IRAACE SPRING EVENT 2008

4th April

Royal Dublin Hotel

“How to undertake Research and use Research findings”

REPORT

NALA

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Index

Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................3

Agenda.............................................................................................................................................................................4

Script of the presentation...............................................................................................................................5

Instruction for speed networking............................................................................................................8

Workshop 1: Policy Issues Identified through Research...................................................9

Workshop 2: Widening Participation/Access..............................................................................10

Workshop 3: Literacy.................................................................. ....................................................................11.

Workshop 4: Community Based Research.....................................................................................12

Workshop 5: Supporting Research Workers in Third Level Education..........13

Delegates list.................................................................. .................................................................. .........................14

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Report on IRAACE Spring Event, 4th

April 2008

The Irish Research Association for Adult and Community Education (IRAACE) held its first

event of 2008 in the Royal Dublin Hotel, O‟ Connell Street, Dublin. It commenced at 9 am with

registration (Programme attached).

The half day morning event, which was well attended, offered delegates the opportunity to

network with other researchers, to discuss current projects and to display their latest

publications.

In the Opening Address, Ms Berni Brady, AONTAS Director, introduced IRAACE and sent on

to underline the importance of research for planning, policy, practice in adult education as well

as a rationale for funding. In outlining the history of IRAACE and its structure as voluntary

network to support research and researchers she encouraged the continued development of this

new representative organisation that had the support of AONTAS and of NALA.

The keynote address “How to undertake Research and use Research findings” was

delivered by Prof. Lyn Tett, University of Edinburgh (Script attached).

An innovative speed-networking (similar to speed-dating) event was developed by the co-

ordinating group of IRAACE (note on speed-dating attached). The topics allocated to 5 groups

were:

1. Policy issues identified through research

2. Widening participation/access

3. Literacy

4. Community based research

5. Supporting researchers in HE

Feedback from delegates on the speed-networking format has been very positive. "I found it

very informative and useful." "The speed-dating was a good way of sharing ideas." The

participants indicated that attending the seminar was time „well spent‟ that they had and

enjoyed the structured experience of networking.

The findings of each workshops are listed in the following pages. There is a useful set of ideas

emerging from this feedback that will inform the future work of IRAACE.

What emerged strongly from each workshop was the need of sharing and showcasing

research and how to make it available for other researchers.

The next step is “how to move forward” after a piece of research. Delegates, especially

from the “Policy issues identified through research” workshop, will also be happy to

have an event where research is shared and showcased.

The IRAACE Development Committee wishes to thank you all the participants on the day for

they enthusiastic participation and those who expressed their interest on the event and the

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organisation but couldn‟t be there this time. We look forward to meeting you all at the autumn

event!

The IRAACE Development Committee

Agenda:

9:00am Registration/Tea & Coffee

10:00am Opening Address by Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS

10:15am Keynote Address by Lyn Tett, Professor of Community Education and

Lifelong Learning at the University of Edinburgh

Title: “How to undertake Research and use Research findings”

10:50am Speed-Networking

Workshops

1. Policy Issues Identified through Research

2. Widening Participation/Access

3. Literacy

4. Community Based Research

5. Supporting Researchers in Third Level Education

12:00pm Closing speech by Kerry Lawless, Research Manager of NALA

12:15pm Lunch

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“Undertaking research and using research findings” Prof. Lyn Tett, University of Edinburgh

Research

Research is an ORGANISED way of FINDING ANSWERS to QUESTIONS.

ORGANISED in that there is a method in going about doing research that is planned,

focused and limited to a specific scope.

FINDING ANSWERS is the end of all research. Sometimes the answer is no, but it is

still an answer.

QUESTIONS are central to research. Research is focused on relevant, useful, and

important questions. Without a question, research has no focus, drive, or purpose.

Research on/with/for people

Getting knowledge from people is complex for two main reasons: human agency and

the effects of power.

Human beings have agency which means that they react to situations and construct

meanings for the events in which they participates owe have to take into account how

people interpret situations.

