SWDTP

Introduction to Longitudinal Data Analysis
2025-03-21 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-28 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-04 09:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London)
In this course you will learn both how to clean longitudinal data as well as the main statistical models used to analyse it. The course will cover three fundamental frameworks for analysing longitudinal data: multilevel modelling, structural equation modelling and event history analysis.
The course is organised as a mixture of lectures and hands-on practicals using real-world data. During the course, there will also be opportunities to discuss also how to apply these models in your own research.

Outcomes:

To gain competence in the concepts, designs and terms of longitudinal research.
To be able to apply a range of different methods for longitudinal data analysis.
To have a general understanding of how each method represents different kinds of longitudinal processes.
To be able to choose a design, a plausible model and an appropriate method of analysis for a range of research questions.

Topics covered by session

13.03.2025 – Data cleaning and visualization of longitudinal data
21.03.2025 – Cross-lagged models (covering also an introduction to Structural Equation Modelling and auto-regressive models)
28.03.2025 – Multilevel model of change (covering also an introduction to multilevel modelling)
04.04.2025 – Latent Growth Modelling
11.04.2025 – Survival models (also known as event history analysis)

Introduction to Bayesian Statistics for Social Scientists
2025-03-26 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-02 14:00 - 16:00
This course will familiarise students with the basic concepts of Bayesian theory. It is designed to provide an introduction to the principles, methods, and applications of Bayesian statistics. Bayesian statistics offers a powerful framework for data analysis and inference, allowing for the incorporation of prior knowledge and uncertainty in a coherent and systematic manner.

The course covers:

The Basics of Probability
Bayes’ Theorem and Bayesian inference
Probability Functions
Bayesian Conjugates
Markov Chain Monte Carlo
Applications

By the end of the course participants will:

Be able to understand the basics of Bayesian analysis
Perform simple Bayesian analyses
Apply simple models to their own work

The course will be split across two days. On both days, participants will work through a two-hour pre-recorded lecture in the morning and attend a two-hour live session at 2pm where they will have the opportunity to apply their learning to practical examples.

Excellence at Interview- Grants and Jobs Masterclass
2025-04-23 10:30 - 12:30 | Online
An interview is a precious opportunity to make a positive, memorable impression and advance a researcher’s career. Thorough preparation is vital, and that means working on style as well as content. The way candidates conduct themselves, present ideas and respond to questions has a powerful influence on the way they are perceived. Even an academic front-runner can come unstuck if he or she lacks ‘presence’ and has difficulty interacting with others.

The topics addressed include:
• Principles of effective interviews
• Managing nerves and appearing confident
• Achieving physical and vocal presence
• Engaging the interview panel
• Responding convincingly to questions.

Course participants learn how to do themselves justice under interview conditions. They develop a clearer, more authoritative interview style that allows the strength of their ideas to shine through. After the course, you’ll be able to get access to a course summary, follow-up material and the VOX Academy – an online repository of written guidance, lively videos and other resources to help you extend your learning and take your communication skills to the next level.

The Decolonial Researcher
2025-05-09 10:00 - 17:00 | Cardiff University, Colum Drive, Cardiff, Cardiff, United Kingdom
This course will offer an in-depth exploration of decolonising academia by asking: What are the possibilities when it comes to decolonial research?
This one-day course will be split into four sections:

Examining the decolonial critique of academia. This will involve exploring some of the main themes found within decolonial scholarship and activism with a specific focus on the decolonial critique of social science research.
Exploring some of the key predecessors of decolonial research which have had a significant impact on current thinking about decolonial research. More specifically, consideration will be given to the relationship between feminist research, Indigenous research, and decolonial research.
Considering various strategies which have been suggested to decolonise research. This will involve discussing some of the practical strategies that may be used when trying to produce decolonial research.
Offering a critique of decolonial research. This will involve recognising the limitations of decolonial research which make it an imperfect approach to conducting research.

By the end of the course, participants will:

Be well-versed in the decolonial critique of academia, particularly in relation to social science research.
Be able to identify the core principles and strategies which constitute decolonial research.
Be prepared to offer a lucid critique of decolonial research.

Please note this event is not run by the SWDTP. For more details and to book, please click here: https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/show.php?article=13944 [ncrm.ac.uk]

Media Training
2025-06-12 10:00 - 15:00
This media and communications workshop is designed to ensure that the next time you address a rolling camera, an audience or an interview panel, you’re fully equipped to get your message across. This interactive session covers a range of tips, techniques and broadcast skills including: developing and boosting your messages, tackling nervousness, communicating academic research to a wider audience, building confidence and presence and dealing with hostile or curveball questions.
We’ll break down some interview examples and look at the broadcast media environment, exploring different settings and how prepare for each one. We will run a recorded mock interview so you have a chance to put some of those skills into practice. Whether addressing a live audience or TV show, a podcast, panel or video blog, by the end of the session, you will have the confidence and skills to present your academic expertise.
An award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster, Rachel Shabi works with a variety of clients including universities, international NGOs, think tanks and other organisations to develop and enhance communications skills.

