolonising Nicola Bishop
How can a piece of ‘inanimate’ technology have a racial identity? In
turn, how are our own bodies and identities read when we embody the curriculum’ movement remind us about the nature and function
certain technologies? of knowledge?
This session will explore these questions and give you the chance to
6.11.19 Location Dr David consider their relevance to your own research project. The session
David Cooper asks what is ‘literary geography’? How does cultural Cooper & Dr will also prepare you for designing and explaining the rationale for
geography intersect with creative practice? How are experiences Tina Richardson your own curricula for job applications and future teaching.
of borderlands and other ‘transitional spaces’ configured in
26.2.20 Memorialization, trauma, loss, and landscape Dr Hannah
contemporary culture?
In this session we will describe how we each bring theories to do Singleton &
Psychogeography: What is it and what can you do with it! Tina Dr Myna Trustram
Richardson will introduce the subject of psychogeography and with memorialization, archive, trace, loss, subjectivity and trauma to
explain how it can be used to help translate the space of the city. our respective projects. Both projects deal with landscape (actual
She will take you back to its origins and also show how it has been and painted) and the writing of experimental, creative non-fiction.
re-interpreted in contemporary times.
11.3.20 Ad Hoc Theory Dr Sian Bonnell

20.11.19 Student-led Reflective Discussion and Forward Planning Drawing from the student-led discussions held throughout the year,
this session will explore multi-disciplinary approaches to theory. How
This will be a student-led session - your chance to shape the open or otherwise do we have to be to theories from different areas
course by proposing areas of interest to you, suggesting reading of study to keep our research fresh?
matter and scheduling what you would like to cover in future
student-led sessions. 25.3.20 Student-led Reflective Discussion Dr Sian Bonnell
and Closing Thoughts
11.12.19 Special Collections and NWFA: Researching the Archive Louise Clennell,
An introduction to the very rich, special and rewarding resources Will McTaggart
of the archive for research. We will focus on the theoretical & Sian Bonnell
elements of visual culture whilst introducing and sharing some of the
knowledge contained in both of these collections and how they
can be used.

