APSA Member Survey - Tables for Appendix LM ED · Results tables 2.1. APSA membership, PhD...
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Results tables 2.1. APSA membership, PhD respondents and non-members, reasons for non- membership Members Are you an APSA member? N % Don't know 13 5.6 No 54 23.1 Yes 167 71.4 Total 234 100 What type of membership do you hold? N % 1 year 51 30.5 3 year 56 33.5 Student 41 24.6 Retired 6 3.6 Don't know/Missing 13 7.8 Total 167 100 For how long have you been an APSA member? N % Missing 14 8.38 Less than a year 8 4.79 Less than 2 years 20 11.98 2 years 22 13.17 3 years 24 14.37 Between 3 and 5 years 23 13.77 Between 5 and 10 years 27 16.17 Longer than 10 years 29 17.37 Total 167 100 Non-members If you are not currently an APSA member, please tell us why N % Membership is too expensive 4 7.4 APSA doesn’t provide value or services to members 6 11.1 I am already a member of another association 14 25.9 I didn’t know this association existed 6 11.1 None of my colleagues are members 0 0 I do not wish to attend conferences 5 9.3 Total 54 100
Transcript of APSA Member Survey - Tables for Appendix LM ED · Results tables 2.1. APSA membership, PhD...
Resultstables2.1. APSA membership, PhD respondents and non-members, reasons for non-
membershipMembersAreyouanAPSAmember? N %Don'tknow 13 5.6No 54 23.1
Yes 167 71.4
Total 234 100
Whattypeofmembershipdoyouhold? N %1year 51 30.5
3year 56 33.5Student 41 24.6
Retired 6 3.6
Don'tknow/Missing 13 7.8Total 167 100
ForhowlonghaveyoubeenanAPSAmember? N %Missing 14 8.38Lessthanayear 8 4.79
Lessthan2years 20 11.98
2years 22 13.173years 24 14.37
Between3and5years 23 13.77Between5and10years 27 16.17
Longerthan10years 29 17.37Total 167 100
Non-membersIfyouarenotcurrentlyanAPSAmember,pleasetelluswhy N %Membershipistooexpensive 4 7.4APSAdoesn’tprovidevalueorservicestomembers 6 11.1Iamalreadyamemberofanotherassociation 14 25.9Ididn’tknowthisassociationexisted 6 11.1Noneofmycolleaguesaremembers 0 0Idonotwishtoattendconferences 5 9.3
Total 54 100
IfyouarenotcurrentlyanAPSAmember,pleasetelluswhy:Other,namely:Onlyamemberwhengoingtoconferences/negativeexperienceswithconferences:• Alternatemymembershipbasedonrelevanceofannualconferenceaswellasmybudget• Didn'tattendtheAPSAconference• IusuallyonlygetaroundtojoiningwhengoingtoanAPSAconferenceandhaven'tdoneso
recently• IwasveryunhappyaboutsomeaspectsoftheCanberraconference• I'lljoinwhenIpresentataconference,buthaven'tyet.• Neverbeeninvitedtojoin-dontknowhowmuchitevencosts-andhaveamemoryofa
veryhecticandirrelevantconference20yearsago.• Giventheexpense,itishardtojustifymembershipwhenI'malsoamemberofother
associations.Iamveryseriouslyconsideringbecomingamember,though,andgettinginvolvedintheAssociation.
Membershipnotsorelevantgivendifferentdisciplinarybackground:• DespitebesteffortsnotreallyrelevantforIRpeople• Idon'tidentifyasapoliticalscientistineithertraining,teachingorresearch• MyinterestsrelatetoAPSAbutarenotcenteredonit-Iammoreapublicpolicyperson• Myresearchismultidisciplinaryandasaresultanumberofacademicassociationsare
relevant.I'mcurrentlydecidingwhichwouldbemostappropriate.
Stageofcareer/life:• Havejustreturnedtoacademia/Australia• IamnotapoliticalscientistandIamretired.• Ijusthaven'tgottenaroundtoit• I'verecentlyreturnedtoacademiaandwillprobablyjoinAPSAwhenIregisterforthe
conference(ifuniversityfundingruleswillallowmetopayformembership)• Slippedoffthelistsomehow
WhatwouldittakeforyoutobecomeanAPSAmember?IfAPSAwouldbemorerelevant,didotheractivities,etc.:• Aninvitation,plusanotionofwhyitisrelevant,pluswhatisthatyouevengetforbeinga
member?i.e.newsletters,etc.?• APSAwouldhavetotakeaconsistentstandagainstgovernments'policiesifhollowingout
universities,devaluingstudents'education,promotingsubserviencetobusinessandgovernment,thehomogenisationofthedisciplinebycollaboratingwithrankingexercisesandotherspuriousformsofqualitycontrol
• Betterconferenceandotheractivities• Betterconferencesand/oraffiliatedjournal• Betterrepresentationofmyfield.• Clearersenseofbenefitsofmembership• Communicationformtheorganisationconcerningbenefitsetc• Formalrecognitionofmediahistoryasasub-disciplineofPoliticalStudiesthrough
establishmentofanAPSA-group.• Havemoreaboutpolicy-howitisdevelopedandimplemented,• It'sapoliticalscienceorganization;ISAistherelevantconferenceforme;notsurewhatIget
fromAPSA• Lowerconferencecosts,moreCriticalIRandresearchmethods• Membershipdoesn'treallyofferanybenefitstoacademicsalreadywell-connected.Itneeds
tobuildmoreacommunitybeyondtheactivityoftheconferenceandjournal.Withoutactualactivities,waystohelpthedisciplineandacademics,it'snotreallynecessary.
• Morespecificeventse.g.ongenderandpolitics• Perceivedvalue• TheAPSAconferencewouldneedtoattractenoughIRscholarsforittohavealargenumber
ofIRpanels• AgreaterrelevancytomyroletorequirethePD• AnimportantAPSA-membersonlyactivity
Betterqualityconference:• Betterconferenceandotheractivities• Betterconferencesand/oraffiliatedjournal• Adecentannualconference• Costbuiltintoconferenceregistration(whichIthinkisalreadythecase?)• Higherqualityconferences• IsquitelinkedtomyattendanceattheAPSAconferences• WhenIattendtheAPSAconference,Ijoin.
Tooexpensive/jobtooprecarioustoaffordmembership:• Apayrise• Actually,IamonafixedtermcontractendinginMarch2018anddon'tknowifIwillbe
workingafterwardsinAustraliaornot.• Freemembershipwithaconferenceupgrade• Iamcurrentlyemployedasacasualresearchfellow,sowouldneedtoself-fund.Mysalaryis
tooinsecureforthis.• IwillprobablyjoinagainshortlyasInowhaveanincomeagain(albeitirregularduetocasual
employment).• Itisratherexpensive,sowewillseeifIrejoin• lowerfees• Moreaffordablemembershiprates• whenIhaveanincomeIwillbecomeamember
Miscellaneous:• DiscountedgroupmembershipforFlinders• Gettingaroundtosubmittingapapertoaconference• IamplanningtoattendthenextConferenceinMelbourne,andjoinAPSA.Wouldlovetobe
involvedintheAssociation.• Idonotwishtobeamember.• I'dhavetofindoutmoreaboutitbeforeansweringthisquestion.• ItisgoodtobeamemberofAPSA• Knowledgethatitwasfreeanduseful
Don'tknow:6PhDstudents
AreyouaPhDstudent? N %Missing 12 5.1No 174 74.4
Yes 48 20.5Total 234 100
Areyoucurrentlyofferedanymethodstrainingatyouruniversity? N %Missing 3 6.25
Yes 31 64.58No 14 29.17
Total 48 100
Ifyes,isthistraining: N %SpecificallyfocusedonPoliticalScienceorInternationalRelations 6 19.35Partofbroadersocialsciencetraining 25 80.65
Total 31 100IfyourUniversitydoesoffertraining,brieflyoutlinewhatisprovidedforstudents:
• Acoursetolearnaboutpositivistquantitativemethods• Afewintroductorymethods/researchdesigncourses• Baby'sfirstchi-squared.Remedialatbestanddoesnotconstituteanythingbutwindow
dressing.• EndNote• Generalqualitativeandquantitativemethodscourses• Generalteachingtraining,writing,survivingaPhD• GradCertResearch.Qualandquantgeneralunitsforallpostgrads.Socialscience/polscidoes
notrunanythingorengageintheunitsoffered• Guestspeakers• Veryadhoc,unethusiasticsetofseminars• Inductiononresearchmethodologies,NvivoandSPSStraining• Itisbroadandsparse.OccasionallyIreceiveanemailaboutsometraining,butthetimingis
usuallyinconvenient.Asanexample,Ireceivedanemailaboutqualitativeinterviewingtraining,whichisgreat,butI'vealreadydonethatpartofmyresearch,anditwasn'toffedpriortothisdate.