Call for abstracts: Justice beyond Criminal Justice
2025-09-18 09:00 - 2025-09-30 17:00 | University of Bath, 8 West Room 2.23, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
A one-day, in-person symposium bringing together academics from across the social sciences to explore the justice processes that sit outside of the formal criminal justice system, used in response to serious harm and injury.

This event is a collaboration between the Criminology Research Group at the University of Bath, the SWDTP, and the British Society of Criminology (South West). The keynote speaker is Professor Richard Moorhead (University of Exeter), who will be sharing his research on the Post Office IT Horizon Inquiry. The event also incorporates panels for oral presentations, as well as a parallel poster and art-work exhibition session. There will be an optional training session for attendees to learn more about the ethics and practicalities of using images in and for research, as well as their role in engaging non-academic audiences. There is a fund available to support those who are interested in producing high-quality photographic images to display at this event.

This event is organised by colleagues at the University of Bath, and supported in part by the SWDTP academic-led higher level training fund.

Key dates:
Abstract submission deadline: 30 September
Attendee registration deadline: 6 October
Symposium: 29 October

Further information, abstract submission instructions and registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/justice-beyond-criminal-justice-tickets-1606523477969?aff=oddtdtcreator
Please direct enquiries to the symposium organisers.

Education-focused Quantitative Research Methods Workshops Using R
2025-10-09 11:00 - 18:00 | 35 Berkeley Square, Bristol, 35 Berkeley Square, Bristol, BS81JA, United Kingdom
The Centre for Multilevel Modelling (CMM) at Bristol is running two education-focused quantitative research method workshops using R at the School of Education. “R Progamming for Beginners” and “An Introduction to Rasch Modelling Using R”.
Further details and registration instructions can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/two-cmm-hosted-quantitative-research-methods-workshops-using-r-tickets-1656870958639?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1%2A1r1e1il%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2AMTcyMTE2NzAyMC4xNzU3MDY0OTA2%2A_ga_TQVES5V6SH%2AczE3NTcwNjQ5MDYkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTcwNjQ5MDYkajYwJGwwJGgw

Please send enquiries to: ed-events@bristol.ac.uk

Logical Foundations of Critical Thinking
2025-10-23 10:00 - 13:00 | 6 Worcester St, Oxford OX1 2BX
At the heart of critical thinking is the ability to reason well. When we reason, our aim is to identify beliefs or actions which are supported by current mental states of ours. This course will consider different ways in which beliefs can be supported by other beliefs as well as different ways in which actions can be supported by beliefs and other mental states.
We will look at two types of reasoning about what to believe: deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning. In good deductive reasoning, the beliefs functioning as premises provide total support for the conclusion; the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion. In contrast, in good inductive reasoning, the premises only provide a high degree of support for the conclusion; the conclusion could be false even if the premises are true. We will discuss different conceptions of good deductive and inductive inferences.
In the area of reasoning about what to do, we will consider means-end reasoning, decision theory and moral reasoning. We will ask what legitimate role mental states like desires or emotions can play in such reasoning.

Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and once places are full, we will maintain a waiting list.
Please only register if you are certain of your availability and commitment to attend.

This event is not delivered by the SWDTP. For enquiries, please contact granduniondtp@socsci.ox.ac.uk

Justice beyond Criminal Justice
2025-10-29 09:00 - 17:00 | University of Bath, 8 West Room 2.23, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom

Viva Survivor Training with Nathan Ryder
2025-11-11 10:00 - 13:00
The viva is almost the end of the PhD. A lot of work leads to this point, but often anxiety can mix with the sense of achievement at completing the thesis. For many candidates the time before the viva is filled with uncertainty about the day, uncertainty about how to prepare well – and stress for what the viva might be like.
Viva Survivor is for postgraduate researchers who want to know how to be ready for their viva. In this three-hour live webinar, you will:
• learn realistic expectations for the PhD viva;
• identify key practical steps to take before submission;
• explore practical strategies for preparation and the day of the viva.
Time will be spent exploring expectations for both in-person and video vivas, and there will be plenty of time for Q&A over text chat. Viva Survivor will be delivered live by Dr Nathan Ryder over Zoom. Registration is limited to 25 places.

Code Anxiety Club
2025-11-11 13:30 - 14:00 | Online
Why attend?

