Category / Uncategorized

Upcoming 3C Event – PGR Culture, Community & Cake

BU research, Doctoral College, Events, PG research, Postgraduate Research, Uncategorized

Don’t miss out on your chance to book onto our upcoming 3C event! Join us Tuesday 14 May 10:00-11:00 in room K101, Kimmeridge House.

All PGRs and Supervisors are warmly invited to participate and contribute to this enriching and delicious gathering. This social event is a catch-up opportunity to meet informally with the PGR community and make new connections whilst enjoying some coffee and cake.

Places are limited so book as soon as possible.

Let’s foster collaboration, support and networking!

Book now

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

Igniting Sustainability: SUNRISE Research Launched Successfully!

BU research, Uncategorized

Bournemouth University (BU) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) joined forces for SUNRISE (Supporting University Network for Research in Sustainability Engagement), an inspirational initiative funded by the British Council. The launch event on 24th April set the stage for impactful collaborations between institutions across borders inspiring both students and academics.

The research team: Dr Milena Bobeva (BUBS), Dr Reena Vijayakumaran (HSS), Prof Fiona Cownie (FMC), Dr Roberta Discetti (BUBS), and Dr Daisy Fan (BUBS), Dr Vina Tan Phei Sean (USM) and Assoc Prof. Ng Theam Foo (USM) was joined by BU’s Vice Chancellor – Prof. John Vinney, who launched the event. Presenter included Dr Sukanya Ayatakshi Endow, Dr James Fair, Dr Reena Vijayakumaran from BU and Associate Prof. Dr. Derek Chan Juinn Chieh, Dr Musfirah Zulkurnain and Ms Nuri Izyani Ramlee from USM. Special thanks to Aneta Postek, Ibrahim Awawdeh, Lee Ann Kee and all the students who were involved.

The SUNRISE launch event was a shared vision in advancing sustainability agendas, held at both campuses simultaneously. It showcased research from innovative technological solutions to community-driven initiatives – exemplified cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing real-world sustainability issues.

The SUNRISE launch event marked the beginning of an exciting journey towards harnessing the collective power of academia in driving sustainability research and engagement. We are looking forward to the next event:

Student Conference

Thursday 9th May 2024

8:00 am – 10:00 am (BST) 

DG06, Talbot Campus

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sunrise-inspirational-international-sustainability-research-network-tickets-881845352187

 

Paper with 160,000 reads

BU research, Featured academics, Publishing, research methods, Uncategorized, writing

Occasionally we have the pleasure to announce that one of our papers has been read 300 times or 2,000 times or has been cited 40 times.  However, some papers are in a different category.  Today ResearchGate informed us  that our 2002 paper ‘The Importance of Pilot Studies’ [1] has been read 160,000 times.  This paper was written over two decades ago and submitted to the Nursing Standard when we were both still at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

 

Profs. Vanora Hundley & Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health (CMWH)

 

Reference:

  1. van Teijlingen, E, Hundley, V (2002) The Importance of Pilot Studies, Nursing Standard, 16(40):33-6

Dr Rachel Arnold on Appreciative Inquiry

BU research, Research communication, Research news, Uncategorized

In March of this year I had the pleasure of announcing in a BU Research Blog the publication of Dr. Rachel Arnold’s contribution to the book Appreciating Health and Care: A Practical Appreciative Inquiry Resource for the Health & Social Care Sector  [1].  There is also a supplementary eBook, called Appreciating Health and Care: AI in practice [2], which introduces more professional experiences of using AI (not Artificial Intelligence, but Appreciative Inquiry) in the health and care sector.  Rachel is the lead author of the contribution ‘Let’s get messy! Where to start with using Appreciative Inquiry’ and her co-authors are Dr. Jo Hartley, Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen and Dr. Preeti Mahato.  ‘Let’s get messy! Where to start with using Appreciative Inquiry’ is a case study which reflects on our experiences of using Appreciative Inquiry to explore staff well-being in an NHS maternity service during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explain how we adapted and overcame some of the challenges, strategies that worked, and practical ideas for anyone interested in using Appreciative Inquiry in health or social care.

 

References:

  1. Hodgkiss, D., Quinney, S., Slack, T., Barnett, K., Howells, B. (2024a)  Appreciating Health and Care: A practical Appreciative Inquiry resource for the Health and Social Care sector, Forres: Appreciating People; ISBN: 978-1-9160267-6-6
  2. Hodgkiss, D., Quinney, S., Slack, T., Barnett, K., Howells, B. (2024b) Appreciating Health and Care: AI in practice, Forres: Appreciating People.