20 Provocative Theory 21

Methods
and Methodologies
Research in the real world has many
challenges, one of which is the need
to draw upon other fields of enquiry
and adopt an inter-disciplinary
approach. There are varieties of
methods and methodologies across
various arts, humanities,
and social science disciplines
including qualitative, quantitative
and mixed methods approaches.
This is an introductory programme
that will give postgraduate students
a flavour of the expertise within
the Faculty, and which is shared
across arts, humanities
and social sciences.
22
Term 1
16.10.19
30.10.19
The main thrust of this series will
carefully examine a selection of
methods, from traditional interviewing
13.11.19
and questionnaire design, to the many
and varied contemporary methods that
push the boundaries of research. These
sessions assume no prior knowledge,
and are designed to engage students
in a workshop environment.
4.12.19
They are presented as stand-alones
so that students can select the
methods that are of interest to them.
18.12.19
Unless otherwise indicated, all sessions are 1 - 2.30 pm
Grounded Theory Dr Dave Calvey
Grounded theory is by far the most popular technique for
qualitative data analysis. It is widely used in almost all social
science disciplines including education, evaluation research,
nursing, and sociology. It focuses on generating theoretical ideas
from the data. The approach emphasises the systematic discovery
of theory from data by using constant comparison method
and theoretical sampling.
Covert Research in Social Science Dr Dave Calvey
This workshop will critically explore the role of covert research
in social research methodology. This controversial and ethically
stigmatised tradition is under-utilised within the social sciences
and can provide creative and disruptive insights on the praxis and
practice of fieldwork.
Interviews in Social Research Prof. Steve Miles
In this session we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages
of research interviews, what the challenges are, how to respond to
them there and then, and what the value of interview data might be
for a Social Science/Arts research project. The session will consider
both one-to-one and group interviews.
Feminist Methodologies Dr Susan O’Shea
What is feminist research? Feminist praxis and theory pose
challenges to dominant research discourses in the social sciences.
Feminist methodologies seek to disrupt power imbalances
between the researcher and participant. Beginning with the
experiences and standpoints of women, it challenges social
inequalities that intersect with gender, these include disability,
race, class, sexuality and religion. Qualitative, quantitative and
mixed methods are open to all researchers but what makes
feminist methodologies feminist are the approaches taken to
epistemology and ontology.
Creative Methodologies Dr Susan O’Shea
A relational approach to understanding society assumes that the
connections individuals have and make can positively influence
or constrain opportunities. In this session, we will look at
approaches that creatively combine participatory action research
and social network analysis in a mixed-methods context to explore
group dynamics.
23
Term 2 Unless otherwise indicated, all sessions are 1 - 2.30 pm
22.1.20 Participatory Research
Participatory research includes a variety of methodological
approaches, which aim to transfer the power to participants,
who are members of a community or organisations run by
community members. Participants often set the research agenda
and control the research process, and help to analyse and reflect
on the data and findings. This form of research includes both
action and research. Participants themselves explore problems,
discuss possible solutions, and identify possible courses of action
to be taken.
5.2.20 Incorporating Philosophies of Social Science
in your Thesis
Philosophical considerations and positions underlie all of the
natural and social sciences. In the latter case, philosophical
foundations and their emergent issues have a profound impact on
methodology and empirical practice. Design decisions will usually
depend on philosophical perspectives such as the fundamental
decision to employ a quantitative or an interpretive design. This
session will introduce students to key concepts and debates in the
philosophy of social sciences.
19.2.20 Video Methods for a Mobile World
One of the key problems with researching ephemeral aspects
of social life is that it is often difficult to capture and analyse the
multiple and transient settings and experiences of subjects. Mobile
and video methods have thus been extended and developed
by several researchers, who use them to gather new empirical
sensitivities, analytical orientations and methods to examine social
phenomena. The session highlights the ways in which mobile video
ethnography can contribute to sociological research: video as a way
of complementing other ethnographic approaches and as a way of
seizing fleeting moments.
18.3.20 Thematic Analysis
This practical session deals with thematic coding, sometimes also
called thematic content analysis, as one way of analysing qualitative
data collected by ethnography and interviews. Thematic analysis
can be used for transcripts, field notes, documents, images, internet
pages, and audio and video recordings.
1.4.20 Digital Methods
The session will look at strategies of doing qualitative digital
research in a multi-platform on-line environment. We will look at the
differences between textual, visual, social and quantifiable data and
discuss the methodological limitations and challenges of each.
24 Methods and Methodologies
Prof. Hannah
Practice
Research Group
Smithson
The Practice Research Group is for all
students who use practice (such as
design, art, media, architecture, writing