Feeling overwhelmed by the command line? Confused by file pathways? Want to navigate the world of coding with confidence? Join the Code Anxiety Club!

Viewers can follow along as we work through common beginner topics while coding live for a quick half hour. No prior experience installed software or setup required. Viewers can interact via the YouTube chat (you must have a YouTube account to comment) and we will try our best to answer your questions and comments.

There is no need to book a place, please follow the livestream link to join the session.

Workshop date and topic:

Project organisation: Best practices for coding projects

Content:

Get to grips with naming conventions and why consistency is key.
Understand how to structure your directory.
Learn how to ‘set your directory’ so that you can easily read-in files in Python (Visual Studio Code) or RStudio.

To join this session, please follow the link to our livestream – 11 November 2025

UK Global Talent Visa Deep Dive Webinar- From PhD student to UK Global Talent
2025-11-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
In this session, I will help PhD students and recent graduates understand the UK Global Talent Visa, focusing on the Academic & Research route. At the end of the webinar they will;

1. Understand the purpose and structure of the Global Talent Visa – who it’s for, what makes someone eligible, and how it differs from other UK visa routes
2. Identify the core requirements and documents needed
3. Break down the Academic and Research endorsement pathway – from preparing your application to receiving your decision.
4. Review key documents including how to write a standout personal statement, structure your CV, and secure letters of recommendation 5. Learn how to evidence your research contributions and potential
6. Get clear on next steps and how to start preparing even if you’re still completing your PhD.

Channel or Challenge Perfectionism?
2025-11-27 10:30 - 12:45 | Online
In this participative, graphically-facilitated workshop, we will look at perfectionism that channels continuous improvement and optimistic approaches. We’ll share ways you can identify realistic standards and goals, reframe mistakes as learning, how to approach planning and preparation, and how to counter risk-aversion and procrastination. Perfection can impact productivity. So in terms of sought-after transferable skills such as time management, we’ll look at how to identify ‘good enough’, redirecting time and energy to other priorities. Perfectionism is a common trait in academia. In this workshop we’ll consider where this can be best directed as it does not need to be applied across all aspects of your work. We’ll look at different strategies to channel improvement in areas that will have a positive effect on your research and research experience – such as how to manage expectations, setting realistic goals, dealing with feedback, developing a more flexible approach, and unlocking your creativity – helping open up new opportunities. Sabina will illustrate concepts, share her own experiences and demonstrate tools by sharing live visualisations and respond to your particular questions and objectives.

From Theory to Practice: Participatory Methods for Doctoral Students
2025-12-10 10:00 - 2025-12-11 16:00 | 6 Worcester St, Oxford OX1 2BX
Are you interested in making your research more inclusive, impactful, and grounded in lived experience? This two-day interactive workshop delivered by Dr Ben Scher, introduces doctoral students to the theory and practice of participatory research methods.
Where: In-person |6 Worcester St, Oxford OX1 2BX
When: 10.12.2025 & 11.12.2025|10:00-16:00
Advert & Registration: https://granduniondtp.web.ox.ac.uk/event/from-theory-to-practice-participatory-methods-for-doctoral-students-2
This event is not organised by the SWDTP. Please direct enquiries to the Grand Union DTP: paula.sheppard@anthro.ox.ac.uk

Introduction to Multilevel Modelling Using MLwiN, R, or Stata
2026-01-13 09:15 - 2026-01-15 16:00 | Zoom
Run in partnership with NCRM

Please note this event is not run by the SWDTP. Please direct enquiries to Lucy Haslam at the University of Bristol Centre for Multilevel Modelling: lucy.haslam@bristol.ac.uk
Please note the closing date for applications is 23rd November 2025

Go to booking form >>

Instructors
Professor George Leckie and Professor William Browne

Summary
This three-day course provides an introduction to multilevel modelling and includes software practicals in your choice of software: MLwiN, R, or Stata. We focus on multilevel modelling for continuous and binary responses (dependent or outcome variables) when the data are clustered (nested or hierarchical). These models can be viewed as an extension of conventional linear and logistic regression models to account for and learn from the clustering in the data. Such models are appropriate when, for example, analysing exam scores of students nested within schools, or health outcomes of patients nested within hospitals. Special interest lies in disentangling social processes operating at different levels of analysis by decomposing the within- from the between-cluster effects of covariates (explanatory or predictor variables). Longitudinal data are also clustered, with repeated measurements on individuals or multiple panel waves per survey respondent. Throughout the course we emphasize how to interpret multilevel models and the types of research question they can be used to explore.

Testimonials

“The course was really excellent – clearly structured and in a logical order. Speakers were fantastic.”

