Research Associate - Social Work and Social Care

Job Purpose

The research team at the University of Birmingham require a researcher to assist them in the successful implementation of the research plan. The research plan involves collecting and analysing qualitative data from patients, doctors, and medical students using narratives, critical incident methodology, and interviews. We will be following a constructivist grounded theory approach in the data collection and analysis and will be working with the core research team, which includes philosophy, medical, literary studies, and cultural and visual culture scholars, to provide a coherent analysis.

This role will work alongside other core research team members on the project to:

• plan and undertake empirical research into shame and medicine
• engage and recruit participants
• collect and analyse data
• contribute to writing academic outputs
• Support with the delivery of the project

Working within a wider research project team will also involve:

• attending meetings, some of which will be hosted outside of Birmingham and may involve overnight stays
• liaising with staff, collaborators, and stakeholders of the research
• working with the project's creative facilitator
• working closely with research team members from other disciplines, including medical humanities, philosophy, medicine, literary studies and visual cultures studies
• producing progress reports
• presenting developing findings
• attending to, and ensuring, effective administration of research activities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.
• Work within the specified research plan, timescales, and ethical guidelines already established
• Use Constructivist Grounded Theory as an approach to collect, analyse and interpret data
• Use qualitative research methods to generate data; specifically the use of diaries, the Critical Incident Technique, and interviews
• Use qualitative data analysis methods to analyse data
• Undertake a secondary analysis of an established dataset
• Work closely with research staff at the University of Birmingham to keep on track with participant recruitment, data collection and analysis
• Work with the core research staff across the University of Birmingham and the University of Exeter to contribute to the developing overall analysis
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff who may be assisting with the research
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at team meetings, seminars, and as posters
• Support with delivery of workshops and other stakeholder events
• Disseminate research findings within the research team and wider audiences, such as at team meetings, research seminars, workshops etc
• Co-writing articles, presentations with members from the project team, potentially from other disciplines
• Undertake administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines

Person Specification

Essential:

• First degree that is relevant to the project, such as in psychology, sociology, or social science
• Experience in undertaking qualitative research, including participant recruitment, data collection and analysis
• Knowledge of Constructivist Grounded Theory
• Experience of interviewing participants
• Experience of managing the ethical considerations associated with undertaking sensitive research
• Experience of collecting, managing, and storing data

Desirable

• A higher degree (e.g. PhD) relevant to undertaking social research involving qualitative data collection and analysis
• Experience of working with others on a research project
• Experience of Constructivist Grounded Theory
• Experience in undertaking qualitative research in medical or healthcare contexts
• Experience of using diaries or critical incident technique
• Experience of secondary qualitative data analysis
• Experience working in an interdisciplinary team
• An interest in medical and health humanities research

For informal inquiries please contact Matthew Gibson, M.J.Gibson.1@bham.ac.uk

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity at The University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community '