 

 

Methods or Methodology?

BU research, international, PG research, Research news, Uncategorized

Yesterday our latest methodological paper ‘Methods or Methodology: Terms That Are Too Often Confused’ appeared online. [1]  We recently published a methods paper outlining the difference between Methods and Methodology as so many postgraduate students manage to get it wrong or don’t understand the distinction between the two.  There is a distinct difference between methodology and methods in research. However, too many students, researchers, and authors of academic papers do not seem to pay attention to the crucial difference. This is true not only in education research but also in many other academic disciplines. In simple terms, the term methods refers to the research tools and techniques; for example, in the qualitative field, interviews are a tool to collect data, and in the quantitative field, a questionnaire-based survey is an example of a data collection tool. Methodology is a broader concept as it refers to the overall approach to the research, includes a justification for this approach, and links to research philosophy, i.e., how we produce knowledge. This methodological note aims to explain the confusion, drawing on examples from the published literature in education research and beyond. It also considers the complexities and crossovers. The final section ends with key advice to researchers and authors on key mistakes to avoid regarding the difference between methods and methodology, including covering this in early supervision discussions.

Our interdisciplinary team, based in the UK and Nepal, comprises Dr. Orlanda Harvey in BU’s Department of Sociology & Social Work, Dr. Pramod Regmi in BU’s Department of Nursing Science, Dr. Preeti Mahato from Royal Holloway, University of London, Dr. Shovita Dhakal Adhikari, London Metropolitan University, Dr. Rolina Dhital, based at Health Action & Research in Nepal and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen in BU’s Department of Midwifery & Health Sciences.  In addition it is worth mentioning that both Preeti and Shovita are both former member of staff in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (FHSS) at BU.  Finally, although the official publication date is Sept 2023, it only appeared online yesterday.  This new methods paper is part of growing series of methods papers by members of this team of academics [2-12].

 

References:

  1. Harvey, O., Regmi, P. R., Mahato, P., Dhakal Adhikari, S., Dhital, R., van Teijlingen E. (2023) Methods or Methodology: Terms That Are Too Often Confused. Journal of Education & Research, 13(2): 94-105.
  2. Regmi, P.R., Waithaka, E., Paudyal, A., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2016) Guide to the design and application of online questionnaire surveys. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 6(4): 640-644. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJE/article/view/17258
  3. Regmi, PR., Aryal, N., Kurmi, O., Pant, PR., van Teijlingen, E, Wasti, PP. (2017) Informed consent in health research: challenges and barriers in low-and middle-income countries with specific reference to Nepal, Developing World Bioethics 17(2):84-89.
  4. Mahato, P., Angell, C., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P.P. (2018) Using Mixed-methods Research in Health & Education in Nepal, Journal of Health Promotion Official Publication of Health Education Association of Nepal (HEAN), 6: 45-48.
  5. van Teijlingen, E., Regmi, P., Adhikary, P., Aryal, N., Simkhada, P. (2019). Interdisciplinary Research in Public Health: Not quite straightforward. Health Prospect, 18(1), 4-7. https://doi.org/10.3126/hprospect.v18i1.19337
  6. Dhakal Adhikari, S., van Teijlingen, E., Regmi,P., Mahato, P., Simkhada, B., Simkhada, P. (2020) The presentation of academic self in the digital age: the role of electronic databases, International Journal of Social Sciences & Management 7(1):38-41.
  7. Shanker, S., Wasti, S.P., Ireland, J., Regmi, P., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2021) The Interdisciplinary Team Not the Interdisciplinarist: Reflections on Interdisciplinary Research, Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences 3(2): 1-5. https://doi.org/10.46405/ejms.v3i2.317
  8. Arnold, R., Gordon, C., Way, S., Mahato, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2022) Why use Appreciative Inquiry? Lessons learned during COVID-19 in a UK maternity service, European Journal of Midwifery 6 (May): 1-7. https://doi.org/10.18332/ejm/147444
  9. Mahato, P., Tamang, P., Simkhada, B., Wasti, S. P., Devkota, B., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E.R. (2022) Reflections on health promotion fieldwork in Nepal: Trials and tribulations. Journal of Health Promotion 10(1): 5–12. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v10i1.50978
  10. Khatiwada, S., Gautam, P., Koju, A., Niraula, B., Khanal, G., Sitaula, A., Lamichhane, J., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E (2023). Patient and Public Engagement in Health Research: Learning from UK Ideas. Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, 8(1): 28–35. https://doi.org/10.3126/jmmihs.v8i1.57268
  11. Thapa, R., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E., Heaslip, V. (2023) Researching Dalits and health care: Considering positionality, Health Prospect 21(1): 6-8.
  12. Harvey, O., van Teijlingen, E., Parrish, M. (2024) Using a range of communication tools to interview a hard-to-reach population, Sociological Research Online 29(1): 221–232 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/13607804221142212