“The course was excellent – far exceeded expectations. The course has given me the confidence to use MLM, something I very much lacked before. I feel I understand the theory behind MLM, why each stage is so important, and the various interpretations. Without this course I would be lost. I cannot thank you all enough.”

“This was a beautifully constructed course. It was clear throughout that careful thought had been given to providing a balance between lecture content, time for questions and discussion, and practical sessions. Both George and Bill delivered fantastic lectures – explanations were clear and thorough (including critiques of each approach) and content built up in complexity over time with plenty of worked examples of different kinds. The course was superb – can’t rate it highly enough.”

“I thought it was a really good double act between George and Bill – they are both hugely knowledgeable so having one person focused on the slides and the other manning the chat was a good approach as it meant the teaching didn’t get derailed by people’s questions.”

“Both George and Bill have excellent presentation styles. I really liked that they ‘riffed’ off of each other with gentle humour.”

Topics

Overview of multilevel modelling
Variance-components models
Random-intercept models with covariates
Between- and within-effects of level-1 covariates
Random-coefficient models
Growth-curve models
Three-level models
Review of single-level logistic regression
Two-level logistic regression

Format
The course will consist of a 2:1 mix of lectures and hands-on practical sessions applying the taught methods to real datasets. The instructors alternate the lecturing. The lectures are software independent. Each lecture is immediately followed by a software practical giving participants the chance to replicate the presented analyses and to consolidate their knowledge. The practicals are offered in participants’ choice of MLwiN, R, or Stata and are self-directed: participants complete the practicals at their own pace. At the end of each practical session the instructors demo the different software. In both the lectures and practicals, participants have opportunities to interact with the instructors.

Zoom
The course will be delivered online via the freely accessible Zoom platform. The lectures will be delivered live. Participants can ask questions via Zoom’s text-based chat facility and these will be monitored and answered by the instructor not presenting or relayed to the instructor presenting to answer live.

Participants are encouraged to join the lectures live, but recordings of the lectures will be made available shortly afterwards for twelve weeks following the course if participants are unable to attend at the scheduled time. After twelve weeks, video access will end and will not be extended.

During the practicals, participants can also speak with the instructors. Participants can use these opportunities to ask specific questions about the course material or about multilevel modelling related to their own research. Each software package will be demonstrated in a different breakout room.

Materials
Participants will be emailed in advance with comprehensive PDF copies of the lecture slides together with point-and-click instructions and datasets for MLwiN, and annotated syntax files and datasets for R and Stata. During the practicals, participants are encouraged to view the lecture slides on a second screen (or tablet etc.), else print copies out to have in front of them. Those choosing to use MLwiN may also want to view the point-and-click instructions on a second screen, else print them out.

Software
For those choosing to use MLwiN, we will provide instructions as to how to download and install the free teaching version of this software. For those wishing to use R or Stata we assume you are already users of these software so have them installed.

Pre-requisites
We assume no prior knowledge of multilevel modelling. However, participants should be familiar with estimating and interpreting linear regression models, including the writing and interpretation of model equations, hypothesis testing and model selection, and the use and interpretation of dummy variables and interaction terms.

We will email in advance a pre-recorded lecture, to be completed at the participant’s leisure, which provides a review of linear regression accompanied with software instructions and datasets to replicate the analyses in MLwiN, R, and Stata.

For those choosing to use MLwiN, we assume no prior knowledge of using this software and so we provide step-by-step instructions to allow you to replicate all presented analyses in MLwiN. For those choosing R or Stata, we assume you are already users of these software and so know the basics.

Timings
The course starts and ends each day at 09:15 and 16:00 with a 30-minute morning break and a one-hour break for lunch from 13:00 to 14:00.

Fees

For UK-registered MSc and PhD students – £180
For UK university academics, UK public sector staff, and staff at UK registered charity organisations – £360
For all other participants – £660

Please note, in order to be eligible for the reduced pricing brackets please submit your application using your UK academic/organisational email address.

Cancellation/refunds
A full refund will be given if cancellation occurs two weeks prior to the event. No refund is given after this date. By completing the application form, you are accepting these cancellation terms.

Applications
If you would like to attend the workshop, please complete and submit the online booking form (see below). Please note the closing date for applications is 23rd November 2025.

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis, once a week, until the application deadline. A link to the University of Bristol’s online shop will be provided and your place on the course will be confirmed upon successful payment.

If you have any queries, please email info-cmm@bristol.ac.uk.

Go to booking form >>

Terms and conditions
Please click here to read the booking terms and conditions before completing the booking form. Note that it is the participant’s responsibility to ensure that Zoom and their choice of MLwiN, R, or Stata software is up-to-date and works on their computer in advance of the course, as the Centre for Multilevel Modelling is unable to provide technical support.

