The Institute for Access Studies hosted a series of seminars

Problematising Methodology in Access Research

funded by ESRC, supported by the SRHE and the Learning and Teaching Support Network for Sociology, Anthropology and Politics.

The aim of the series was to develop a more rigorous, reflexive and theoretically progressive body of research into widening participation, drawing on expertise from related disciplines. The six seminars focused on different methodological approaches, how they have been used in other fields, what issues they raise, and how they can be fostered in access research.

Seminar 5

Sept 10th 2004 School of Education and Lifelong Learning, Exeter University

Using Visual Methodology in Research on Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning

This interdisciplinary seminar welcomes a range of expert speakers from Media Studies, Visual Sociology and Educational Research who all have interests in issues of inclusion/exclusion and participation. They will present their research with visual methodologies using visual examples from their fieldwork. Follow up discussion will focus on the lessons to be learnt for research in widening participation and lifelong learning

Jenny Hartley, London Metropolitan University 'Methodological Issues in using video to research local communities'

Darren Newbury, University of Central England 'Introduction to the Journal of Visual Studies and the International Visual Sociology Association: new resources for research on widening participation and lifelong learning?'

Jon Prosser, University of Leeds, 'Applied Visual Ethnography: looking at school space'

Ian Kaplan, Manchester University, 'Seeing through different eyes: photovoice methodologies and participatory research'

*Roz Hall of community arts organisation The Public is unfortunately unable to present at this seminar as planned, but examples of her work will be made available to seminar participants

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