NEW Virtual Reality RESEARCH ARTICLE JUST PUBLISHED  Assiouras, I., Giannopoulos., A., Mavragani, E., Buhalis, D., 2024, “Virtual Reality, Mental Imagery and Visit Intention: Is Travel Inspiration the missing link?” International Journal of Tourism Research https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2646  

Uncategorized

NEW Virtual Reality RESEARCH ARTICLE JUST PUBLISHED 

Assiouras, I., Giannopoulos., A., Mavragani, E., Buhalis, D., 2024, “Virtual Reality, Mental Imagery and Visit Intention: Is Travel Inspiration the missing link?” International Journal of Tourism Research https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2646
 
 

Abstract

The study examines the relationship between virtual reality (VR)-facilitated mental imagery and travellers’ intention to visit a destination. A serial mediation process through travel inspiration (inspired-by and inspired-to) is proposed as a psychological mechanism able to explain the positive relationship of elaboration and quality of mental imagery with visit intentions. VR users were recruited through Prolific Academic. The findings demonstrate that VR-facilitated elaboration of mental imagery increases travel inspiration and consequently visit intention. However, the importance of mental imagery quality is much lower. The paper contributes to the literature of pre-travel VR experience by exploring the role of travel inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

Dissemination event – Inequalities in nutrition & healthy ageing for older African adults.

Awarded & submitted bids, BRIAN, BU research, Uncategorized

The Inequalities in Nutrition & Healthy Ageing for Older African Adults project (www.bournemouth.ac.uk/african-food) is funded by the funded UKRI/BBSRC Food4Years. The aims were to use innovative methods to understand the nutrition landscape and to gain insights to co-create interventions to address inequalities in nutrition and healthy ageing for older African adults. A dissemination event was held on the 25th of March 2024, at Bournemouth University, to share findings from the project with participants, community members and stakeholders. There was also an exhibition of outputs from the Photovoice study showcasing participants photos around their thoughts and opinions on inequalities and healthy ageing in older African adults. The event featured a culturally-tailored dinner and a showcase of healthy produce including fruits, vegetables mostly consumed in African countries to highlight their value in contributing to healthy, balanced culturally-tailored diets.


Project overview:
The United Kingdom is home to a diverse population, including a significant number of older African adults who often face unique challenges related to health and nutrition. Individuals from Black African communities within the UK often experience a complex nutrition landscape where they sometimes maintain their traditional diets, but also adapt to some key features of western diet and food culture, presenting a complex mix of nutrition and health outcomes. This project set out to explore the determinants of inequalities in nutrition and healthy ageing in Africans over 55 years living in the UK using Photovoice. Through rigorous research and extensive community engagement, our project has shed light on critical issues and paved the way for actionable solutions to promote healthy ageing in older adults from the African community.
The research used community-based participatory research methods including photography (Photovoice) and roundtable discussions to explore and identify factors that drive food choices & behaviour and nutritional needs as identified by the participants themselves. Collectively with key stakeholders, the research team identified solutions, recommendations and key research priority areas to promote nutrition and improve health outcomes for older Africans.

Key Insights:
1. Tradition: The need to pass on authentic traditional recipes to children and grandchildren is one particularly important determinant of food choice as food is often associated with one’s identity.
2. Nutritional Challenges: Many older African adults face barriers to accessing culturally appropriate and nutritious food options, leading to inadequate diets and increased risk of chronic diseases.
3. Socioeconomic Factors: Economic instability and social exclusion exacerbate health and nutrition inequalities, creating additional challenges for older African adults in the UK.
4. Health Awareness and Education: Limited access to health information and education exacerbates nutrition inequalities, leading to higher rates of diet-related diseases and poor health outcomes.

Actionable Recommendations:
Based on findings of this research and through stakeholder engagement, the following recommendations are given to address health and nutrition inequalities among older African adults in the UK:
1. Culturally-tailored Interventions: Develop culturally sensitive nutrition programs and healthcare services tailored to the needs of older African adults.
2. Food Accessibility Programs: Increase access to culturally appropriate and affordable food options through community gardens and farmers’ markets.
3. Nutrition Education Initiatives: Implement targeted nutrition education programs that prioritise cultural relevance, focusing on traditional foods, cooking methods, and dietary practices.