MLwiN
MLwiN is dedicated multilevel modelling software developed by our research team for more than 30 years. On this course we will be using the free teaching version of MLwiN. This version works with all the datasets used on the course and a wide range of other teaching datasets which come with the software. We will email you the teaching version prior to the start of the course.

Should you wish to use MLwiN after the course with your own data, you will need to use the regular version of MLwiN. This is free to UK academics (but without user support) reflecting long periods of funding from the UK’s Economic and Social science Research Council (ESRC). For all other users, there is a 30-day trial version, but after that you will have to purchase MLwiN if you wish to continue using it to analyse your own data. There are various price options available. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/software/mlwin/

MLwiN is Windows software, but can be run on Mac via the Wine software or through a virtual machine such as Parallels, depending on the Mac model and version of MacOS on your machine.

What is Research Data? Practical Guidance on Organising and Sharing your Files and Findings
2026-01-20 13:00 - 14:00
Every research project generates data. It’s the material that you gather, create, or interpret to answer your research questions; whether that is numbers, images, recordings, or documents. Good research data management and sharing are essential for making your work accessible, your methods transparent, and your findings easy to use and build upon. Funders, publishers, and universities require researchers to share and cite their research data – but what does this look like in practice? This webinar offers practical tips and guidance to organise, store and share your documents and results effectively throughout your project. This session covers:

What is research data and why it matters
The expectations of funders, publishers, and universities for research data storage and sharing
How to organise and describe your files so you can easily find and understand your research data throughout your project
How to ethically share research data when working with human participants
How to find a suitable research data repository for your work
What support is available beyond your supervisory team

The speaker for this session is Dr Jade Godsall who is an Assistant Research Support Librarian in Research Data Management and Digital Scholarship at The University of Bristol.
This session is part of the SWDTP Data Analysis Webinar Series. Visit the following link for further information and registration: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/swdtp/1956811

Analysing large-scale assessment data
2026-01-22 13:00 - 14:00
Issues with using police data to investigate offending: A research perspective
Dr Ioana Crivatu, Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham
Dr Ruth Spence, Senior Research Fellow at Middlesex University
Police data is an important source of information for researchers about investigations, suspects, and victims. However, crime records can be problematic to work with. Here we outline three key issues along with our approach in combining and quantitatively analysing police data from several police forces in England and Wales which used different crime recording systems. We discuss data quality, which reflects missing and misclassified values; inconsistency, which refers to the vague and at times different definitions provided; and granularity, which reflects the lack of detailed information included in the datasets. We recommend developing a robust strategy for working with missing data, triangulating across different sources, creating higher-order categories where necessary, and creating a detailed data governance plan before analysis begins.
Link to published paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0032258X251313944

Preparation of a Large-scale Assessment in Education and its use in a Quantitative Intersectional analysis in R
Dr Natalia López-Hornickel, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Roehampton University; SWDTP alumni
In this presentation, first, I aim to show the considerations and challenges of preparing large-scale assessment data, using the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) from 2016. This includes the sources of the data and the merging process, which is usually an overlooked but crucial step before proceeding with the analysis. Second, I will refer to the analysis steps to obtain descriptives and models. Particularly, I will use the case of the Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) to develop an intersectional analysis of students’ endorsement of the gender equality scale (Fifth paper of my thesis). This technique is a parsimonious alternative to multiplicative terms in regressions.
All the explanations will be conceptual and also accompanied by a description of some R syntax.
This session is part of the SWDTP Data Analysis Webinar Series. Visit the following link for further information and registration: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/swdtp/1956811

Bayesian Statistics for Applied Research
2026-02-05 10:00 - 2026-02-06 17:00
This two-day course provides a practical and accessible introduction to Bayesian statistics for applied research in any field. Students will benefit from a combination of lectures and discussion to explore fundamental concepts unlocking the potential to design bespoke statistical analyses based on your data and hypotheses as well as practical exercises to gain hands-on experience implementing Bayesian models using free and open-source software. The course is designed as a springboard to overcome the steepest part of the Bayesian learning curve with an immersive two-day deep-dive.