• Mainlyfocusedonquantitativemethods• Manyworkshopsandtutorialsonresearchmethods/methodologyandwritingskills.• Methods,LiteratureReview• Mydepartmentofferedandstilldoesoffertwoundergraduatecoursesinsocialresearch
methodsatadvancedundergraduatelevel.ThishasbeenveryvaluableinmycurrentPhDresearch.
• NickHopwood'sQualitativeDataAnalysis3daycoursecovers:theimportantdifferencebetweenclaimsandconclusions,usingtheoryinanalysis,makingandjustifyinginterpretations,howtoquoteandargueyourcaseusingqualitativedata,softwareforqualitativeanalysis,andmore!Thisisidealforstudentswhoareinthemidstofdatacollection,orwillhaverecentlycompletedfieldworkbythetimeofthecourse.2.
• NVivo• Onecourseonresearchdesign,oneonqualmethods,andoneonquantmethods• Optionalcoursesavailablesometimes• Periodicmethodstraining-notpartofcandidature• Qualitativeanalysisapproaches• Quantandqualmethods;software(Excel;SPSS;Nvivo)• Seminarofresearchmethodology• Softwaretraining• Unfortunately,theofferingiscentredonquantitativetrainingandpositivistmethodologies.
• Variousonlinemodulesandfacetofaceworkshopseries,e.g."theresearchablequestion"• Variousonlinemodulesduringfirstyear;alsoseveraldifferentcampus-deliveredworkshop
series(e.g."theresearchablequestion")
Haveyoutakenanymethodstrainingoutsideyouruniversity? N %Missing 3 6.25
Yes 12 25No 33 68.75
Total 48 100
Ifyes,wasthisfundedbytheuniversity? N %Yes,fullyfunded 4 33.33
Yes,partlyfunded 1 8.33No,paidmyself 5 41.67
Trainingwasfree 2 16.67Total 12 100
Howusefulwouldafulldaymethodsworkshop(heldinconjunctionwiththeAPSAconference)beforyou? N %Missing 3 6.25
Veryuseful 16 33.33Useful 19 39.58
Nopreference 3 6.25Notuseful 6 12.5
Notatalluseful 1 2.08Total 48 100
2.2.APSAanditsactivities
Howmuchdoyouagreewiththefollowingstatements?
It’simportanttohaveanationalprofessionalassociation N %Missing 26 11.11Stronglyagree 149 63.68
Agree 53 22.65Neitheragreenordisagree 5 2.14
Don'tknow 1 0.43
Total 234 100
APSAmembershipshouldbeopentoallthoseteachingandresearchingpolitics,irrespectiveofsubfieldordiscipline N %Missing 26 11.11Stronglyagree 158 67.52
Agree 39 16.67Neitheragreenordisagree 4 1.71
Disagree 6 2.56
Don'tknow 1 0.43Total 234 100
APSA currently engages in a number of activities. How important are the following
activitiestoyou?
CurrentAPSAactivities %Veryimportant
%Important Total
AustralianJournalofPoliticalScience 47.01 25.21 72.22Annualconference 35.90 32.91 68.81Communicatingjobopportunities 30.34 29.06 59.40Undertakingadvocacyonbehalfofitsmembers 28.63 32.91 61.54Providingfundingforworkshops 27.35 34.19 61.54Providingaplatformforresearchgroups 26.07 41.88 67.95ProvidingPhDtraining 23.93 23.93 47.86Communicatingnews&events 22.22 37.18 59.40Internationalexchangesandlinkswithotherassociations 22.22 34.62 56.84Awardingacademicprizes 14.53 35.47 50.00
WhichofthefollowingactivitieswouldyoulikeAPSAtoengage(more)in?
APSAactivitiesrespondentswouldliketoseemoreof%Respondentsthatselectedactivity
Communicatinggrantopportunities 35.5Communicatingjobopportunities 34.6Providingaplatformforresearchgroups 33.3Providingfundingforworkshops 31.6MethodstrainingforPhDs 29.1Methodstrainingforscholars 26.1Undertakingadvocacyonbehalfofitsmembers 25.6Internationalexchangesandlinkswithotherassociations 25.6Mentoring 25.2Professionaldevelopment(engagement&impact) 24.8ProvidingPhDtraining 24.4Communicatingnews&events 23.5Expertdatabaseformedia 21.4Curriculum/teachingdevelopment 20.5Awardingacademicprizes 18.8
Diversity&inclusion 17.1
Other,namely:• Advocacyonbehalfofdiscipline(andnotjustmembers);workingtoexpandthepossibilitiesofthe
discipline&encouragereflectionondisciplinaryboundariesandlimitations(eg,PolSci'slimitedengagementwithIndigenousscholarship)
• Alloftheabovearegoodthingstodo,butnotobviouswhyAPSAasopposedtouniversitiesshoulddoallofthem
• Providingsupportforscholarsengaginginscholarly-communicationwork• Publicationopportunities• Research/publications• SupportingpublicationofmonographsonAustralianpolitics/policy/politicaleconomythrougha
subventionandpartnershipwithascholarlypress.SeriousscholarshiponAustralianpoliticshasdeclinedsignificantlyinrecentyearsandAPSAshouldaddressit
• Impossibletosay;Idon'tknowhowstrongAPSAisinmostofthesecategories.• Notinterested• Practicalapplicationofdemocraticconceptsusingtechnology,toomuchwordsbutverylittleconcrete
outcome.Innovationsshouldbeencouragedtodeliverpracticalsolutionsusingengineeringforexampleandthetechnologyitgenerates.
InFebruary2017,theAPSAExecutiveissuedastatementonPresidentTrump’stravelban.DoyousupporttheAssociationundertakingsuchadvocacyonpoliticalissuesrelevanttoitsmembersandcolleaguesoverseas? N %Missing 26 11.11
Stronglysupport 104 44.44
Support 56 23.93Nopreference 24 10.26
Donotsupport 20 8.55Don’tknow 4 1.71
Total 234 100
In2013,APSAissuedalistof‘preferredjournalrankings’andupdatedthislistin2016.DoyouthinkAPSAshouldhavesuchalist? N %Missing 26 11.11Yes 117 50
No 59 25.21
Nopreference 19 8.12Don'tknow/prefernottoanswer 13 5.56
Total 234 100
InwhatareasdoyouthinkAPSAcouldimproveitsservicestomembers?(Open-endedanswers)
Bettercommunication,betternewsletter,events,jobopps,etc.(17/99)• Basicmembershipservicesincludingrenewalnotificationsetc,andabasicshorte-
updateore-newslettercontainingupcomingevents(apartfromAPSAConf),jobopeningsandmovements,deadlinesandoutcomesforAPSAprizesandfundingschemes,etc.
• Morecommunicationofjobopportunitiesandevents.• Toretainemergingscholarsintheacademicsector.Iamverymuchkeento
continuemyacademiccareerinPoliticsandInternationalRelationsandhavepublishedremarkablyingoodjournals,butIcanseetherearelimitedopportunitiesforfreshPhDs.Imaylackcertainskills,butIwanttoidentifyandfulfilthem.AsanAPSAmember,Iwantthatgroupwhichhelpmeenrichmypotential.
• Aregularnewsletterwithnewsandevents,includingIPSAevents.AsAPSAisanIPSAmemberitcoulddomoretopromoteIPSAactivities,whichofteninvolveAustralianpoliticalscientists.
• Anoccasionalnewsletter,sayonceortwiceayear.• APSAcouldbemoreproactiveincommunicatingwithmembers.• APSAcouldbemoreusefultoitsmembersifitcirculatedaregularnewsletter
announcingforthcomingconferences/eventsofinterest,jobandgrantopportunities,andreportingbackonAPSAactivities(conference,AJPScallsforpapers,callsforAPSAworkshopfundingproposals&submissionsforprizes).Thewebsitecouldalsobemoreregularlyupdatedwiththisinformation.
