The Qualitative Research Symposium is an annual event organised by the Centre for Qualitative Research. The title of this year's Qualitative Research Symposium is Ethics and Power.
Through this Symposium, we reflect on ethics and power dynamics in qualitative research, opening for discussion how knowledge is created, who or what creates it, and how it can be contested.
Symposium themes
The following areas form the core themes of the Qualitative Research Symposium 2024.
If your research focuses on any of these themes, you can apply to present at the Qualitative Research Symposium 2024. You can find details about how to do this in the 'call for abstracts' section of this page.
Formations and conceptualisations of ethics in applying qualitative methods
This theme focuses on the diversity of forms of approaches to ethics in qualitative researchers, considerations may include:
- How is ethics constructed within the development of, enacting of, or reflecting upon qualitative research?
- How does ethics vary by nation, institution, department, or discipline?
- How do researchers ‘problem-solve’ ethical conundrums in qualitative research?
Views on ethics and power in research
This theme looks at relationships with participants and may consider:
- Do researchers always hold the power in research?
- What methods and methodologies have historically and recently been used to foster power amongst participants?
- How can methods and methodologies be used to disrupt typical hierarchical power relations?
Effects of ethics and institutional power
This theme focuses on how vulnerability amongst researchers or in the researcher-participant relationship can impact upon the research process and the decisions we make, considerations may include:
- How do university and institutional ethics committees exercise/influence/shape power over qualitative researchers?
- Are there specific ethical parameters that may stifle approaches, such as participatory ones?
- How present are qualitative researchers and issues in institutional ethics committees and processes?
Event Schedule
The two-day symposium will take place on Tuesday 30 January and Wednesday 31 January 2024. It will be an in-person event at the University of Bath.
Tuesday 30 January
Pre-Symposium Qualitative Workshops
All workshops will be of interest to both researchers and practitioners.
A total of eight workshops are offered. You'll be able to attend one (half a day) or two (full day) of the eight.
No prior knowledge of the subjects is required, as the workshops are designed to be of an introductory level.
Each session lasts 2.5 hours and has a maximum capacity of 25 attendees.
Find out more about our Pre-Symposium Qualitative Workshops and book your tickets
Wednesday 31 January
The schedule for Wednesday 31 January is TBC. Please check this page for updates.