Philosophy as method for data analysis in research
2026-02-10 13:00 - 14:00
Educational researchers are often encouraged to reflect on their ‘philosophical positioning’, i.e. the ontological, epistemological and axiological (ethical) assumptions that underpin their research design. Meanwhile, in recent years in anglophone educational research departments, using philosophy as a ‘method’ in its own right, as opposed to a tool supporting empirical research, has tended to go out of fashion. A group identifying as philosophers of education, including current doctoral researchers and their supervisors, seek to demonstrate the benefits and attractions of continuing to work philosophically, sometimes treating the existing literature as priori data to be analysed, at other times working in partnership with empirical research. They showcase a range of distinctive philosophical perspectives, including examples from hermeneutical/analytical (Janet Orchard + 1) and critical/post-structuralist (Naomi Hodgson + 1) traditions. This event is aimed at doctoral researchers at any stage who would like to hear more from enthusiasts of the theoretical on how to think more abstractly about data analysis in research.
This session is part of the SWDTP Data Analysis Webinar Series. Visit the following link for further information and registration: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/swdtp/1956811

Introduction to agent-based modelling in NetLogo Introduction to agent-based modelling in NetLogo
2026-02-12 10:00 - 17:00 | 6 Worcester St, Oxford OX1 2BX
Whether it’s ant colonies, traffic jams, fisheries, predator-prey interactions, segregation patterns in urban areas, or viruses spreading through populations, we are surrounded by complex systems. Those have lots of different parts that interact in non-linear ways, giving rise to patterns that are difficult to predict by looking at individual components in isolation. And when these components are agents that can adapt and learn, it gets even harder.
Agent-based models (ABMs) are one way of looking at these systems. By explicitly representing agents, their behaviours and interactions, and using simulations to work out the consequences of these mechanisms, ABMs can provide candidate explanations for the observed patterns.
In this introductory course, we will look at where ABMs come from, how they work, and what they are good for. We will learn how to build a simple model using NetLogo, a programming environment specialised in agent-based modelling. We will also see how to estimate the parameters of a model using empirical data and, once we have a calibrated model, how to use it for policy optimisation.
Some familiarity with computer programming is desirable, but no prior experience with NetLogo is expected.

Please note this event is not delivered by the SWDTP. Please direct enquiries to: granduniondtp@socsci.ox.ac.uk
Registration: https://www.granduniondtp.ac.uk/event/introduction-to-agent-based-modelling-in-netlogo

Reproducible data analysis pipelines in R
2026-02-17 10:00 - 17:00 | 6 Worcester St, Oxford OX1 2BX
Years ago, you wrote a data analysis script. Hundreds of lines of R code, all in a single file. It was not beautiful, but it worked, and you got a great paper out of it. But now some new version of one of the datasets you used has come out, and there is also that new statistical technique that you have been meaning to try anyway. Assuming you still have your original code somewhere, can you still run it? Even on your new machine? Maybe. And do you need to re-run the whole thing if you only change parts of it? It did take ages to run…
In this one-day course, you will learn about packages and practices that can help you make your analyses reproducible and portable. The material is centred around the `targets` package for building computational pipelines, but we will also talk about `renv` for package management, `git` and GitHub for version control and remote execution, and Quarto for the production of final research outputs. We will also, of course, use the `tidyverse` throughout.
Some basic proficiency in R is required to make the most of this course.
Spaces are limited so we cannot guarantee a place at the point of registration. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and once places are full, we will maintain a waiting list.

Please note this event is not delivered by the SWDTP. Please direct enquiries to granduniondtp@socsci.ox.ac.uk
Registration: https://www.granduniondtp.ac.uk/event/reproducible-data-analysis-pipelines-in-r

Messy and mixed: working with quant and qual data
2026-02-26 13:00 - 14:00
Making Sense of Messy Legal Data: Analysing Climate Litigation in Latin America and the Caribbean
Cristian Heredia Ligorria, PhD researcher in Socio-legal Studies at UWE Bristol
My doctoral research investigates rights-based climate litigation (RBCL) in Latin America and the Caribbean applying a socio-legal methodology and from a decolonial perspective. Chapter 3 of my thesis is grounded in the construction and analysis of a working dataset of 51 RBCL cases (as of November 2024). This process combined qualitative and quantitative methods to identify high-level trends, map actors (who litigates, against whom, and in what contexts), and develop a typology of cases.
The analysis presented several methodological challenges: the diversity of legal systems across the region, inconsistencies in reporting, language barriers, and the evolving nature of climate litigation. Data were cleaned and verified manually, drawing on databases such as the Sabin Center and supplemented by direct regional expertise. Supervisory feedback, peer-reviewed collaborations, and external expert input were essential in refining the methodology and ensuring rigour.
This experience highlights both successes and the practical challenges of working with heterogeneous legal data, and offers lessons for socio-legal researchers conducting comparative data analysis in underexplored regions.