or professional practices) in their
research. Convened by Nick Duffy,
Dr Tom Brock
we will meet three times, you are then
encouraged to run the group yourselves.
1.
What is practice-led research?
(15 January, 3 – 5 pm)
This is an introductory session exploring
different ways of conceiving and defining
Dr Cosmin Popan practice-led research. We will look at different
examples of practice-led research and
discuss these in relation to the institutional
requirements of a practice-led PhD.
We will also discuss ways of articulating
the contribution to knowledge of
practice-led research.
Dr Mansour
Pourmehdi
Dr Adi Kunstman
2.
With Dr Sam Moore, Practice as
Research (22 January, 3 – 5 pm)
Sam Moore will talk about using creative
methodologies in her practice-based research.
Sam’s work is in animation, using documentary,
collaboration, and often working across
disciplines. Previous projects have included
work about competitive sweet pea growing,
HIV/AIDs in Uganda, the experience of having
a multiple birth, sub-cellular pathogens,
audio-visual synaesthesia and a knicker factory
in Middleton.
3.
Two sides of the same coin: Linking
practice and academic research or,
How do you articulate the relationship
between the creative and the critical?
(29 January, 3 – 5 pm)
What is the relationship between practice
and research? How do we articulate this
relationship and how do we integrate the often
different discourses of the creative and the
critical? In this session we will explore the
murky field between practice and research by
looking at different ways of writing academically
about our practice and different ways of writing
creatively about our scholarly research. The
aim will be to generate creative and critical
methods for fusing the two elements of a
practice-led PhD.
25
 Writing Groups
Post – PhD: Myna Trustram is convening three A writing group for third
year students
Employment after a PhD
writing groups. These groups focus on
helping you write your thesis and they
are experiential and exploratory, with a 18, 25 March and 1 April, 3 - 5 pm
minimum of ‘this is how to do it’. After the The final months of preparing your thesis can
group, you will be encouraged to run your be particularly demanding. The commonly-used
own, student-led groups. notion of ‘writing up’ implies a mechanical task
The transition from being a research student of putting down what you have discovered. It is
to employment is not easy. This series of three Writing group: An introduction rarely like this. As you approach the final stages
workshops is designed to help you prepare for to doctoral writing of your research, you need to find a way to
manage your data, the writing task and yourself.
the transition into employment. The first workshop
considers employment both outside and inside 30 October; 13, 20 November; The approach will be peer learning and
academia. The second two focus on academic life. 4, 11, 18 December. 3 - 5 pm experiential. We will address the specific
questions you have about writing the thesis
We will write, talk and read. The group is
and you will share your writing with others for
designed to help you become a confident
critical discussion. Guidance will be offered,
and creative writer of academic prose.
30 Oct, 5 – 6.30 pm. 13 Nov, 5 – 6.30 pm. 4 Dec, 5 – 6.30 pm. but essentially you will learn together through
The approach is experiential: you will draw
Getting a job (1) Getting a job (2) Academic Career on your practice whether as a historian, artist,
sharing the pleasures and the difficulties of
Myna Trustram Steve Miles Strategy the final months. I’ll expect you to come to all
theorist, curator, designer, sociologist and
& Kate Johnson Nikolai Duffy & Steve Miles three sessions and encourage you to continue
so on. The group will help you develop a
meeting together once the formal group has
writing style that meets the requirements of
In this informal session, two A Head of Department from In this session we will finished. • If you have questions or would like
an academic thesis but that also expresses
or three past students will the Faculty of Arts discuss different aspects of to book a place (by 9 March), contact Myna.
your own idiom and the particularities of your
talk about their experience and Humanities will discuss academic life, ranging from research. Likely themes we’ll cover are: ‘love
what to expect of academic
of preparing themselves for
employment and how they
what they look for in a new
academic member of staff. employment (outside of
the words’; academic writing; ways of reading; A writing-with-objects group
the literature review; voices.
found a job (academic and You will gather ideas on teaching and research), 29 April, 6 and 13 May, 10 - 12 pm
non-academic). We will how to write an effective what it means to be a You will need to write regularly both inside
These three experimental sessions will use
offer practical guidance on application and what to good colleague, and what and outside the sessions and to come to all
objects from the Special Collections Museum
what you can be doing now expect in an interview. the Research Excellence of them. Once the group has finished, you are
to help you develop a distinctive writing style. It
(whether you are in your first Framework (REF) means for encouraged to continue meeting together.
will suit students from any arts and humanities
or final year) to this end. you now and in the future. • If you have questions or would like to book a
discipline and from any year of study. We
place (by 21 October), contact Myna.
will look, touch, talk and write. I will ask you
to choose objects that resonate with your
research and through that object to practice
paying creative attention to the world of
physical objects and language.
• If you have questions or would like to book
a place (by 20 April), contact Myna.