• Communicationofnewsandeventsandmembers'achievements(seeegtheAHAnewsletter)
• Communicationwithmembers--moreregularemailnewsletters/announcements.• EmailcommunicationsmoreoftensoIamawareofwhatAPSA-Australiaisdoing.• Itseemslikewegetlittleforourmembership(althoughcommunicationis
improving)incomparisontoTASA• MorevisibilityofwhatAPSAactuallydoes.Itseemstomethatalotisgoingonand
thatAPSAoffersalotofopportunities(fundingworkshopsetc.)butonedoesnotlearnaboutthembutbypersonalcontacts.
• Newsrelevanttomembers.APSAofficedoesn'tcommunicateenough• Providingmoreinformationforthemembersregardingnationalandinternational
politicsconferencesandjournals• Reducedmembershipfeesifmembernotkeenonthejournalaspartofthe
membership;promotionofregional/stateseminars/mini-conferences• Regularcommunication(eitherweekly,orfortnightly)orkey'relevant'issuesand
information.TheonlytimeItendtothinkoftheAPSAiswhenIreceiveemailcommunication(suchasthissurvey),somorecommunicationwillbebetteratestablishingitinpeoplesminds.
• Serviceisgenerallyfine;I'moftenjustsurprisedtoseeverylittle(obvious)activityfromtheassociation,andthentoseeactsliketheopenletterreTrump'sexecutiveorder.Moreregularcommunications(like,forexample,theCPSAnewsletter)wouldbeappreciated.
APSAisdoingagoodjoband/oremptyresponse(16/99):• Can'treallythinkofany.Whydowealwayshavetobefocusedonimprovement
whenitseemstomethatoverallAPSAisdoingjustfine.• ChangethenametoAusPSAotherwiseitisconfusingforourinternational
colleagues• CreatemorenetworkoutsideAustralia• Don'treallyknow.• Iamprettysatisfied• Ienjoythejournal,butsadlyIdon'tfindAPSAveryrelevanttomeanymore,asa)I
liveoverseasandb)Idon'tworksodirectlyinpoliticsanymore.• IthinkAPSAdoesagoodjobgivenallvolunteers• IthinkAPSAdoeswell.I'mnotsureIneedahardcopyofAJPS-onlineaccesswould
probablysuffice.• IwouldsuggestAPSAcansuggestfutureresearchonvariousfieldsofpolitical
science• I'maverynewmemberandunabletomakeavaluablesuggestionatthistime.• Morebreadthbeyondthescienceassumptionsof"politicalscience• Noparticularissues.Ithasalimitedbudgetandreliesonalotofvolunteerlabourso
weshouldhavemodestexpectationsofwhatcanbeachieved.• OverallIthinkAPSAdoesaprettygoodjobservingitsmembers.While
improvementisalwaysgoodAPSAshouldnotmakeafetishofit.HenceIhavenosuggestionsaboutwhatinparticularitmightneedtoimproveupon.
• Overall,allgood
Journallistcomments(15/99):• 2.Employproceduresforestablishingandcorrectingthepreferredjournalrankings
listthataremoreconsultative.Therewereanumberofproceduralproblemswiththemeansbywhichthisrankinglistwasestablished(a.theworkingcommitteewasdrawnfromanon-representativeAPSAexecwhichthusdidnotdojusticetothesub-disciplines;b.therewasnojustificationoftherationalebywhichqualitywastobejudgedandnoacknowledgmentofhowqualityisjudgedbythevarioussub-disciplines;c.therewasnoopportunitytoprovidefeedbackonthefinalversionbeforeitwastobevotedbytheAGM,andthismeantthatnewjournalssuddenlyappearedwiththeirrankingsthatwereproblematicwithoutanymeanstoprovidefeedbackonthesenewdevelopments;d.itwasnotclearwhatsortofevidencewasbeingused(whichmeasures,e.g.JIF,orSNIPetc.etc.)andthereasonswhythecommitteefeltthatthesemeasuresweremoreappropriatethanothers;e.AGMvotingisalwaysgoingtofavourthosewithlargecohorts(likeinternationalrelations)tothedisadvantageofsmallercohortslikepoliticaltheoryandothersub-disciplines.
• Advocateontheirbehalf,notsetagendasforthediscipline(egjournalrankingslistwhichdoesn'thelpmembersbutbecomesanothercrosstobear,andwasjustifiedby'goodforthediscipline'-justwhatunimanagementwouldsay!-anddidn'tthinkofmemberinterests)
• Youhavenotprovidedmuchopportunityforquestioningwhatalreadyexists.IdoacceptthatAPSAprobablyneededtoprovideajournalrankinglisttoassistmembersBUTthatlistwasquitedisturbing.Itshowedverylittlecriticalreflectiononconservativerankingswhichtendtosupporttraditionaljournals(oftenAmerican)andwhichhaveaverynarrowdefinitionofwhatcountsasthepolitical.Areaslikecitizenship,emotions,embodiment,sexuality,gender,transandqueerstudies,aswellasconceptualdiscussionslikeintersectionalityandmaterialismaremuchlesslikelytoberepresentedinconservativelistings.TomymindthisistheheartoftheproblemwithAPSA,whichstilltendstoequatepowerrelationswithgovernmentandwhichremainsquiteresistanttocontemporarydebatesandscholars,andthustothegrowingdiversitythatcouldandshouldbeattachedtoapoliticalstudiesassociation.IfindAPSAstilltobeaverynarrowassociation.Itdoes
notneedtobeandIamawarethatmanyintheorganisationaretryingandhavebeentryingtochangethis.Isometimesbecomeamemberbutthenbecomedisheartened,despitethefactthatIamfrequentlyinspiredbythosememberswhofortunatelypersistinattemptingtoreformtheorganisation.
• Bemoretransparentandinclusiveaboutcreationofverybiasedjournalrankings• Getridofthatjournalrankinglist.Itisbiasedtowardsomesubfieldsand
approaches,andonlyservesverymainstreamscholarsandjournals.Worse,itisadisincentivetopublisheitherinterdisciplinaryworkorinnewer/cuttingedgejournals.It'sthesingleworstthingAPSAdoestounderminecreativityinthediscipline.
• Isupporttheexistenceofthe'preferredjournallist',butIalsostronglysupporteffortstomakethelistmorerepresentativeoftherangeofsubfieldsinwhichAPSAmemberswork.
• Ifitdoeshavetohaveajournallist,itwouldbegoodifthatlistwerecompiledbetter.Firstlyparticularfieldsshouldnotbefavouredoverotherse.g.IRoverpoliticaltheory;itshouldnotbenecessarytopushanotherjournaldownintherankingsinordertogetanotherjournalupandifthatoccursmembersshouldbewarnedandgiventheopportunitytorespondinsupportofthejournalbeingdemoted;itwouldbereallygoodifthelistdidn'treflectaninternational"culturalcringe"thatdowngradesAustralianjournalsdespiteAPSArepresentingpoliticalscientistsinAustralianuniversities.
• Journal-rankingprocesswasnotwellinstituted.Therewastoolittleopportunityformemberstobeinvolved,andthefinallistwasnotnecessarilyreflectiveofeithertheobjectivequalityofpolscijournals,ortheresearchinterestsofthemembership.It'salsonotentirelyclearwhatthelistismeanttorepresent.
• MoreopendebateforAPSApreferredjournalrankings'database.• MycentrereliesheavilyontheAPSAjournalrankinglisttoguidewherewepublish.
IwouldlikeifthereweremoreIRandareastudiesjournalsincludedinthislist.• Nojournalrankingsthatonlyreducediversityinscholarshipandresearch.Theyare
inherentlybiasedandcanneverbeobjectiveastheyclaim.• Opposethehomogenizationofthediscipline,includingbycondemningofjournal
rankings• Thejournallistcompoundsthenarrownessofthefield;andcertainlyencourages
gamingwithinthediscipline.APSAcouldhaveadvocatedforamuchmoresophisticatedapproachratherthanjournalrankings.Sendsaterriblemessagetoyoungscholars.
• Thejournalslistcannotbeahostagetonarrowpoliticalinterests-itisskewedtowardsaustralianoutputswhicharelittlereadbeyondthecountryitself,andalsotowardscomparativeandadmin-politicaltheoryispoorlyrepresentedinthelist.Representationstothiseffectweredismissedinapatronisingfashion.
• Thepreferredjournalrankingslistisinadequateandincomplete
Mentoring/supportforPhDs/ECRs(12/99):• Iliketheideaofprovidingmoreopportunitiesformethodstraining,andalsomore
substantiveformsofsupportforcross-institutionalresearchcollaborations-I'mnotcurrentlyamember,andeitherofthesewouldprovidesomemoreconcretereasonstojoin
• Iwaspreviouslyamember.GreateropportunitiesforHDRcandidatestobecomeinvolvedintheassociationwouldbegood.Greaterdisciplinegroupswouldalsobegreat.