Using a structured case review tool to understand police investigation of rape cases
Aneela Khan, Postdoctoral Research Assistant at Bournemouth University
Operation Soteria Bluestone aimed to improve understanding of how police investigate rape cases in the UK. As part of this work, we developed a structured case review tool to collect detailed information on individual investigations. In its initial format, the tool required a junior officer to document case details and evaluate investigative strengths and weaknesses, followed by a senior officer who repeated the review and provided oversight on the junior officer’s assessment. Due to several challenges, the tool was adapted for the second year to allow researchers to directly access the cases and then populate the template. The dataset comprised qualitative and structured quantitative information, including case characteristics, investigative actions, and assessments of investigative quality. Data analysis combined descriptive statistics to summarise trends and thematic coding to identify recurring strengths, weaknesses, and procedural patterns across cases. This methodology provided a systematic approach to evaluating investigative practices in rape cases and supports evidence-based recommendations for improving police investigations.
This session is part of the SWDTP Data Analysis Webinar Series. Visit the following link for further information and registration: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/swdtp/1956811

Digital Research Skills for Social Scientists
2026-03-03 00:00 - 2026-03-06 23:59
Date: 3rd – 6th March 2026 (four consecutive mornings)
Location: online
The National Centre for Research Methods are offering the opportunity to attend this introductory short course for the reduced price of £25 for all participants. Improve the efficiency and reliability of your research. Learn foundational computational skills including automating tasks using the command line on your computer, tracking changes to your work using version control and building simple programs using the programming language python. These skills are the foundation of many powerful data analysis techniques including using Artificial Intelligence or High Performance Computing.
Places are limited so don’t delay. Book your place here: https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/show.php?article=14333 [ncrm.ac.uk]

Validating constructs through quantitative sampling
2026-03-03 13:00 - 14:00
Using multi-dimensional experience sampling via smartphones to map thought-emotion interactions in daily life
Anqi Lei, PhD researcher at the University of Plymouth
Patterns of on-going thought have crucial implications for emotional health. In the present study, we used multi-dimensional experience sampling (MDES) via smartphones to examine how daily-life thought patterns relate to concurrent affective states (valence, arousal, stress) as well as how alexithymia traits (reflecting atypical emotional awareness) modulate these thought patterns across a range of affective and social situations. Principal Component Analysis of the MDES data identified four latent thought dimensions: future-self orientation, intrusive distraction, sensory engagement, and task-focus. Linear Mixed Models revealed different associations between thought dimensions and affective states, which may reflect distinct adaptive and maladaptive cognitive processes, particularly in relation to alexithymia. High overall alexithymia predicted fewer future-self-oriented thoughts as well as more different sensory engagement across affective and social contexts. Regarding specific facets of alexithymia, difficulty identifying feelings selectively reduced future-self orientation during intense sadness, and externally oriented thinking rendered thought patterns less sensitive to affective contexts. By mapping affective experiences onto thought dimensions in daily life, these findings uncover cognitive pathways that support emotional well-being, providing a scalable framework for understanding variability in human affective experience.

Measuring sensitive constructs in conservative contexts
Sara Yadollahi, PhD researcher at the University of Bath
As a psychometrician, I was responsible for data gathering and analysis in the project: “Development and Validation of an Iranian Scale for Problematic Online Pornography Use,” which used a descriptive-correlational design and online non-random snowball sampling. A total of 1,921 adults (813 women, 1,108 men) completed the scales: the Iranian Scale for Problematic Online Pornography Use (developed by the research team following multiple steps, including a thorough literature review) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS).
Data were analysed using AMOS and SPSS. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a seven-factor model—Salience, Mood Modification, Tolerance and Escalation, Withdrawal, Relapse, Conflict and Problems, and Guilt (RMSEA=0.07, CFI=0.91, df=228). Construct validity was confirmed through intercorrelations among subscales and the total score; discriminant validity by the Fornell-Larcker criterion; convergent validity by Average Variance Extracted (AVE); and criterion validity by correlations with pornography use frequency (r=0.56), duration per session (r=0.35), and frequency of masturbation with (r=0.56) and without pornography (r=0.25). Reliability was strong (CR=0.98, α=0.93).
In this webinar, I will focus on the data analysis process, including designing the scale with the research team, conducting the pilot study, being creative in measuring sensitive constructs in conservative contexts, working with a large dataset, and ensuring participant anonymity during data collection and analysis.
This session is part of the SWDTP Data Analysis Webinar Series. Visit the following link for further information and registration: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/swdtp/1956811

Negotiating positionality in data analysis
2026-03-12 13:00 - 14:00
Reflexive Thematic Analysis on researcher’s position as an “in-betweener”
Claire Hadfield, Senior Lecturer and PhD researcher in Education at Plymouth Marjon University
Reflecting on my journey using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) in a qualitative longitudinal study of early career secondary teachers’ professional identities, I draw on my position as an “in-betweener”—moving from school teaching into initial teacher education. This role placed me close enough to share aspects of participants’ experiences while also able to view them from a different perspective. Working with interviews, viva reflections, and journals, I returned to the data repeatedly in an iterative process of theme development. RTA supported deep engagement through analytic journaling and participant discussion. I will discuss how insider knowledge both enriched and complicated the analysis, how slowing the process helped avoid premature conclusions, and how reflexivity was essential in managing bias. The session will share practical strategies and honest reflections on the challenges and insights that came from applying RTA in a long-term, identity-focused study.