26 27

The Digital Researcher
All sessions are 5 - 6.30 pm
15, 22, The Digital Researcher: Key Areas
29 Jan This series of three sessions aims to prepare students for
the challenges of doing research in an increasingly digital
world - by focusing on three areas where the digital has had
significant impact:
15 Jan The Digital Researcher: Working with Digital Mediax
Many research students incorporate some form of
digital media within their personal research. This session
introduces key considerations for working with digital
media and a range of easily accessible tools, services and
workflows that can help you prepare, organise and present
this content more efficiently, effectively and professionally.
22 Jan The Digital Researcher: Research Context and Networks
As well as completing a personal research project, the PhD
is also a time to engage with the international academic
community and prepare for life beyond the PhD.
This session provides an introduction to the tools and
services that can help build online academic profiles,
research contexts and networks via academic networks
and social media groups.
29 Jan The Digital Researcher: Digital Arts and Humanities
In an emerging and evolving field of Digital Arts and
Humanities, this session presents an introduction to its
key concepts and practices: to analyse, understand
and use digital data; to assess information technologies
critically; and to integrate discipline-specific enquiry
with digitally-driven methodologies and media in order to
develop individual research.
28
A At the time of printing this booklet,
Student Initiatives
Research students come to the university
with considerable experience from
professional, academic and personal life.
This experience can help you become active
members of the Faculty. After Easter the
programme is given over to students to
convene sessions and projects. We invite
you, individually or in groups, to make a
proposal. In past years, students have taught
a session, arranged residencies, run writing
groups, reading groups, practice groups, made
exhibitions, run conferences and workshops.
Tell Myna Trustram if you have an idea and she
can help you realise it. There is a small budget
available.
Historical ‘Wellbeing’: Tips from the Tudors,
Anna Fielding (doctoral student)
29 April, 1 - 2.30 pm
You may have heard of the ‘5 Ways to
Wellbeing’ framework. The Tudors had their
own version: ‘The 6 Non-Naturals’, which work
equally well and are transferable to modern life.
They were: air; exercise/rest; sleep/waking;
things taken in (food and drink); things excreted;
and passions of the mind (emotional health).
This workshop will look at how we can take
something from Tudor preventative healthcare
and apply it to our busy, draining postgraduate
research lives.
Getting started with NVivo for Qualitative
Data Analysis, Freya Ernsting (doctoral student)
6 May, 1 - 2.30 pm
Don’t know what to do with your data?
Focusing on data management, NVivo is a
software package enabling you to effectively
store, analyse and track qualitative data.
This session will provide an overview of NVivo,
including an exercise where you can create
four sessions have been offered.
a new project based on your own research
(or an example data set) where you will learn
how to import data, categorise, document,
analyse, and finally, visualise your results.
Emotive Research: Care, Self-Care,
and Emotional Labour, Sarah Perry
(doctoral student) 13 May, 1 - 2.30 pm
Some of us are researching difficult, infuriating,
or traumatic things that make daily engagement
an emotional challenge. For some, this research
springs from our own subjectivity and/or events
from our own lives, and the PhD work can mean
these personal realities are present in our minds
every day. For others, the PhD work can feel too
taboo to share with family or friends, or
can simply feel very negative to engage in.
This workshop will provide a structured
discussion space to talk collectively about
the way our PhD research areas bring up
challenging emotions (with no pressure to say
why); suggest tactics for building resilience
and hope; and suggest ways of acknowledging
this emotional labour in a methodology.
The Archives Research Group, Anna Fielding,
Helen Morcillo-Docksey and Catherine Elkin
(doctoral students) 20 May, 1 - 2.30 pm.
In this session we will discuss how and why
we formed the Archives Research Group and
our future plans. We welcome new members
to the group. We formed the group in order
to support each other in our use of archives
within our research; we come from disciplines
that include history, English literature and art
practice. Having a network has meant we can
help each other with the long days we spend
in strange collections and the practical stresses
that come from having a large volume of stuff
to get through.
29
PART TWO Skillsforge
Resources and Moodle
The PAHC training programme is only one These are two online systems which
of many ways in which the University can assist with the administration of your
help you with your research. Here you can degree and the dissemination of
read about some of these resources. materials from the training programme.

SkillsForge notifies you about key dates

and provides links to the necessary
forms you need to complete as you
approach milestones such as the
application to register (sometimes
referred to as the RD1) and the
progression review (RD2). You can also
use it to carry out an assessment of
Departments and
Research Centres
any training you need (a Training Needs
Analysis), to book places on some of the
Research Training Programme and to
record other development activities. The research areas within the Faculty
include Art, Media and Design
Moodle is the ‘MMU online learning (Manchester School of Art); Humanities,
environment’ which means that it is Languages and Social Science; and
where some online course materials Fashion (Manchester Fashion Institute).
for the Research Training Programme Departments and research centres run
are held. Note though that not all of the their own research events: conferences,
programme is held there, we are piloting seminar series, exhibitions, reading
its use over 2019/20. groups. Watch out for notices of these.

On 27 November from 1pm, some

departments are running a special session
for research students in their department.
Ask your supervisor for details.

