Research design workshops

Introduction to social science

This popular workshop, facilitated by Katie Moon, is based off her popular Guide to Social Science. It examines the fundamental nature of reality and the nature of knowledge. Participants explore philosophical foundations, examining how their beliefs about existence shape their understanding of what can be known. The workshop fosters critical thinking on how we experience reality and how that experience influences the ways we acquire, or reject, different types of knowledges and the implications for research and practice.

  • “I really appreciate how participatory this workshop was. The broad, high-level background information provided at the start in terms of using our own definitions and conceptualisations of reality really helped understand the rest of the workshop. I also found the group work, discussion approach to unpacking policy very thought provoking and highly beneficial for understanding onto-epistemology. I will definitely return to the things I learnt in this workshop throughout my career and research”.

    Workshop participant

  • I liked the gradual way we built on concepts and wove in environmental/conservation applications. The use of videos and visual aids in the presentation was helpful. Discussion with others helped me build on my understanding and consider other perspectives.

    Workshop participant

  • "This workshop was a highlight of the conference for me. I think every attendee should have participated."

    Conference attendee and Workshop participant

What type of social scientist are you?

Current workshops

  • Basics of social science: Research design

    As we face increasingly complex ecosystem challenges, our need to understand people and social systems has become an imperative. The ways in which we create knowledge about people and social systems is different from how we understand ecosystems, and yet these systems are intimately related.  In this workshop, you will learn how social scientists approach their research and the philosophical and design choices they need to make.

  • Methods to understand engagement

    How do we choose an appropriate method to collect and analyse data? Do we need qualitative data or quantitative data? How many people do we need to include in our study? What types of people should we invite? How do we ensure that the assumptions that underpin our methods align with the philosophical assumptions of our research design. Learn all this and more!

  • Basics of qualitative mental modelling

    This workshop instructs researchers on designing and employing visual models for decision-making. Participants learn to construct qualitative influence diagrams that capture individual and group dynamics, incorporating factors such as beliefs, values, preferences and relationships. This training equips researchers to adeptly navigate complex decision contexts, enhancing both individual and collaborative decision-making in their research endeavours.

Hosts

Book a workshop

Katie can work with your team to improve knowledge around research philosophy, methodology, methods and design. Please get in touch for details and pricing.