How to prioritise participant voice in data analysis when a third voice is present – the use of advocates in research
Kim Collett, Lecturer in Education at The Open University
For my PhD I conducted interpretivist research, using research driven photo elicitation interviews and thematic analysis, comparing experiences of inclusion in the classroom. For some of the participants adjustments were needed to ensure the research was accessible. This included having advocates present during data collection. One of the under explored, issues with advocacy in research is how to deal with advocate voices in the data. The words of advocates will appear in verbatim transcripts and removing them can change meaning/context. However, keeping them means they become part of the analysis and introduce a third voice.
I kept the voices of advocates and analysed these along with the words of the participants. However, careful consideration was needed to determine if the data was really reflecting the experiences/thoughts of the participant when the advocate was speaking. Sometimes it was clear as the participant would verbally or non-verbally agree/disagree, or the content would reflect other parts of the conversation. However, sometimes there was no confirmation. Reflexivity was key to assessing this and the findings chapter had to carefully cover the use of advocates when a finding was based on or informed by the advocate.
This session is part of the SWDTP Data Analysis Webinar Series. Visit the following link for further information and registration: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/swdtp/1956811

Social Network Analysis Workshop
2026-03-18 10:00 - 2026-03-19 16:00
Networks shape nearly every aspect of our lives, from the spread of ideas and diseases to the dynamics of friendship, crime, and power. This two-day workshop introduces the theory and practice of Social Network Analysis (SNA) using R, combining insights from sociology, data science, and computer science.
Participants will learn how to map, measure, and model networks using R. Through lectures, interactive analysis walk-throughs, and hands-on exercises, we will cover the fundamentals of graph theory, key network concepts, and the principles of visualising, modelling, and interpreting network structures.
By the end of the workshop, participants will understand how to collect and prepare network data, analyse patterns of connection, and design their own network-based research project. The course provides both the conceptual foundation and the practical skills to think critically about how networks shape our social world.

To find out more, please follow the link below.

Making sense of lived experiences through narratives
2026-03-19 13:00 - 14:00
Understanding home deathcare through narrative.
Sam Hooker, SWDTP-funded PhD researcher in Social Policy at the University of Bath
My PhD project used a narrative methodology to capture people’s experiences caring for the dead at home. Two interviews were conducted with participants. The first consisted of asking them to tell me their experience, while the second was used to ask questions to fill in gaps in the narratives. Then, in the participant’s own words, a chronological narrative of the event (core story) was formed, which reads like a short story of their experience. This process was an emotionally taxing experience for me as a researcher, due to the depth of immersion in the data. The core stories are included in the thesis, allowing the data to remain situated, capturing the complexity of a very personal and challenging experience for participants. While additional analysis is included, the core stories allow the reader to draw conclusions from the data itself. They also provide a valuable resource for people who wish to take care of their own dead to learn from.

Putting a light in the window: using creative writing to focus analysis in relationally engaged research
Luci Gorell Barnes, PhD researcher in Education at UWE Bristol
My PhD investigates how relationally engaged arts-based research methods can support minoritised children to express, reflect on, and amplify their lived experiences and perceptions. I understand meaning-making as happening through the process of engagement, and gathered data to consider the ‘double hermeneutic’ (Smith and Eatough, 2021) of not only what the children expressed, but how they did this through their conversations, interactions, and demeanours.
This study focuses on the children’s unique experiences and I wanted to examine what I had learned from each child, foregrounding how they had ‘got under my skin’. Having familiarised myself with the data I then drew on less conscious or orthodox ways of knowing (Hammond and Fuller, 2024) to write what I think of as ‘fictional portraits’ of my encounters with individual children. These were informed by the issues that child explored, the metaphors and images they used, and how they had interacted with me and each other. Using this process helped me get close to each child’s ‘internal narrative’ Mannay (2010, p.10) and I came to understand each ‘portrait’ as being like a light in the window guiding me through the dark woods of data, focusing my analysis and supporting me to write interpretive accounts that kept the relational nature of the study at their heart. McNiff (2019) suggests that fact and fiction can work together to deepen our understandings, and by engaging with my data in this highly subjective and ‘interruptive’ way (Clark, 2024, p. 3) I brought a level of relational accuracy to my analysis that I might not have otherwise found.
This session is part of the SWDTP Data Analysis Webinar Series. Visit the following link for further information and registration: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/swdtp/1956811