A 31
Manchester Met
Graduate School
The University’s Graduate School supports
all postgraduate research students, their
supervisors, and other internal and external
colleagues involved in the research student
journey. Find out more by visiting the PGR
Hub on Moodle.
The Graduate School offers a variety of
development opportunities for you to get
involved with, including:
• 
Guidance and support with identifying
your training and development needs.
•  niversity-wide events such as the Annual
U •  ind out more about the open workshop
Postgraduate Research Conference,
opportunities to showcase your research
in competitions such as the Three Minute
Thesis® (3MT) and Images of Research,
as well as many more opportunities to get
involved and meet other researchers.
•  ace-to-face sessions on a wide variety
F -E
of topics, including research methods,
writing for publication, CV writing,
and using technology to enhance
your research.
•  pportunities to obtain paid teaching
O more recently published articles that cite
experience with The Brilliant Club, an
award-winning charity that recruits PhD
tutors to work with pupils in schools.
•  nline resources on networking, career
O library.mmu.ac.uk
options with your research degree,
and more.
For more information on how to get
involved, visit the PGR Development page
on Moodle.
32
Manchester Met
Library
The Library offers a vast collection of print
and online resources, and can help you to
navigate these in a variety of ways:
•  ake a look at the Researchers’ Library
T of unique resources available to students in
Guide: libguides.mmu.ac.uk/usrresearch
•  xplore the Subject Guides created
E significance for the study of 20th century
by your Arts & Humanities subject
librarians, who are available for
individual appointments to discuss
appropriate resources in more detail:
libguides.mmu.ac.uk/subjectguides
F the contemporary. • Find out more by visiting
programme which runs throughout the
year: lib-guides.mmu.ac.uk/workshops
including:
-M
 MU Harvard Referencing: an introduction
to using the MMU Harvard style.
 ndNote Online: taking the pain out of
organising your references: introduces
EndNote software for storing references
and working with Word documents.
-C
 ited reference searching: how to trace
the key articles you have already found.
Contact via email, online chat,
or in person at the Library help desk:
Special Collections Working with Archives
Museum and Collections
The Special Collections Museum holds more Wednesday 6 November 2019, 3 - 5 pm
than fifty art and design related collections and Special Collections Museum, 3rd floor
archives. In our Reading Room, you will find one All Saints Library.
of the largest publicly accessible collections of
This session will introduce the wealth
Artists’ Books and a Book Design collection
of finely printed and illustrated books.
the University’s Special Collection Museum,
The archives are a resource of national located in All Saints Library, and the North
West Film Archive, located in Manchester
book illustration and textile design and provide Central Library. The session will highlight the
access to unique primary source material. The breadth of material held in the museum (more
Manchester School of Art Collection holds more than 50 archives and collections of objects,
than 2,500 examples of fine and decorative arts. books, posters, photographs, slides, decorated
Changing exhibitions in the Gallery demonstrate papers, scrapbooks, textiles, zines, greetings
the diversity of our holdings, from the historic to cards and trade catalogues) and the film
archive (that cares for over 50,000 items from
our website: specialcollections.mmu.ac.uk the pioneer days of film in the mid-1890s to
digital video production of the present day).
The North West The session will cover important points to
Film Archive
consider when working with collections and
archives including timescales and planning,
accessing material online and in person,
This professionally recognised public home copyright considerations and examples
for the filmed heritage of the North West is of how previous students have engaged
located in Manchester’s Central Library. with the collections.
The archive preserves moving images made
in or about Greater Manchester, Lancashire,
Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria and
cares for over 50,000 items, both amateur
and professional, from the early days of film
in the 1890s, to digital productions of the
present day. Complementary collections of
photographs and original documentation have
also been established.
The NWFA Collections support academic
teaching and research across all disciplines
and offers services to users in the public
and commercial sectors. Catalogues of film
records are available to search online and
researchers may view material by appointment:
www.nwfa.mmu.ac.uk.
33

