1. What is innovative in research methods? Melanie Nind 4 March 2015

2. Structure 1.The nature of methodological innovation 2.Three case studies 3.Conclusions 2

3. NCRM is tasked to increase the quality and range of methodological approaches used by UK social scientists through a programme of training and capacity building, and with driving forward methodological development and innovation through its own research programme. NCRM Context

4. The nature of methodological innovation

5. NCRM Narrative literature review (2009-10) Social sciences’ bibliographic databases searched for ‘method’ or ‘qualitative’. 14 journals identified. Journal contents searched using innovat*, new, novel and emerg* in the title or abstract. Authors’ self-definition of innovation, through the use of ‘novel’, ‘new’, ‘innovative’ or ‘innovation’ Filtered for relevance (n=57) Categorised by area/topic Categorised by type of claim [Inception/Adaptation/Adoption]

6. Findings Seven topics were identified:

7. Findings: innovation type Authors rarely defined what they meant by innovation Their narratives suggested three categories of claims: –Inception (n=32) –Adaptation (n=6) –Adoption (n=19) Closer analysis of ‘innovation’ at inception level revealed over-claiming Majority of ‘innovations’ involve adapting methods or transferring & adapting methods from other disciplines

8. What defines innovation? It should be rooted in genuine attempt to improve some aspect of the research process (not just gimmickry or innovation for innovation sake) It is driven by complex social relations It can comprise developments to established methods as well as new methods (Travers, 2009; Coffey and Taylor, 2008; Xenitidou and Gilbert, 2012) 8

9. Differences in definitions Applying only to new methods or methodologies or advances or developments of established methods (see Taylor & Coffey, 2008) Taken up by the wider social science community (Taylor & Coffey, 2008; Wiles et al) or not yet filtered through to the mainstream (Xenitidou & Gilbert, 2009, 2012) 9

10. Inclusive education’s challenges which movement? which criteria? continua, journeys or states? all or nothing? where to start? 10

12. Examples ‘Some innovations disappear as innovative methods because they have become part of the researcher’s standard repertoire’ (Williams & Vogt 2011), e.g, structural equation modelling, multi-level modelling, case study, grounded theory, CAQDAS are now normalised) But still under rapid development so when does innovation really end?

13. What drives innovation in methods? Value placed on innovation by research councils, funders, journal editors & reviewers, REF etc: NCRM! (‘the imperative to innovate is often at the expense of well-founded research’ Coffey 2011 argues) Emergence of complex new social situations, developments in disciplines, and resulting research questions ‘Flourishing of naturalistic, humanistic and mixed approaches’ (Williams & Vogt 2011): culture of pluralism Affordances of new technologies Filling methods gaps and responding to ethical concerns 13

14. What are the concerns? ‘celebrated and abhorred in seemingly equal measure’ (Coffey 2011) Reductionism (Housley & James Smith 2011) e.g. in walking interviews, walking & talking coupling reduces narrative & spatial analysis; in autoethnography, collapse of inquiry from social to individual Mindless pursuit of the new (Travers 2009)

15. Three case studies

16. The Cases Online/Virtual ethnography … Netnography Robert Kozinets Child-led research … Children as Researchers Mary Kellett Creative methods … Lego Serious Play David Gauntlett

17. Our case study methods interviews with developer of the method/approach interviews with users, reviewers, commentators, appliers review of academic response to innovations 17

18. Thematic analysis 1.Timeliness – why this, why now 2.Distinctiveness 3.Contribution to the substantive area, discipline or methods 4.Process of breakthrough, acceptance and uptake 5.Potential future 18

19. Netnography (Robert Kozinets) 19 Changed WorldDevelopment of internet/social media; Easier access to social worlds Cultural ShiftThe way in which human beings form culture & community changed because of technology NecessityAdapt research methods/techniques to online context OpportunityTo access/utilise new forms of cultural data; explore new social environment; overcome methodological problems; data overload Ethical IssuesAnonymity; consent; access; guidelines; procedures

21. Creative Methods (David Gauntlett) 21 Changed WorldInterest in identity; participatory methods. Cultural Shift Increasing interest in new methodologies/research innovation; richer/deeper understandings Necessity Problem: language-based methods – participants expected to have formed opinions/generate instant responses/different capacities to articulate; questions reliability/validity of findings Opportunity Generate richer/more valid & reliable data; ‘what people really think’; utilise quick/reflective process Ethical Issues Accessibility of language; research experience; power relations – generating/interpreting data

22. Child-led Research (Mary Kellett) 22 Changed World Global uptake in children’s rights (UNCRC); participation agenda Cultural Shift Governments/populations more receptive to children’s rights/agency than ever before in history. Necessity To give children a valid research voice not mediated by adults; encourage/support children’s agency Opportunity New forms of knowledge; deeper understandings of children’s lives/perspectives; insider-perspective on childhood Ethical Issues Adult agendas/exploitation of children for their own ends; how child-led research should be evaluated/critiqued

23. Findings: a developmental process Organic process: ‘I didn’t set out to invent method’ (RK); ‘accidental discovery’ (DG) Support and encouragement – ‘big names’; senior colleagues; established professors; academic champions: ‘you should definitely keep doing that’ (RK); ‘empowering professor’ (MK) A journey – from ‘abyss of cynicism’ (MK) to ‘academic legitimation’ (RK); addressing critiques; theoretical bolstering; promotion/dissemination – web sites (being ‘out there’)

24. Findings: Constituting the innovation Coining a distinctive name Set of procedures to be followed/clear procedural guidelines (RK); stage-process (DG); specific training programme (MK) Books (training manuals) Teaching method to students; business clients (RK) Comprehensive training programme for children and adults (MK) Workshops: Learn about the process by doing the process (DG)

25. Conclusions

26. What makes an innovation? Primary conditions Dissatisfaction with existing methods/approach Identification of new phenomena Opportunity to develop something new Innovation must address ‘need’ (individual/social science) Innovation must be feasible/workable/accessible

27. Secondary Conditions Marketing of innovation – publications, training, web sites etc. Evaluation – response/received Academic legitimacy Uptake Duration What makes an innovation?

28. Are our cases innovations? ‘New’ (and to a degree) distinctive approaches Address specific methodological issue Evidence of uptake/acceptance/legitimacy BUT Claims to distinctiveness a problem (similar approaches) Unique attributes hard to assess Durability unknowable

29. For more detail see Nind, M., Wiles, R.A., Bengry-Howell, A. & Grow, G.P. (2013) Methodological Innovation and Research Ethics: Forces in tension or forces in harmony? Qualitative Research 13(6) 650–667. Wiles, R.A., Bengry-Howell, A., Nind, M. & Crow, G. (2013) But is it innovation? The development of novel methodological approaches in qualitative research, Methodological Innovation Online 8(1), 18-33. 29

30. PS http://kozinets.net/about In 2007, he started the blog Brandthroposophy as an experiment in mass communicating research results and research-driven ideas with a wider global public. The blog caught on quickly. Backed by Kozinets’ Twitter account (kozinets), and LinkedIn profile, Brandthroposophy has captured a loyal global audience of professional researchers, marketers, students, and others interested in cutting edge ideas about social media, marketing, and consumer culture thought. He feels sincere gratitude for and affiliation with his worldwide audience.kozinetsLinkedIn profile 30