Power–The relations between the researcher and the researched are always unequal and

this needs to be remembered when interpreting data. A particular example of his

unequal relationship is the Milgram experiments where people were willing to give

apparently life-threatening electric shocks to subjects

Facts and values: objectivity and interpretation

The relationship between „facts‟ and „values‟ underlies many of the arguments about research

and its objectivity. Three main views:

1) Value judgments will always bias research but the more such bias can be eliminated the

better the research

2) All facts and information are value laden, but this is not helpfully described as „bias‟ because

this assumes that there is a neutral view. Instead it is argued that knowledge of human beings

always comes from the perspective of the knower.

3) Knowledge gets its meaning from the political position of the knowers, as well as from other

value systems. This means that any research into issues such as gender, race, class or sexuality

is inevitably imbued with political values.

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Defining the research

• What do you want to find out?

• What are the features of the context in which the research will be taken?

• What is the problem to be investigated?

• What kind of information is required?

• How will it be collected and analyzed?

• How will the findings be disseminated?

Research in community settings

• How can we draw on local knowledge of what the problems are that need to be addressed?

• How can these issues be investigated?

• What data can be collected easily and economically?

• How can these data be analyzed?

• How can the findings be discussed and explored?

• What action can be taken as a result?

Making a difference

• What methods can we use to draw on and disseminate our work together?

• What changes do we want to happen as a result of our research?

• Who needs to hear about our findings?

• How can communities participate in further investigations?

Using research findings

• People living in disadvantaged communities rarely have their voices heard so it is vital to

listen to them and treat them with respect.

• The research should be located in the wider political and social context so that it is not seen as

being solely about a particular community.

• The research should be seen as illustrative of a particular issue and draw on other

studies/literature to illustrate its importance in the wider context.

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Conclusion

• Drawing on bottom-up, community-based knowledge can be empowering.

• People‟s knowledge is enhanced when the problems they identify, and the understanding that

they have about potential solutions, are treated with respect.

• This kind of research is partisan but that is to be celebrated rather than denigrated.

• Finally we can only really enhance our work with communities if we are clear about what will

make a difference and using research is a powerful tool to help us do just that.

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Rules of Speed Networking

Ideally, the workshop will be made up of an even number of individuals (if this is not possible,

there will have to be 1 group of two people)

Each individual will sit across from another individual, X amount on the right hand side of the

table, the same amount on the other.

Stage 1

The development committee member will choose one side of the table (either left or right side)

to remain seated throughout the duration of the speed networking session. These people do

not move seats.

These individuals will then commence speed networking with the individual on the opposite

side of the table to them, for an agreed period of time, e.g. 5 mins

At the end of the agreed period of time, the individuals on the opposite side of the table will

move seats - one place to their right

The person at the end/bottom of the table moves to the newly unoccupied seat at the top of the

table.

Stage 2

Once all the people on one side of the table have spoken to all the people on the other side of

the table: tell them each to turn to the person next to them (if the numbers are uneven, there

will need to be one group of 3). Repeat, turning in the opposite direction

Complete the networking by telling people to seek out those they have not yet spoken to.

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1. Workshop Title: Policy Issues Identified through Research Facilitator: Rhonda Wynne, UCD

Need for research that is not crisis driven

At present there is no clarity around how policy is framed, or how research findings get fed

into policy discussions and implementation

Gap between research and how it feeds into policy

Follow up on impact of policy or evaluation of projects where research has been used as a

precursor to starting a service

What network might do:

Major interest in a showcase event where people can present their work - suggested 10-15

minute slots with people outlining what they are doing, why, and how their findings will be

implemented

Provide information/workshops on:

Methodologies – how to sessions

Common pitfalls

Conducting needs analysis

Examining research formats already used and seeing how these might be adapted

Provide a database or resource of questionnaires that have been developed for research

projects which could be modified or adapted

Links to work already done

Potential of network to lobby or act as intermediary to ensure research feeds into policy

implementation

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2. Workshop Title: Widening Participation/Access

Facilitator: Ted Fleming, NUI Maynooth

The two main proposals that came from the participants:

Identify the research that has already been done in this area,

Who has done it? Where is it available? Published or available on sites, etc?

