New ANU network unites qualitative researchers

A new initiative at The Australian National University (ANU) is showcasing the latest developments in qualitative research methods.

The ANU Qualitative Research Network (QRN), which holds its inaugural forum on 17 May, is the university’s latest move to fuse cross-disciplinary collaboration.

It is occurring alongside other cutting edge initiatives across the ANU, such as the Conversations Across the Creek that began in late 2015 by the Humanities Research Centre, where humanities and sciences researchers share their latest findings in TED-style presentations.

“The idea of building the network came from wanting to build connections across the university between qualitative researchers,” explains Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Marisa Fogarty, one of the network’s founders.

“We want to build relationships between schools, centres and colleges across the university.”

Qualitative research methods involve an array of methods and academic disciplines, including interviews with individuals through to discourse analysis and focus groups.

In September 2015, Dr Fogarty, Dr Nicholas Biddle and Dr Naomi Priest at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods discussed how they could establish such a network, and potential role it could play at the university.

The plan that was developed was supported by Centre Director, Professor Matthew Gray, and Professor Catherine Waldby, Director of the ANU Research School of Social Sciences.

“We launched the network earlier this year and the response has been overwhelming from across the university,” says Dr Fogarty,  currently at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research.

“We have over 200 people on our network.  It’s been very successful in engaging researchers and we’re very excited to be taking things further.”

The network will host three fora in 2016, produce a newsletter and web page highlighting qualitative research, grant successes and events across the university. The inaugural forum will discuss the future of qualitative research with panellists Dr Johanna Rendle-Short (School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics), Dr Graham Fordham (ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment), Dr David Bissell (School of Sociology) and Associate Professor Cathy Banwell (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health).

“One of the great things about the network has been starting to meet people from across the university who you had no idea were doing either very similar things to you or using methods you hadn’t thought of before,” says Dr Fogarty.

“This network is for everyone. We want to encourage engagement from the highest levels to Early Career Researchers and students.

“We want this to be a really robust network that challenges people.”

Dr Fogarty adds there was another reason for establishing the network.

“I see that there’s really a huge opportunity for this network to position ANU at the forefront of qualitative research methods in Australia, but also internationally.”

The first forum will be held at 4pm in the Drawing Room, University House, followed by drinks at the Fellows Bar. Join the QRN’s mailing list here.