HARTS Online
HARTS Online is the online presence
of PAHC’s training programme. It is the
‘first digital port of call’ for postgraduates
within the Faculty - a space to find
information and links to:
• Internal and external activities of interest
to the research community via a ‘digital
noticeboard’ and social media feeds.
• Information and documentation of the
training programme and other skills
development opportunities within MMU
and beyond.
• P
 ostgraduate ‘profiles’ and research
‘stories’.
• T
 he PAHC staff team, frequently asked
questions and other MMU resources such
as Faculty Research Groups and Centres
and Library Services and staff.
34
While generally accessible via the World Wide
Web, it is aimed at an internal audience of
postgraduates and research staff within the
Arts and Humanities Faculty and strives to be
a ‘virtual hub’ for the research community.
HARTS Online features a network of other sites
such as the PAHC Supervisors Database and
Collective Online Learning ‘Writing a Research
Degree Proposal’ course; collective project
sites; and individual postgraduate research
journals. It's easy to set up your own personal
or group project website on the PAHC
WordPress network.
Contact Lewis Sykes, HARTS Online
Coordinator - L.Sykes@mmu.ac.uk -
to find out more.
Lewis offers training, support
and technical advice on online documentation,
working with social media and setting up
and structuring practice blogs and online
research journals through bookable, one-hour
sessions on Wednesdays, 11am and 3pm,
in the Righton Building (sign up sheet on the
noticeboard outside room 111).
If you’d like to chat with Lewis but can’t make
these times, arrange an alternative time via
email (l.sykes@mmu.ac.uk).
www.news.harts.online
Conferences
Conferences are a way to test your ideas and
to hear from others. Here are three conferences
organized by doctoral students and on our
doorstep. Watch out for further details of them all.
NWCDTP Annual
Conference
28 - 29 Oct 2019
The North West Consortium
Doctoral Training Partnership
(NWCDTP) consists of
seven higher education
institutions (HEIs) in the region
(Manchester Met; Manchester
University; Keele, Salford,
Lancaster and Liverpool
Universities and the Royal
Northern College of Music).
Together they manage a
studentship scheme funded
by the Arts and Humanities
Research Council (AHRC).
They also offer training for
PhD students and funding for
student-led learning projects
which Manchester Met
students have successfully
made bids to. Their annual
conference this year is on
28 and 29 October at the
University of Manchester.
The theme is Meeting of Minds:
Collaborative Research in
the Arts and Humanities.
Collaboration has become an
important initiative for much
of today’s leading research
across the Arts and Humanities.
The conference will examine PAHC Annual
how collaboration can Postgraduate Symposium,
produce truly innovative
14 and 15 May 2020
research. Presenters will also
tackle some of the difficulties This friendly symposium is
that come with performing designed for students and staff
such research. to meet together and critically
discuss individual research
Manchester Met 12th projects and common issues.
Annual Postgraduate After Christmas there will be a
Research Conference, call for proposals based on a
given theme and an invitation
4 March 2020
to join a working group to
Each year, a committee of organise the event. This is an
students is invited to design opportunity to talk publicly
and deliver a major national about your research and to
postgraduate research learn about how to organise
conference. You can register a conference.
your interest to join the
committee for the 2020
conference here: https://
www2.mmu.ac.uk/research/
research-study/events/pgr-
conference/
Depending on your interests,
there are many coordinating
roles available including:
Committee Chair, Event,
Volunteer, Marketing, Social
Media, Graphic / Design,
Theme and Content Curators.
You can also, of course, offer
a paper, performance or
poster for the conference.
35
Social Media Research
Training Group
Does your research focus on topics related
to social media, mobile phones or the
Internet? Do you use these in your research
methodology? If you are interested in being
part of a working group of PhD students at the
Faculty who focus on these topics, exchange
ideas and dilemmas, engage in conversation
and identify training needs, please email
Dr Adi Kuntsman at a.kuntsman@mmu.ac.uk.
The group runs a series of loosely facilitated
meetings throughout the year.
Academic and Study
Skills Team
The Academic and Study Skills Team offers
help with a range of skills so you can get the
support you need in the way that is best for
you. Workshops cover all aspects of study
skills from critical writing to time management.
They include sessions designed for Specific
Learning Differences, and webinars (online
workshops) meaning you can join in without
coming to campus. They run throughout the
academic year: visit the website to sign up:
www.mmu.ac.uk/studyskills. Tutors also
offer bespoke teaching in consultation with
academic staff.
The tutors run a daily drop-in for any quick
academic related query, as well as one-to-one
appointments for longer enquiries and they can
provide feedback on aspects of your academic
writing. To find out times, locations and how to
book, visit: www.mmu.ac.uk/studyskills or
email on studyskills@mmu.ac.uk.
36
RAH! (Research in Arts
and Humanities)
RAH! is the public engagement programme
of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Manchester Met
Manchester Met. RAH! will present a rolling
programme of events throughout the academic Counselling, Health and
year. The programme showcases everything
public-facing and research-based within the
Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Watch out
Wellbeing Service
for events of relevance to your research
and wider interests.
For students with concerns about their wellbeing or
Engage Arts and mental health, we offer a number of services including
Humanities assessment, counselling, mentoring and advice.
Also, we offer a programme of skills based workshops
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities runs and courses covering subjects such as social anxiety,
projects that enable students to interact with low mood, self-worth and mindfulness.
the wider community, that enhance your time
as a student and your employment prospects. We also have ‘SilverCloud’ an online cognitive behavioural
Opportunities are all extracurricular and vary therapy (CBT) programme that we can set up for students,
from classroom-based workshops where subject to assessment. Students can use the programme
you can learn new skills to hands-on paid
at home, in a flexible way. This might be useful when it’s
employment within schools and the local
difficult to come in and use our service.
community. To find out more about what you
can get involved in, visit https://www2.mmu.
ac.uk/artshumanities/students/ For more information please have a look at our website
or call us. https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/counselling/ or call
0161 247 3493.
37
 Postgraduate Arts and Humanities Centre
Righton Building
Manchester Metropolitan University
Cavendish Street
Manchester M15 6BG

Research Training Programme Coordinator:

Dr Myna Trustram
0161 247 1118
m.trustram@mmu.ac.uk

Design by Fern Baxter

38 39