Michael Duncan Research Librarian
Equal & Open
What we have been doing
• Sector review of practice research
• Reviewing our REF2021 submission (feedback from panel chairs)
• Reviewing other institution’s REF submission (overall feedback)
• Best practice and trends towards REF2029
Multi-Component Outputs (MCOs)
A group of outputs and activities relating to the same research inquiry submitted to the Research Excellence Framework as a single output
Used when output(s) themselves do not reveal the research process
Allows for better recognition of practice research
Most often used in Art & Design and Humanities but not exclusively for creative outputs
How practice research can be submitted to REF
Our MCOs for REF 2021
Research Dimensions
Why didn’t we include Research Dimensions?
• REF guidance is not prescriptive for practice research
Examples of book chapters – clear guidance on format
Creative work – flexibility to present in appropriate way
• Physical and digital submissions for previous REF (not anymore)
Effort split between physical preparation and digital portfolios
• Not much evidence from other universities (now there is)
Examples of practice research REF submission published open access
Research Dimensions
- Question - Aims & Objectives - Context - Methods - Contribution - Dissemination
Take a look at the Practice Research Portfolios
10-15 minutes
• What do you think about them?
• Any design elements that you particularly like?
• What do they have in common?
• Do they clearly explain the research to you?
• Is there anything you would change, add, remove?
• Can you see your research presented like this?
• Use the post it notes to leave comments on the documents
Characteristics of Practice Research Portfolios
• Accompaniment to MCO submissions (not the output itself)
• Guides a reader/research reviewer through the work
• Published as openly as possible
• Available to the public, preserved for future researchers and other audiences
• Contain evidence (images, video, multimedia), links, images, narrative of research dimensions
• Question
• Aims
• Context
• Methods
• Contribution
• Dissemination
What would our PR portfolios look like?
https://tangentgraphic.co.uk/work/duncan-of-jordanstone-college-of-art-design
design by TANGENT for DJCAD 2017
Graphic
6 Research Dimensions
- Question - Aims & Objectives
- Context - Methods - Contribution - Dissemination
Translating REF
A process of investigation leading to new insights, effectively shared.
Definition of research from REF
Rigour, Originality, Significance
Criteria for assessing research
Process
Questions
Aims
Context Methods
Research Dimensions Proforma
• A guide to writing research dimensions for practice research folios
• First step towards creating Practice Research folios
• Draft and update periodically
• Not an academic text, written in plain English
• Combine with a timeline and evidence/Pure records, create something tangible
• Can be used for ARKER, REF, PR Folios, MCOs
1. Research Question
What question is your research seeking to answer?
2. Aims & Objectives
Aims are the high-level description of what the research is trying to achieve.
Objectives are the more practical and actionable steps taken to achieve these aims.
3. Research Context
Situate your research within a field, demonstrate your knowledge of that field and the relevance of your work to its advancement.
4. Methods
To explain how you conducted your research.
Outline the key aspects of your methods.
Contribution to the Field
To highlight the new knowledge gained through your research.
6. Dissemination
To show how you shared your work with the appropriate audiences – public, academic, and other.
Start with a list of how you shared your work, where and when.
Do you have any stats?
300 – word narratives
Rigour = Question, Aims & Objectives, Context, Methods
Originality = Methods, Contribution to the Field
Significance = Dissemination
Summing Up
• Practice Research Portfolios – more than just a REF submission
• Research Dimensions help articulate the research process
• The proforma can be the start of your PR portfolio
• It can also be used along the way
• Email your drafts back to:
• discovery@dundee.ac.uk
• mrduncan@dundee.ac.uk
• Or upload to your MCO OneDrive folder