• Morenetworkingopportunitiesandeventsformembers,perhapsbasedaroundmoreactivesub-groups/fields,butcertainlyopportunitiestomixwithscholarsfrom
othersub-fieldswouldbevaluablealso.IalsofindtheAPSAfees-andthefactthattheyarenotstaggeredforcareerlevel-alittleproblematic.ThereasonIwasnotamemberearlierisbecauseitisveryexpensiveforanECR(apostdoc).OtherprofessionalscholarlyassociationsIamamemberofhaveagraduatedannualfee,basedonearnings.AtleastacoupleofdifferentannualfeetypesmaybehelpfulinattractingmoreECRstotheorganisation?
• IthinkwhenyouhaveyourPhDbutnojob,youshouldnothavetopayfullratesforeverything.Maybeallowpeople3yearsgracebeforetheyhavetopayfullprice.AnyhelpwithpathwaysintoworkPhDwouldbemuchappreciated,andadvocacyonjobshareandparttimeworktoo.
• Toretainemergingscholarsintheacademicsector.IamverymuchkeentocontinuemyacademiccareerinPoliticsandInternationalRelationsandhavepublishedremarkablyingoodjournals,butIcanseetherearelimitedopportunitiesforfreshPhDs.Imaylackcertainskills,butIwanttoidentifyandfulfillthem.AsanAPSAmember,Iwantthatgroupwhichhelpmeenrichmypotential.
• I'dliketoseealittlemoreawarenessfromAPSAre.sessionalacademicsstuckbetweenstudentsandtenuredpeers.Forexample,I'dliketoseeadiscountedrateatAPSA'sconferenceforthoseofuswhoaresessional,toreflectourtenuousemploymentandremuneration.
• IncreasingsupportforPhDs'conferenceattendance,supportingtheminjoininggrantapplicationteams
• Iguessthatisaquestionofwhatcanberealisticallyachievedwiththefundswhilekeepingitaffordable.ForPhDsafocusonthenextstepforcareersandmentoring.AtthemomentPhDsaregenerallyquitepessimisticanddisillusionedabouttheirprospects.
• IthinkthatAPSAcouldhaveanevenmorereducedfeeforpostgradstudentsandECRs.
• Iwouldbeveryinterestedinmentormatchingservices,bothverticalandhorizontal.
• moresupportforPhDstudents,moreopportunitiesforstudentstobementoredbypoliticalscience.twoyearsagowhenUCanrantheAPSAConference,therewasanmentoringopportunity.Theacademiciwaspairedwiththatyearremainsmymentor.Therecouldbemoreshorttermorad-hocmentoringopportunities
• Thisisanexcellentinitiative.TheAssociationshouldopenitsdoorstofurtherengagementfromyoungerscholars,asthisinitiativeseemstoreflect.
Supportingresearchgroups/promotingresearchcollaboration(11/99):• Ideally,APSAwouldhavesomefundsforresearch.• 1.Supportingresearchgroups• Iliketheideaofprovidingmoreopportunitiesformethodstraining,andalsomore
substantiveformsofsupportforcross-institutionalresearchcollaborations-I'mnotcurrentlyamember,andeitherofthesewouldprovidesomemoreconcretereasonstojoin
• Iwaspreviouslyamember.GreateropportunitiesforHDRcandidatestobecomeinvolvedintheassociationwouldbegood.Greaterdisciplinegroupswouldalsobegreat.
• Morenetworkingopportunitiesandeventsformembers,perhapsbasedaroundmoreactivesub-groups/fields,butcertainlyopportunitiestomixwithscholarsfromothersub-fieldswouldbevaluablealso.IalsofindtheAPSAfees-andthefactthattheyarenotstaggeredforcareerlevel-alittleproblematic.ThereasonIwasnotamemberearlierisbecauseitisveryexpensiveforanECR(apostdoc).OtherprofessionalscholarlyassociationsIamamemberofhaveagraduatedannualfee,
basedonearnings.AtleastacoupleofdifferentannualfeetypesmaybehelpfulinattractingmoreECRstotheorganisation?
• Moresmall,one-offgrantsforworkshops,symposiumsetc.• Networkingbetweenconferences• ShouldIrejoin,platformsforresearchgroupsisveryimportant.Forinstance,Iama
memberoftheBritishInternationalStudiesAssociationInternationalPoliticalEconomyGroup.
• Stimulatingcontactinresearchgroups(andcheckingthatithappens)• Strongersupportforresearchnetworks,workshops,etc• Therecouldbemoreroomforsupportingandorganisingsmallerscaleworkshops
andconferenceswithastrongfocus.Theannualconferenceisfine,butverybroadconsideringtherangeofthingsfolkareworkingon.Havingsomemorestructuredeventswouldbehelpfulonthisfront.
Greaterlobbying/advocacy(11/99):• APSAshouldnotissuepoliticalstatementsonbehalfofit'smemberswithoutfirst
seekingassentfromsaidmembers.Thisisanunethicalpractice-Icertainlyhavenotagreedwiththelasttwostatementsandconsideredwithdrawingmymembershipasaresult.Themorallylicitandefficientwaytoproceedistoproposeastatement-invitememberstosignthestatement(orattachtheirnamestothestatement)-andissuethestatementonlyonbehalfofthememberssigningsame.Asmallfootnotecouldthenbeincludedtoclarifythatnotallmembersprovidedtheirassent(assumingyoudonotget100%assent).OtherwisewerisksmallgroupswithinAPSAbeingabletograndstandonthebackoftheAPSAbrand,andalsodisenfranchisingexistingmembers.
• WebsitecouldlinktoTheConversationorThoughtpiecesaroundadvocacy• Greaterlobbyingonbehalfofthediscipline.• Advocacyandadvicetoinstitutionsaboutjournalrankings• Advocateontheirbehalf,notsetagendasforthediscipline(egjournalrankingslist
whichdoesn'thelpmembersbutbecomesanothercrosstobear,andwasjustifiedby'goodforthediscipline'-justwhatunimanagementwouldsay!-anddidn'tthinkofmemberinterests)
• Althoughthefundingpoolisrelativelysmall,APSAshouldbedoingmoreinoutreachactivities-popularisingandpromotingtheprofession,andsupportingtheworkofthosewhodothiswork.
• Findourcommoninterestsandrepresentthemwhereneeded.• Greateradvocacyonbehalfofsocialsciences/humanitiesacrossallAustralian
universities.• IthinkwhenyouhaveyourPhDbutnojob,youshouldnothavetopayfullratesfor
everything.Maybeallowpeople3yearsgracebeforetheyhavetopayfullprice.AnyhelpwithpathwaysintoworkPhDwouldbemuchappreciated,andadvocacyonjobshareandparttimeworktoo.
• IwouldliketoseeAPSAadvocatingtheinterestsofthedisciplineinhighereducationpolicygenerally;forexample,Govtemphasesonimpactarelikelytobeachallengeforthoseworkinginpoliticaltheory,justastheERAledfocusoninternationalisationhollowedoutworkindomesticandstatepolitics...Theseareinterestsofthediscipline–notjustmemberacademicsorparticularuniversities-andAPSAhasaroleinarticulatingtheimportanceofthediscipline.
• IwouldliketoseeAPSAengagemorevisiblywiththeAustraliangovernmentasarepresentativeofAustralia-basedpoliticalscientists.Forexample,APSAcouldcommunicatetouniversitiesandgovernmentfundingsourcesthathighqualityresearchtakesconsiderableinputoftimeandresources;ifAustralianuniversities
aretocompeteinternationally,greaterfocusshouldbeplacedonqualityoverquantityinpublication.Thishasimplicationsforresearchersatallcareerstages,butperhapsmostlyforECRs.APSAcouldalsoadvocateforaresistancetocasualizationsintertiarysectorteaching.PerhapsAPSAcouldputouttendersorrequeststomembersforwhitepapers/memos/originalresearchonaspectsoffunding/policyaspertainstopoliticalscientists.
Conference(10/99):• Allconferencesincentraleasytoreachlocationsforthemajorityofmembers(ieno
conferenceslocatedatsuburbancampusesinsmallerorlesscentralcities)• Conferenceregistrationisveryexpensive,withnooptions(in2017)forasingleday
attendancefee• Iwasn'tevenawareAPSAcouldfascinatecommunicationwithotherassociations.