There is a need for a database of research and a central or clearinghouse for

gathering such research reports. As most research is not published and/or only

available to a limited audience it is important to gather such „informal‟ material

whether in the HE sector or community sector.

An issue raised about „what, if I am new to research?‟ Where can I learn how to do it?

What resources are available to teach, train, support research? What are the different

ways of doing research that are available to new researchers – grounded theory,

interviews, narrative research, action research, etc.

How can the building-up of research skills be supported particularly by the sharing of

experience and expertise of colleagues?

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3. Workshop Title: Literacy

Facilitator: Tina Byrne, NALA

The literacy workshop participants came from a variety of backgrounds including; tutors, adult

literacy organisers, researchers, tutor trainers and third level institutions. In general the

participants agreed that the „speed-network‟ style of workshop was innovative and a good use

of time. They had some suggestions to improve this format going into the future, for example,

it took time for the participants to locate themselves in terms of identifying themselves and

suggested that it might have been an idea for the participants to have some „prompt or warm up

questions‟ about themselves. The participants found the „warm up‟ questions provided by the

development committee to be useful and a good starting point.

With regard to the issues discussed and the themes that emerged from this discussion the

participants identified the following themes as the most significant:

The area of assessment and accountability in adult education was discussed extensively

in particular the areas of assessment for learners, assessment for learning

The future emphasis should be on assessment and not accountability

There is a perceived move towards accreditation in adult literacy and that this needs to

be handled with care

The perceived move toward more quantitative research because funders like having

numbers and statistics

There needs to be a balance between qualitative and quantitative research

There is limited for funding for research in the area of adult literacy and a lack of

resources both material and human

More funding for teacher training in adult literacy

There were also discussions around the areas of :

Women returning to education

Family literacy

Literacy as social practice

And the impact and/or knock on effect of literacy on the family finances

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4. Workshop Title: Community Based Research

Facilitator: Adele McKenna, AONTAS

This workshop was attended by 10 people representing a mixture of organisations including

VEC‟s, the National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE), Queens University Belfast, the

Community Education Network (CEN) and Family Resource Centres, among others. The

majority of delegates participating in workshop 4 enjoyed the speed networking format. They

found it innovative and interesting, as well as productive.

Themes Emerging:

The research link between third level institutions and the community and voluntary

sector needs to be strengthened

There is a lack of research on the engagement of men in Community Development

It is difficult for groups interested in community based research to map what other

research is available, and a lack of baseline data to draw on

A rigorous, systematic approach to data collection is needed

It is very important to disseminate best practice within the sector

Financial resources are needed, along with capacity building within the sector, if

research is to be conducted in house.

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5. Workshop title: Supporting Research Workers in Third Level Education

Facilitator: Rob Mark, Queen‟s University

A group of 12 people attended this workshop.

The following were the key points arose from the workshop:

Policy and practice in ACE has too much of an „economic focus‟. There is a need for a

wider focus in research beyond skills training and the economy.

Other wider issues, such as health and well being, need to be taken into account in

ACE research.

There is a need to examine the wider benefits of learning and their contribution to

developing the individual. e.g. building self esteem , promoting better mental health

etc;

There is a need for research not to be too academic, but to be made relevant to people‟s

lives.

Higher education research must also include training in how to disseminate research and

to develop appropriate personal communication skills.

There is a need to promote networking to improve dissemination of research findings –

e.g. through the LEARGAS virtual platform

There is a need for improved funding models to support ACE research.

e g. Strategic imitative funding; funding for supporting part-time researchers etc;

