Building Even More Research Capacity

ARK (www.ark.ac.uk) has once again teamed up with NICVA to provide an introduction to basic research skills for voluntary and community organisations. The sessions held earlier this year were a great success, all of which were oversubscribed. The overriding impression from these sessions was there is an increasing need for the ability to understand and undertake research amongst organisations. However, there are very few dedicated researchers in the sector and research is often part of an individual’s broader job remit. Generally such staff have had little or no research training or understanding of where to go to get statistics, what to access and how to undertake research. These four inter-linked sessions hopefully provide such individuals working in the sector with the tools and insight into how to undertake research that is of value to their organisations.

The format remains the same as before with four sessions covering basic research skills from finding information, designing and analysing research to making presentations. Events can be booked individually or together as a block. However places are limited to 30 for each session, so it is advisable to book early.

Session 1: Accessing and utilising sources of research

Including: NINIS, introduction to ARK, Household Panel Survey, using government resources and statistics.

Wednesday 23 January 2008, 10.00am to 14.30pm, Queen’s University Belfast

Session 2: Designing research projects

Including: questionnaire design, focus groups, interview skills, audits and evaluations, ethical considerations in doing research, involving peer researchers.

Tuesday 26 February 2008, 10.00am to 14.30pm, NICVA, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast

Session 3: Data Analysis

Including: questionnaire coding and data input, basic statistics charts, analysing and presenting qualitative data.

Wednesday 02 April 2008, 10.00am to 14.30pm, Queen’s University Belfast

Session 4: Report writing and dissemination

Including: structuring a research report, writing an executive summary, disseminating data, writing a press-release, giving a presentation.

Friday 25 April 2008, 10.00am to14.30pm, NICVA, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast

Booking and more information

The sessions are free and a light lunch is provided for participants. However there is a £20 cancellation fee if you book but do not advise us that you cannot attend within five working days notice of the event. Preference will be given to individuals on the waiting list from the previous sessions. Spaces will also be limited to one person per organisation.

To book a place for any or all of the sessions, please contact Cathy Breslin at NICVA on 028 9087 7777 or cathy.breslin@nicva.org.