This part of the course provides you with information about the project motivation, aims and objectives; key debates around methodological innovation; the digital context of the MIDAS project research; and MIDAS methodological approach.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the context of the research which provides the foundation for this study guide
- Engage critically with the notion of methodological innovation
- Position yourself/your work in the field of methodological boundary crossings
Overall study questions:
- What does the term ‘methodological innovation’ mean to you?
- In your view, what would make a study methodologically innovative?
- What are the key methods in your own discipline?
- What are your views of methods from other disciplines?
Exercises
Exercise 1: MIDAS
a) Listen to Carey Jewitt talking about methodological innovation in the context of the MIDAS project:
http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/resources/podcasts/view.php/methodological-innovation-in-digital-arts-and-social-sciences
b) Read the project proposal: MIDAS
c) Think about the following questions:
- In what ways does the changing contemporary digital landscape create challenges for research?
- What are the key challenges for your own research in terms of methods?
- As an ‘arts’ person or a ‘social science’ person – how do you view the others’ methodological approaches?
Exercise 2: Methodological innovation
a) Read these papers:
Rose Wiles, Helen Pain and Graham Crow (2010) Innovation in qualitative research methods: A narrative review NCRM Working Paper – http://eprints.ncrm.ac.uk/919/1/innovation_in_qualitative_research_methods.pdf
Xenitidou, Maria and Gilbert, Nigel (2009) Innovations in Social Science Research Methods. Project Report. N/A. http://eprints.ncrm.ac.uk/804/
b) Think about the following questions:
- What are the key issues and debates around methodological innovation?
- In your view what would you consider to be an innovative methodological approach?
- What research contexts might benefit from methodological innovation?
Exercise 3: Creativity and innovation
Listen to Neil Maiden talk about creativity and innovation from one the MIDAS workshops
- How would you define creativity and/or innovation in your own work?
Other suggested reading:
Nind, Melanie and Wiles, Rose and Bengry-Howell, Andrew and Crow, Graham (2012) Methodological innovation and research ethics : forces in tension or forces in harmony? Qualitative Research, online (1-12). ISSN 1468-7941
Holmquist, L. (2013). The interplay between research and industry: HCI and grounded innovation. In S. Price, C. Jewitt, & B. Brown (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of digital technology research. (pp. 459-473). London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
For key terminology definitions and descriptions, see these glossaries:
MIDAS: Methodological Innovation in Digital Arts and Social Sciences 