WecouldalsomovetowardsimprovingthequalityoftheAPSAconference-perhapsrequiringwrittenpapers?
• I'dliketoseealittlemoreawarenessfromAPSAre.sessionalacademicsstuckbetweenstudentsandtenuredpeers
• Forexample,I'dliketoseeadiscountedrateatAPSA'sconferenceforthoseofuswhoaresessional,toreflectourtenuousemploymentandremuneration.
• IfweprogressiveacademicsareseriousaboutreducingCO2emissionsandclimatechangeresearch,weshouldleadbyexampleandhavebi-annualconferencesand/orfacilitatevideoconferencing,thistoreduce(air)travel.Weacademicstalknon-stopabouttheissue(myselfincluded)butweareamongtheworldsleadingpolluterswithalltheairtravelwedo.Inmyviewitishightimewesocialscientistsputourmoneywhereourmouthis.IfAPSAintroduceditfirst,andmadealotofnoiseaboutitininternationalcircles,thenothersmightdecidetofollow,hopefullymakingitaglobaltrend.ThereareITcorporationswhoaremovingtothismodel,withemployeeshavingtojustifywhytheycannotmeetovervideo-link,sotheideaislesscrazyasitmaysound.
• IncreasingsupportforPhDs'conferenceattendance,supportingtheminjoininggrantapplicationteams
• MaketheannualAPSAConferenceatrulyinternationalevent.• Offeringreducedratestoretiredandprecariousacademicstoattendtheannual
conference,likeotherassociationsdo.• PleasecheckinwiththeUNSWSocialPolicyResearchCentretoensurethatthe
APSAConferenceandtheAustralianSocialPolicyConference(ASPC)arenotonatexactlythesametime.ThisclashhashappenedthelasttwoASPCconferencesandtwiceIhavenotbeenabletoattendAPSA.
• Skillsdevelopment,includingconferences
Betterwebsite&socialmediapresence(6/99):• APSAcouldbemoreusefultoitsmembersifitcirculatedaregularnewsletter
announcingforthcomingconferences/eventsofinterest,jobandgrantopportunities,andreportingbackonAPSAactivities(conference,AJPScallsforpapers,callsforAPSAworkshopfundingproposals&submissionsforprizes).Thewebsitecouldalsobemoreregularlyupdatedwiththisinformation.
• Thewebsiteisterribleandthereappearstobenoprocesswheremembersarenotifiedwhenmembershipisabouttoexpire.Thereshouldbeanautoemailthatgoesoutwhenthisisgoingtohappen.Socialmediapresencehasimprovedbutcouldalsobeexpanded
• ArchiveAPSA-relateddocumentsonwebsite• Nodoubttherearelimitedresources,butthewebsiteingeneralisratherthinon
information
• Sharingofteachingresourcesonline.• WebsitecouldlinktoTheConversationorThoughtpiecesaroundadvocacy
Promote diversity in the discipline / commitment to disciplinary & methodologicalpluralism(6/99):• WorkingtoimprovethecultureofthefieldinAustralia,especiallyhelpingfemale
academicsandbreakingdownthemasculine,nasty,brutal,cliqueycoldcultureofpoliticalscienceinAustralia.
• Diversityandinclusion• Situatedinanon-goingsettler-colonialcontextandinthesetimesofeverincreasing
assaultsondiversityanddifference,akeyfocusonquestionsofinclusion,reconciliationanddiversityseemsimportantatthistime.Thisincludesbothbodies,butalsoepistemologiesandmethodologies.
• Youhavenotprovidedmuchopportunityforquestioningwhatalreadyexists.IdoacceptthatAPSAprobablyneededtoprovideajournalrankinglisttoassistmembersBUTthatlistwasquitedisturbing.Itshowedverylittlecriticalreflectiononconservativerankingswhichtendtosupporttraditionaljournals(oftenAmerican)andwhichhaveaverynarrowdefinitionofwhatcountsasthepolitical.Areaslikecitizenship,emotions,embodiment,sexuality,gender,transandqueerstudies,aswellasconceptualdiscussionslikeintersectionalityandmaterialismaremuchlesslikelytoberepresentedinconservativelistings.TomymindthisistheheartoftheproblemwithAPSA,whichstilltendstoequatepowerrelationswithgovernmentandwhichremainsquiteresistanttocontemporarydebatesandscholars,andthustothegrowingdiversitythatcouldandshouldbeattachedtoapoliticalstudiesassociation.IfindAPSAstilltobeaverynarrowassociation.ItdoesnotneedtobeandIamawarethatmanyintheorganisationaretryingandhavebeentryingtochangethis.Isometimesbecomeamemberbutthenbecomedisheartened,despitethefactthatIamfrequentlyinspiredbythosememberswhofortunatelypersistinattemptingtoreformtheorganisation.
• 2.Demonstrablecommitmenttodisciplinaryandmethodologicalpluralism&3.DefendingtheplaceofAustralianfocussedresearchandthemettleofAustraliantrainedPhDsinpoliticalsciencedepartmentsinAustralianuniversities
• Thestudyofpoliticsisaninterdisciplinaryventure.APSAshouldreflectthisatitsconferenceandwithinitsjournal.Any'methodologicaltraining'shouldequallyreflectthis.
Bettermembershipadministration(4/99):• Alertingmemberswhenmembershipfeesaredue.• Basicmembershipservicesincludingrenewalnotificationsetc,andabasicshorte-
updateore-newslettercontainingupcomingevents(apartfromAPSAConf),jobopeningsandmovements,deadlinesandoutcomesforAPSAprizesandfundingschemes,etc.
• Imovedabout18monthsago,emailedandphonedtoupdatemydetailsbutnoonebotheredtoevenrespond.SoIdon'tknowifI'vemissedsomethingthathasbeensenttome.So,howwouldyourateyourmemberservices-maybeanothercampaignagainstanotherforeigngovernment'spolicyagenda?
• Thewebsiteisterribleandthereappearstobenoprocesswheremembersarenotifiedwhenmembershipisabouttoexpire.Thereshouldbeanautoemailthatgoesoutwhenthisisgoingtohappen.Socialmediapresencehasimprovedbutcouldalsobeexpanded
Moreactive,lookatalternativemodelssuchasUK/USPSA(3/99):
• Serviceisgenerallyfine;I'moftenjustsurprisedtoseeverylittle(obvious)activityfromtheassociation,andthentoseeactsliketheopenletterreTrump'sexecutiveorder.Moreregularcommunications(like,forexample,theCPSAnewsletter)wouldbeappreciated.
• Maybecommunicatemoreaboutdevelopmentsinthediscipline-AmericanPSAdoesthisbetter
• Lookatalternativemodels-BritishPSAseemsmoreactive
Variationinmembershipfees(3/99):• Morenetworkingopportunitiesandeventsformembers,perhapsbasedaround
moreactivesub-groups/fields,butcertainlyopportunitiestomixwithscholarsfromothersub-fieldswouldbevaluablealso.IalsofindtheAPSAfees-andthefactthattheyarenotstaggeredforcareerlevel-alittleproblematic.ThereasonIwasnotamemberearlierisbecauseitisveryexpensiveforanECR(apostdoc).OtherprofessionalscholarlyassociationsIamamemberofhaveagraduatedannualfee,basedonearnings.AtleastacoupleofdifferentannualfeetypesmaybehelpfulinattractingmoreECRstotheorganisation?
• Reducedmembershipfeesifmembernotkeenonthejournalaspartofthemembership;promotionofregional/stateseminars/mini-conferences
• Offeringreducedratestoretiredandprecariousacademicstoattendtheannualconference,likeotherassociationsdo.
Methodstraining&otherworkshops(3/99):• Greatermethodstrainingandpromotioninternationallyrelevantresearch.• Centralisedmethodtrainingandotherworkshopsforacademics• Ibelievethattraininginresearchmethods,especiallyqualitativemethods,wouldbe
invaluable
APSAmoreinclusiveorganisation/morerepresentativeofsub-disciplines(3/99)• Itneedstobeamoreinclusiveorganisationthatencouragesgreaterinvolvement
fromabroaderrangeofmembers--itoftenfeelsliketheorganisationiscontrolledbyaselectfew.
• 1.Amorecarefulattemptshouldbemadetomaketheexecmorerepresentativeofthediversityofsub-disciplines,giventheadvocacyrolethatitplays.Thereisaperceptionthatittendstodowellwithrespecttointernationalrelationsbutlesswellwithrespecttoothersub-disciplines.
