Photo by Tzu-Chien Yen
A Workshop for Research Students and Recent Graduates
Convened by the Interpretation, Method and Critique network
Thursday 10 April and Friday 11 April 2025
On campus of the Australian National University, Canberra
What constitutes political truth or falsehood has never been more intensely debated or more consequential. Today, populists who claim to represent constituencies across the political spectrum denigrate experts and the institutions that employ them — our universities included. At the same time, billions of users’ online interactions provide tech companies and governments with vast quantities of data about how we think and why we act — or react — as we do. Confidence grows that it is at last possible to track human behaviour and analyse our beliefs on a global scale. Yet, the outcomes of our political contests are, if anything, getting harder to explain; the political and social sciences of deterministic prediction, less credible; and problems with what we know and how we know it, thornier.
This select two-day workshop for current research students and recent graduates in the political and social sciences will train participants in methods with which to produce trustworthy research on issues that matter for our political wellbeing and societal integrity. It will attune them to presuppositions of political and social research, inculcate languages of scientific inquiry, and provide practical skills. Participants will become more adept at identifying threats to our democracy; alert to the risks of complicity in projects to dominate and manipulate people through disinformation; and, attuned to the ethical responsibilities their research carries. They will also be better prepared to think about how to obtain funds to do research that matters, and communicate among one another and with the public about their research.
Programme
Day 1 participants do core modules. We start the morning with two introductory ones. Participants will discuss why methodology and methods matter now more than ever for the conduct of political and social inquiry. They will get an overview of seminal thinkers, texts and ideas that form the basis for the workshop — and the organisers’ view that interpretive methods are non-optional for anyone asking questions or working on policy related to politics and society in our time. We’ll talk about the gains from using interpretive methods, and try our hand at some research designs. With the foundations are laid, in the afternoon we will concentrate on principles and strategies for comparison of political and social conditions, including controlled comparison and its alternatives, and the goals of comparison.
Day 2 participants will choose among modules. Each module will be led by an individual instructor. The modules will include further training in case-study comparison and in the principles and practice of interviewing, field observational research (ethnography) and textual analysis (Critical Discourse Analysis, Multimodal Discourse Analysis, the Discourse Historical Approach), as well as critical methodologies (for decolonizing, queer, and more-than-human research). The modules will be followed with practicums among which participants will again be able to choose, covering note-taking skills in observational research, textual analysis operations, research ethics, and proposal writing to get research funded.
All participants will be asked to read a small set of materials for the first day prior to the workshop. For the second day the readings will depend on the modules and practicums that they select. All readings will be provided digitally. No other work will be required prior to the workshop. Participants will be expected to engage actively with the contents of the workshop for both days. They will not be asked to present on their own research, though they may be invited to reflect on their research experience in dialogue.
Instructors
The workshop will be led in person at the campus of the Australian National University by a team of experienced and dedicated instructors: April Biccum, Senior Lecturer, School of Politics & International Relations, Australian National University (ANU); Nick Cheesman, Associate Professor, Department of Political & Social Change, ANU; Stefanie Fishel, Senior Lecturer, School of Law & Society, University of the Sunshine Coast; Nicholas Rush Smith, Associate Professor of Political Science, City University of New York; Helen Sullivan, Professor of Public Policy, ANU College of Asia & the Pacific (Day 1); and, Cai Wilkinson, Associate Professor of International Relations, Deakin University (Day 2).
Eligibility
Research students in the political or social sciences at any university in Australia, including undergraduate honours students, masters students whose degree programmes have a thesis component, and PhD students, are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to students in politics or political science (including PPE), public policy, international relations, sociolegal studies, and Asia and Pacific studies.
Graduates with a research degree in these disciplines or fields within the last two years (graduating in 2023, 2024 or 2025), who are currently conducting or planning to conduct political or social research in Australia at any public institution are also eligible and encouraged to apply. These institutions include universities and other public educational institutions, government departments, public libraries, non-profit media outlets, and community organisations.
No specific training in the methods taught in this workshop, or experience in using them, is necessary.
Costs
The workshop is supported by the ANU’s Strategic Learning and Teaching Grants scheme and on this occasion there are no costs for selected participants.
Stipends
With ANU support we are able to offer five participants coming to Canberra from interstate travel and accommodation stipends of $500 per person. If you seek one of the stipends, please indicate that in your application.
Applications
To apply, complete this form.
Deadline for applications: Fri, 7 March.
Questions?
Address questions about the programme, eligibility and stipends to Nick Cheesman at nick.cheesman@anu.edu.au
Address questions about the online application form or other matters to Jiashu Fang at jiashu.fang@anu.edu.au