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DELEGATES List

Title Forename Surname Organization Email

1. Ms Avril Bailey Shanty Education & Training Centre

A.Bailey@ancosan.ie

2. Mr Maud Baritaud City of Limerick VEC

maudbaritaud@clvec.ie

3. Ms Nuala Barr Greenway Women's Centre, Belfast

nualabarr@hotmail.co.uk

4. Ms Meliosa Bracken West Co Dub Vec

melbracken@eircom.net

5. Ms Deborah Brock Tallaght Partnership

deborah.brock@tallpart.com

6. Ms Mary Brodie Community Education Facilitator

mbrodie@sligovec.ie

7. Ms Theresa Byrne tbyrnehome@eircom.net

8. Ms Thomond Coogan UCD Adult education Centre

thomond.coogan@ucd.ie

9. Ms Cora Cregan St patric's College

cora.cregan@spd.dcu.ie

10. Ms Fiona Croke fcroke@leargas.ie

11. Mr Peter Cullen Higher Education and Training Awards Council

pcullen@hetac.ie

12. MS Marion Cusack Mayo VEC adlitballina@eircom.net

13. Mr Owen Dixon Little Bray family Resource Centre CDP

Lbfrcadmin2@eircom.net

14. Ms Catherine Dooley Educational Disadvantage Centre

catherine.dooley@spd.dcu.ie

15. Ms Pauline Egan CO Carlow VEC VTOs

pauline.egan@vtoscarlow.ie pauline.egan@hotmail.com

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Title Forename Surname Organization Email

16. Mr John Evoy Co Wexford VEC

johnevoy@cowexfordvec.ie

17. Ms Fiona Fay county Dublin VEC

18. Ms. Bairbre Fleming UCD Adult Education Centre

bairbre.fleming@ucd.ie

19. Ms Nuala Glanton East Cork VEC Adult Education Service

nglantonvec@eircom.net

20. Ms Bernie Grummell Department of Adult and Community education NUIM

Bernie.Grummell@ucd.ie

21. Ms Elizabeth Harrington One Family eharrington@onefamily.ie

22. Ms Mary Hession County Louth VEC

mhession@indigo.ie/basicedlouthvec@eircom.net

23. Mr Joe Kearney Catalyst aftercare

joekearney@athraarc.ie

24. Ms Ursula Kearney NCGE ursula.kearney@ncge.ie

25. Ms Anna Keegan Little Bray family Resource Centre CDP

Lbfrcadmin2@eircom.net

26. Ms Terry Maguire ITT Dublin Terry.maguire@ittdublin.ie

27. Mr David Mc Cormack

Department of Adult and Community Education, NUI Maynooth

david.mccormack@nuim.ie

28. Ms Barbara MCCabe QUB b.mccabe@qub.ac.uk

29. Ms Rosemarie McGill Co Dublin VEC

r.mcgill@codubvec.ie

30. Ms Valerie McLoughlin

Educational Disadvantage Centre. St. Patrick’s College

valerie.mcloughlin@spd.dcu.ie

31. Ms Liz Mcskeane 36 Munster Street

mcskeane@iol.ie

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Title Forename Surname Organization Email

32. Ms Patricia Morrissey City of dublin VEC

pat.morrissey@cdvec.ie

33. Ms Helen Murphy Development Centre WIT

hmurphy@wit.ie

34. Ms Mairea Nelson mnelsoncomplex@gmail.com

35. Ms Anne Maree O Brien Co Westmeath VEC

annemareeobrien@iol.ie

36. Ms Maeve O'Grady Waterford Women's Centre

maeveogrady@eircom.net

37. Mr Ciarian O'Mathuna Co Dublin VEC

carapark@edu.codubvec.ie cfom@eircom.net

38. Ms Aideen Quilty Women's studies WERRC, UCD

aideen.quilty@ucd.ie

39. Ms Marie Rooney Co Dublin VEC

m.rooney@codubvec.ie

40. Ms Denise Shannon Leargas dshannon@leargas.ie

41. Ms Rhona Sherry Downtown Centre (UL)

rhona.sherry@downtowncentre.ie

42. Ms Shelley Tracey QUB s.tracey@qub.ac.uk

43. Ms Julie White Co. Limerick VEC

julie@limerickvec.ie

Contact Details for IRAACE Development Committee E-mail: iraace@gmail.com

Telephone: Adele McKenna, Policy & Research Officer,

AONTAS (01) 406 8220

amckenna@aontas.com

Tina Byrne, Research Officer,

NALA (01) 809 9183

tbyrne@nala.ie