• Whodecidesonthemembershipofdifferentcommittees?APSAdoesn'tseemverytransparent.
Showcasingresearchofmembers/reflectondevelopmentsinthediscipline(3/99):• Byshowcasinginnovativeresearchofitsmembershiponoccasion.• Greatermethodstrainingandpromotioninternationallyrelevantresearch.• Maybecommunicatemoreaboutdevelopmentsinthediscipline-AmericanPSA
doesthisbetter
2.3.Researchgroups,conferenceandmembership,websiteandcommunication
APSAResearchGroups
Areyouamemberofaresearchgroup?
Researchgroup % of respondents that areAPSA members and memberofresearchgroup
EnvironmentalPoliticsandPolicyResearchGroup 8.9%PolicyStudiesResearchGroup 15.6%PoliticalOrganisationsandParticipationResearchGroup 12.6%QuantitativeMethodsResearchGroup 7.2%
HaveyouattendedanAPSAresearchgroupworkshop? N %Missing 26 11.11No 156 66.67
Yes 52 22.22Total 234 100
Ifyes,howwouldyouratetheusefulnessoftheworkshop? N %Veryuseful 29 55.77
Somewhatuseful 18 34.62Nopreference 2 3.85
Notuseful 2 3.85Notatalluseful 1 1.92
Total 52 100
AreyouawareofthefundingopportunitiesavailableforAPSAresearchgroupworkshops? N %Missing 26 11.11
No 120 51.28Yes 88 37.61
Total 234 100
MembershipandConference
DoyouthinkAPSAmembershipratesare… N %Missing 29 12.39Toohigh 36 15.38
Toolow 3 1.28
Aboutright 141 60.26Other,pleasespecify 25 10.68
Total 234 100
Other,namely:MembershipratestoohighforPhDs,ECRs,andmembersonsessional/casualcontracts• ToohighpostPhd,whenyouareatyourpoorest.• ToohighifECR/HDR.Thereshouldbeascale,dependingoncareer/employmentlevel-i.e.TASA• Toohighgivenwhatisonoffer• Toohighforsessionals.• Shouldbeaspeciallow-incomerateforstudentsorthoseincasualorpart-timeemployment.• ForPhDstudents,it'shigh.• Asperbefore,toohighforECRs.• APSAcouldconsidermakingacategoryof"casualworker"andfractionalmembershipratesand
independentscholar(withoutinstitutionalassistance)ratestopermitthoseoutsidethejobmarketorinprecariousacademicemploymenttocontinuetheirprofessionaldevelopment
Don’tknow/don’trememberwhatAPSAmembershipratesare/notapplicable:• Thereisn'tverymuchinformationreadilyavailableaboutfundsreceivedandhowthey'respent
soit'shardtojudgevalueformoney.• I'dneedtocheckpricesagain• Don'tknowwhatthemembershipratesare(4)• Notapplicable/N/A(2)• Noopinion(2)• Don’tknow(3)• Can'tremember/can’trecall(2)• Iamnotamembersodon'tpaythem.
Doyouthinkmembershipratesshouldbetiedtoyourincomelevel? N %Missing 29 12.39
Yes 129 55.13No 54 23.08
Don'tknow 22 9.4Total 234 100
HowmanytimeshaveyoubeentotheAPSAconferenceinthelast5years? N %0 54 23.081 53 22.65
2 37 15.813 31 13.25
4 21 8.97
5 9 3.85Missing 29 12.39
Total 234 100
DoyouthinkAPSAconferencefeesare… N %Missing 29 12.39
Toohigh 63 26.92Toolow 2 0.85
Aboutright 103 44.02Other,pleasespecify 37 15.81
Total 234 100
Other,namely:ConferencefeestoohighforPhDs,ECRs,andmembersonsessional/casualcontracts• Toohighforsessionals• ThedinnerisexpensiveforPhDsandlowincomeacademicsandIknowofseveralwhohavenot
attendedduetothecost• Shouldbealow-incomerateforstudentsorthoseincasualorpart-timeemployment.• perhapsgreatconcessionsforstudentsandnonfull-timestaff.Asweknowtherearedozensof
politicsPhDwhoaremarginallyemployedinthesector• Mycommentsaboutmembershipratesapplytoconferencefees• Needtodifferentiatebetweencategoriesofdifferentdifferentgroupsandchargelesstopeople
notsupportedbytheirinstitutionetc.• ItwashardformetomanagetravelcostswhenIwasaPhDstudent.It'snothigh,butkindof
unaffordable.• Forfulltimeacademicstheyareaboutright.MoresupportforprecariousERC'swouldhelp.In
betweengettingmyPhDandfirstjobthisstoppedmeattending,casualworkinthatperiodmakesitveryhardtoattend,butisalsosuchanimportanttimetobeoutthere.
• Again,toohighpostPhDwhenyouhavenojob.Evaluationconferencefeesdependsonqualityofconference• Thisisdependentonthelocationandservicesprovided-oftenokay,sometimesoverpriced.• Theyvarygreatly.• Theconferencefeesarehighbutnotexorbitantlyhigh.• EspfortheconfatUNSW,whichwasverypoorvalue• Dependsonthequalityoftheconference.someinthelastfewyearshavebeenverygoodvalue
formoney,whileotherswereverypoorvalueformoney.Morepressureshouldbeputonconferencehoststodelivervalueformoney.
• 2017conferencefeesaretoohigh.Settingthefeesisalwaystrickybutthe2017levelseems
considerablymoreexpensivethaninpreviousyears.
Don'tknow/notsure/noopinion/don'tknowwhattheyare(22)
Doyouthinkconferenceattendancefeesshouldbetiedtoyourincomelevel? N %Missing 29 12.39Yes 104 44.44
No 80 34.19
Don'tknow 21 8.97Total 234 100
HaveyoueverbeenunabletoattendanAPSAconferencebecauseoffinancialconstraints? N %Missing 29 12.39Yes 65 27.78
No 140 59.83
Total 234 100
Websiteandcommunication
HaveyouevervisitedtheAPSAwebsite? N %Missing 32 13.68
Yes 181 77.35No 21 8.97
Total 234 100
DoyouuseFacebook? N %Missing 32 13.68
Yes 142 60.68No 60 25.64
Total 234 100
Ifyes,doyoufollowanAPSAresearchgrouponFacebook? N %Missing 3 2.11
Yes,namely 31 21.83No 108 76.06
Total 142 100
Yes,namely: N %PoliticalOrganisationandParticipationresearchgroup 16 51.61PolicyStudiesResearchGroup 7 22.58APSAWomenCaucus 4 12.90Postgradnetwork 2 6.45EnvironmentalPolitics 1 3.23PoliticalTheory 1 3.23
Total 31 100
DoyouuseTwitter? N %Missing 32 13.68
Yes 119 50.85
No 83 35.47Total 234 100
Ifyes,doyoufollowAPSA,oranAPSAresearchgrouponTwitter? N %Missing 3 2.52
Yes,namely 51 42.86
No 65 54.62Total 119 100
Yes,namely: N %APSA 34 66.67PoliticalOrganisationandParticipationresearchgroup 12 23.53PolicyStudiesResearchGroup 1 1.96APSAWomenCaucus 6 11.76AustralianJournalofPoliticalScience 1 1.96
Total* 51 100*Notethatmultipleresponseswerepossible,totalnumberofresponseswas54,ofrespondentsansweringthisquestion51.
How useful would the following information be for you to have available on the APSAwebsite? %Veryuseful %Somewhatuseful TotalusefulAnnualAPSAconferenceinformation 64.53 18.38 82.91Callforpapers/conferenceannouncements 60.26 20.94 81.20Grantopportunities 52.99 21.37 74.36Jobopportunities 48.72 22.22 70.94Researchgroups 47.01 29.91 76.92News/events 36.75 37.18 73.93Informationontheassociation 34.19 38.46 72.65DirectoryofAPSAmembers 29.49 35.47 64.96BlogsfromAPSAmembers 11.54 33.33 44.87
Fromthelistabove,pleasetelluswhatyouthinkshouldbegivenpriorityonthewebsite: N %Jobopportunities 40 30.08
Grantopportunities 38 28.57
News/events 37 27.82
AnnualAPSAconferenceinformation 32 24.06
Callforpapers/conferences 29 21.80
Researchgroups 14 10.53
InformationonAPSAassociation 8 6.02
Miscellaneous 7 5.26
DirectoryofAPSAmembers 6 4.51
Empty/don’tknow 6 4.51
BlogsfromAPSAmembers 4 3.01
Membersresearchprojectsand/orpublications 4 3.01
Advocacy 1 0.75
Prizewinners 1 0.75
Total* 133 100*Notethatmultipleresponseswerepossible,totalnumberofresponseswas227;totalnumberofrespondentsansweringthisquestion133.
DoyouthinkAPSAshouldpublishandemailamembernewsletter?Ifyes,howoften? N %Missing 32 13.68
No 36 15.38
Yes,everytwomonths 29 12.39Yes,monthly 37 15.81
Yes,quarterly 100 42.74Total 234 100
2.4DemographicInformation
Whatisyourgenderidentification? N
%
Female 81 34.62Male 104 44.44Transgender 0 0Prefernottodisclose/Other 14 5.99Missing 35 14.96Total 234 100
AreyouofAboriginalorTorresStraightIslanderOrigin? N %No 193 82.48Yes-Aboriginal 0 0Yes–TorresStraightIslander 0 0Iwouldprefernottodisclose 6 2.56Missing 35 14.96Total 234 234Whatisyourage? N %Under30 13 5.5630-40 65 27.7840-50 53 22.6550-60 35 14.96Over60 24 10.26Iwouldprefernottodisclose 9 3.85Missing 35 14.96Total 234 100Inwhichcountryareyoucompleting,ordidyoucompleteyourPhD?
N %
Australia 128 54.70USA 13 5.56UK 24 10.26Other 10 4.27Missing 55 23.50Total 234 100Howwouldyoudescribeyourcurrentemploymentstatus? N %Tenure/continuing 101 43.16Contract 31 13.25Casual 12 5.13Student(PhDorMasters) 29 12.39Retired 10 4.27Other 9 3.85Missing 42 17.95Total 234 100Ifyouarenotanacademic,inwhichsectordoyouwork? N %Privatesector 8 3.42Publicsector 13 5.56Missing 213 91.03Total 234 100
Whatistheacademiclevelofyourcurrentemployment? N %Tutor/AssociateLecturer/ResearchAssociate 25 10.68Lecturer/ResearchFellow 42 17.95SeniorLecturer/SeniorResearchFellow 34 14.53AssociateProfessor/Reader 24 10.26Professor 27 11.54Emeritus/Honorary 7 2.99Other 10 4.27Missing 65 27.78Total 234 100Areyouanearlycareerresearcher? N %Yes 49 20.94No 150 64.10Missing 35 14.96Total 234 100Doyoucurrentlyhaveregularcaringresponsibilities? N %Yes 80 34.19No 119 50.85Missing 35 14.96Total 234 100Average%ofpositiondedicatedtoresearch
Average%ofpositiondedicatedtoteaching
Average%ofpositiondedicatedtoadministration
49.02 31.69 21.92N=170 N=149 N=154Otherrolesthatformpartofacademicworkloadthatwerementionedinclude:
• Conferenceorganisation• Journalediting• Bookediting• Consultancies• Outreachandengagement• Governmentcommitteemembership• Contractresearch• Service
Inwhich state or territory is the university or institution forwhichyoucurrentlyworklocated?
N %
NewSouthWales 44 18.80Victoria 47 20.09Queensland 32 13.68ACT 23 9.83SouthAustralia 14 5.98WesternAustralia 4 1.71Tasmania 3 1.28NorthernTerritory 1 0.43Overseas 7 2.99Prefernottodisclose 14 5.98Missing 45 19.23Total 234 100Areyouamemberofanyotherpoliticalscienceassociations? N %AmericanPoliticalScienceAssociation(APSA) 30 21.43EuropeanConsortiumforPoliticalResearch(ECPR) 44 31.43EuropeanPoliticalScienceAssociation(EPSA) 5 3.57InternationalPoliticalScienceAssociation(IPSA) 38 27.14InternationalStudiesAssociation(ISA) 34 24.29InternationalPublicPolicyAssociation 17 12.14Other 65 46.43Total* 140 *Notethatmultipleresponseswerepossible,totalnumberofresponseswas233;totalnumberofrespondentsansweringthisquestionwas140.
OtherAssociationsmentioned:Nationalpoliticalscienceassociations:
• UKPoliticalStudiesAssociation• NZPoliticalStudiesAssociation• PoliticalScienceAssociationofJapan
Otherdisciplinaryassociations:
• TheAustralianSociologicalAssociation• InternationalSociologicalAssociation• UKSocialPolicyAssociation• AustralianSocialPolicyAssociation• HistoryofEconomicThoughtSocietyofAustralia• SocietyofHeterdoxEconomics• AustralianSocietyforContinentalPhilosophy• CulturalStudiesAssociation• SocietyofLegalScholars• PublicHealthAssociationofAustralia• AustralianHistoricalAssociation• EngineersAustralia• RoyalAeronauticalSociety• AustralianInstituteofManagement
• UrbanAffairsAssociation(USA)• Australia-NewZealandRegionalScienceAssociation• AustralianAssociationofProfessionalandAppliedEthics• LawandSocietyAssociation• AustralianWomen’sandGenderStudiesAssociation• AustralianCriticalRaceandWhitenessStudiesAssociation• InstituteofAustralianGeographers• AustraliaandNewZealandSocietyofCriminology• AmericanAcademyofReligion• AustralianAssociationfortheStudyofReligion• SocietyfortheScientificStudyofReligion• AustralianSocietyfortheStudyofLabourHistory
Australiansub-disciplinaryassociations:
• AustralianInstituteforInternationalAffairs• ContemporaryEuropeanStudiesAssociationofAustralia• InstituteofPublicAdministrationAustralia
Overseas/internationalsub-disciplinaryassociations:
• InternationalResearchSocietyforPublicManagement• InternationalAssociationfortheStudyoftheCommons• InternationalAustralianStudiesAssociation• BritishInternationalStudiesAssociation• EuropeanInternationalStudiesAssociation• JapanAssociationofElectoralStudies• JapanAssociationforComparativePolitics• AustralianStudiesAssociationofJapan• JapanAssociationforAreaStudies• InternationalSocietyofPoliticalPsychology• EuropeanConferenceonPoliticsandGender• AmericanSocietyofPublicAdministration• AssociationforPoliticalTheory• InternationalInstituteofAdministrativeSciences
Methodologicalassociations:
• TheAustralianSocietyforQuantitativePoliticalScienceAreastudiesassociations:
• AfricanStudiesAssociationofAustralasiaandthePacific• AustralianWomen’sandGenderStudiesAssociation• AustralianAssociationforPacificStudies• ChineseStudiesandAsianStudiesAssociation• AssociationofIberianandLatinAmericanStudiesofAustralasia• LatinAmericanStudiesAssociation
Pleasetellusyourareaofwork/study,includingsub-disciplinesandparticularareasofinterest.
DoyouhaveanyotherfeedbackforAPSAthatisnotcoveredbythequestions?*• Thankyoufortheopportunitytoprovidesomefeedback.APSAhasalwaysstruggled
withvariationsontheissuesinthisquestionnaire.• Justdropthejournalranking.Itdoesrealharmtocreativescholarship.• TheAPSAjournallistneedstobere-thoughtontherankingofpolicyjournals
(amongthemselvesfirstandamongtheentirelistsecond).• ThereisarecentlyformedAPSAresearchgroupthatdoesnotfeatureonthe
questionnaire(PoliticalTheory).Itismostimportant,inmyview,tofacilitateandsupporttheresearchgroups.Withoutthesegroups,itissometimeshardforthoseworkinginsub-disciplinestofeelliketheyhaveaplaceinAPSA.Thanksverymuchfororganisingthissurvey,asitisgoodtobeabletoofferthisfeedback.
• SinceLisaMacKinneyhasstartedinherrole,I'vebeengettingmoreinformationfrom/aboutAPSAthanIhaveduringthelastthreeyearsI'vebeenanAPSAmember.I'moffcampusstudentandIworkfulltimeinanon-academicrolesoit'sbeengreattogetemailsaboutthefieldandAPSAfromLisa.
• GreatertransparencyofAPSAcommittees.BettermarketingtoletacademicsknowwhatAPSAcandoforthem.
• APSAshouldhavemanymoresectionsandareastudiessections,rangingfrom'postcolonialpolitics'toculturalpoliticaleconomyandmanymore.So,forinstance,inmydepartmentquiteafewscholarsworkonSoutheastAsianpolicyandpolitics,buttherearealsootherswhoworkoninternationalpoliticaleconomy.Also,couldyoupleasenotlistthe'AmericanPoliticalScienceAssociation'asourfirstoptioninquestion49,itprejudices.WhynotlistTASAasfirst?
• Notreally,otherthanatthemomentIenjoybeingamemberofAPSA,buttobehonestoftenwonderwhattheorganisationreallydoesforusasscholars-eitheraslobbyingorprovidingopportunities(ofvariouskinds,fromcommunicatinggrants,networking,providingworkshopfundsetc.).PerhapsAPSAindeeddoesalot,howevermaybethen,ifthat'sthecase,thisisnotcommunicatedverywell.Sorryforthecriticalfeedback!But,asIsaid,IwillstrivetoremainamemberofAPSAnowasIfeelanationalorganisationofpoliticalstudiesisimperativeandimmenselyvaluable.
• Itwouldbegoodiftherewasmoreemphasisgiventoresearchfocussingongenderand/orfeminismwithinAPSAgenerally,andattheAPSAconference.Thereisoftenalotofinterestinthisarea,butitissometimessidelinedintheschedulingandappearstobelowerdowntheprioritiesoftheAssoc.ItwouldbegoodifitwasclearerthatfeministtheoryandfeministanalysishasanimportantplacewithinpolsciinAustralia.
• Notatthemoment.Overallyou'redoingagoodjob.• ItwouldbeagoodideatopromotemoreactivelyexcellentAPSAresourcessuchas
POPPoliticsAusandtheWomen'sCaucusFacebookPage:https://www.facebook.com/ApsaWomensCaucus/Itshouldn'tbenecessarytodelvedeepintothewebsitetofindlinkstothese.
• ThestateofreviewingforthejournalAJPSisappalling.Ihavehadarticlespublishedintopjournalsoverseasandthecommentsarealwayscivil,respectfulandconstructive.InAJPSthecommentsareoftennasty,rudeanddisrespectful(eg'Thispersoncan'twrite').ThisisasignofthecultureinAustralianpoliticalscience.Itisawfulandbrutal.Asawomanitisnotapleasantpeergrouptobeinanditishardforwomentothriveinpoliticalscience.Thishasbeenthesituationforsuchalongtime,butitisneveraddressed.APSAmustdosomethingaboutthis-notjustget
womentalkingtoeachotherwithwarstories-makethepowerfulseniormentakeresponsibilityforcleaningupthecultureofthisgroup.Makepeopleaccountablefordoingsomethingaboutthis.Acoupleofyearsagotherewasasurveyshowinghowbadthingswere-presentedattheAPSAconference.Butwhathappenedaboutthis?Nothing.Veryfewmenturneduptoheartheresultsofthesurvey-ithadnoeffectonbehaviourorstructuresatall.Whenisthisissuegoingtobeaddressed?ThenastyreviewersmakeithardertogetpublishedinAJPSthanoverseas.Thisisridiculous.
• NomemberoftheassociationinSAeveryreachedouttometoparticipateandwhileIwasamemberforafewyears,Igaveitupin2015duetoAPSAinternalpoliticsandthedifficultyofattendingitsconferences.
• ItwouldbeveryhelpfulifyoudidnotscheduleyourconferencetoexactlycoincidewiththeAustralianSocialPolicyConference.
• Recognisingthegenderednatureofcareanditsexclusionanddevaluingseemsimportantasmoreandmorecarers,particularlymothers,arefacinginsurmountablebarrierstoentrytoacademe.
• Asanorganisationyoushouldlookatwhatyouwanttoachieveandtargetit.Operationalaspectsseemsmissingbeingcaughtinverbosedebatewhilethereisademandforapeople'voicewhichyoucanbecomeboththeadvocateandthinktank.Thenewbuzzwordisinnovationyetnotmanyinnovativethinkingemergestobringchange.Goodluck.
• IhadadisappointingexperienceduringthesecondAPSAconferenceIattendedin2015.Duetothis,itpreventedmefromreturningbacktoanotherconference.WhenIpresentedapaper,theaudiencegavealotoffeedbackwhichwasgreat,however,Iwascallednaiveandwasprovidedwithalotofunproductivefeedback.Peopleareentitledtotheiropinions,however,givenItravelledquiteawaystoattendthisconference,IfoundthisexperiencetohavebeensomewhatawasteoftimegiventhatIthoughttheotherresearcherswouldbeinterestedinhelpingpresentersconstructivelyratherthandemeanthem.Iwasn'ttheonlypresentertobetreatedthiswayeither.Insayingthis,IfeltextremelyprivilegedtopresentapaperattheAPSAconference.Ihavepresentedatotherconferencesaswell,however,haveonlyfoundtheparticipantsatAPSAtobeunnecessarilyantagonistic.Assuch,Ithinkmoderatorsshouldintervenewhenapresenterisbeingspokentounproductively.IknowIdidwhatIcouldtodefendmyselfasbestIcouldbutfeltthatIwasbeingchallengedunnecessarily.We'reallacademicsandweallknowhowtogiveproductivefeedback.
• ChangetoacronymtoAuPSA-todistinguishitfromthebigAPSA.• Yes,asaSociologist/SocialAnthropologistIwouldliketoseemoreevidenceof
interdisciplinarityinyourlistofjournals.• IthinkAPSAisratheroldandinwardlooking.Itsimplydoesn'tfeeldynamicor
contemporaryorreallyalignedwiththerealityoftheprofession.Ifitwantstoberelevantitneedstothinkhowitcangenuinelysupportitsmemberscareers.
• IthinkAPSAshouldbe,aseveryassociation,leaderinthedevelopmentofstandards(ethical,publicationetc.)andahubforinformation(grants,opportunitiesetc.).Atthemoment,thereseemstobetoolittleofbothofthem.Intermsofstandards,theonlyrealimpactAPSAhadwasthroughthejournallistbutitseemsthattheassociationitselfdoesnotfullysupportit,whichreallyleavesitaveryweaktool.WhilethereisinformationaboutopportunitiesontheAPSAwebpage,itseemsoutdatedandincomplete.
• Pleaseadviseconferencekeydatesmuchearlier.• APSAisjustnotthatrelevantforIRscholars.OCISisagreatconferenceforIR
people,andotherwiseIwouldpreferISA.Especiallywithlimitedconferenceattendancefunds.There'sjustnotmuchpointingoing.Also,theconferenceisinevitablytimedinschoolholidaysmakingattendanceprettymuchimpossible.
• IwouldloveAPSAtobemore"inyourface",especiallyforPhDstudents.Thisisourprofessionalassociation,andthereisanimportantrolerelatingtouniversities,butalsotobroaderpoliticalculture.APSAshould/couldbepromotingourpublicintellectualsmuchmore.Thanksforyourwork.
• ThereisawidespreadperceptionthatAPSAisrunbyaclubof'oldcrusties'and'careerists',servingtheinterestsoftheirownpersonalnetworksandresearchsubfieldsratherthanthewiderAustralianpoliticalsciencecommunity.Thereisnotsufficientsupportavailableforresearchgroupsandworkshops,ofthekindthatcouldmeaningfullysupplementtheconsistentlylow-standardAPSAgeneralconferences.TheAPSA-sponsoredjournalAJPSisverypoorlyrunandlowquality.OverallAPSAhasaparochialand'cliquey'character,whichdiminishesbothitsprofessionalesteemandtheintrinsicvalueofitsworkwithintheAustralianpoliticalsciencecommunity.
• Goodinitiative,keepupthegoodwork!• APSAmightbeginanationalconversationaboutthetrainingofsocialsciencePhDs
inAustraliaandtheircareerpaths.Myexperienceisthatpeoplepursuingpoliticalscience(andothersocialscience)PhDsbelievethiswillsecurethemanacademiccareer.Inreality,veryfewAustralian-trainedPhDscanmakethistransition,theimplicationbeingthatmanyPhDcandidatesfeel"cheated"andperhapsthatfundingonthemcouldbebetterallocated;inanycase,aclearerpost-PHDpathwayshouldbearticulatedatthenationallevel.ThisisespeciallypressinggiventhatUS-trainedjobcandidatesseemmorewillingtorelocatetoAustraliathanpreviously.
• IdothinkthewebsitecouldbeusedmoreandthegrantsavailableviaAPSAbetteradvertised.Greatideatodoasurvey.
• TheAHAdoesaweeklyemailnewsletterreconferences,jobs.Ifindithugelyuseful.*Thisopen-endedquestionwasansweredby55respondents.