Outputs:

Photobook: https://photobook.onelink.me/QDvH/ephotobook?file=aJGrD


Looking Ahead:
We acknowledge that our work has only just started. It is a call to action—a rallying cry for continued collaboration, advocacy, and innovation. Together, we can develop innovative solutions that address health inequalities, improve quality of life and secure healthy ageing in individuals of African heritage in the UK.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this project—funder, participants, research team and community members. Together we have laid the foundation for future research on healthy ageing. The conversations and actions aimed at driving change towards healthy ageing among Black African people living in the UK continue.


Project team:
Dr Sophia Amenyah – Lead researcher, Bournemouth University
Professor Jane Murphy – Professor of Nutrition, Bournemouth University
Professor Lee-Ann Fenge – Professor of Social Care, Bournemouth University
Dr Hibbah Osei-Kwasi – Lecturer, Loughborough University
Mrs Janet Adjei, Research assistant – Bournemouth University

Paperback published!

Uncategorized

It’s with great pleasure that I can announce the publication in paperback of my book Analysing the History of British Social Welfare. This book represents the result of many years of scholarship and learning and teaching in this area. It charts the development of welfare as an integral ingredient within the human condition as evidenced by the prehistorical record, but also as a means of coercion and control that the powerful exert over others. This power operates through the unspoken discourses underlying society, in the daily practices of individuals, organisations and State resulting in the demonisation of people reliant on benefits and the self-justification of those not reliant on welfare assistance. The book negotiates a difficult path through the central need for compassion and care for fellow human beings and the socio-political control stemming from the construction of tropes demarcating people as deserving or undeserving.

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2024

BU research, Doctoral College, Featured, PG research, Postgraduate Research, Uncategorized

Have your say

PRES will launch on Monday 15 April 2024 for postgraduate research (PGR) students to complete.

Look out for an email from the University containing your unique link to the survey.

We are keen to make sure our PGRs have the best possible experience while studying with us. To do this, we need to know what you think works well and what as a University we could do better. This is your chance to tell us about your experience as a PGR at Bournemouth University. We also kindly ask that all supervisors encourage their PGRs to participate in the survey.

Thank you to all PGRs who completed the 2023 PRES survey – we listened to you and your feedback has helped us to enhance your PGR experience in a range of areas.

This year the survey will open on Monday 15 April 2024 and close on Thursday 16 May 2024. Upon completing the survey, PGRs will automatically entered into a free prize draw. Four winners will be able to claim a £50 shopping voucher. Terms and conditions apply.

In addition, we will be making a £1 donation for every survey completed to the student mental health wellbeing charity, Student Minds.

Once you have completed the survey, you are entitled to claim a coffee voucher worth £3.20, from the Doctoral College to use at any BU Chartwells outlet. Please come to the Doctoral College (DLG08, Talbot Campus) to collect your voucher. You will need to show a screen shot of the final page of the survey in order to claim your voucher.

How do I take part?

PGRs will receive an email from the University on Monday 15 April 2024 containing a unique link which will allow you to access and complete the survey. If you can’t find this email, contact PRES@bournemouth.ac.uk and we’ll help you to get access.

What will I be asked?

The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete. Your response is confidential, and any reporting will be entirely anonymous. The survey is your chance to tell us about your experience as a PGR at BU. It will ask you to share your views on supervision, resources, research community, progress and assessment, skills and professional development and wellbeing.

Why should I take part?

Your feedback is important. The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is the only national survey of PGRs and so is the only way for us to compare how we are doing with other institutions and to make changes that will improve your experience in the future.

More information

If you would like to know more about the survey, please visit: PRES 2024.

We hope you take the opportunity to get involved this year and help us make improvements to your experience.

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

For any PRES related queries, please email: PRES@bournemouth.ac.uk

Celebrating with the RNLI

Awarded & submitted bids, BU research, international, PG research, Publishing, Research news, Uncategorized

Staff in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences at Bournemouth University (BU) would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the charity the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) on its 200th anniversary!  Some of us have personal experience of working with the RNLI.  For example, Adam Bancroft, Programme Lead in Paramedic Science and Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science, in the Department of Midwifery & Health Sciences has been a lifeboat volunteer  Adam and his wife Paula were  both volunteer crew at Tower RNLI on the banks of the river Thames, which is still the busiest RNLI station in the UK.   They would commit to at least two shifts a month where they would be at a state of readiness to launch at moments notice on the pier, ready to respond. 
The picture of Adam and Paula was taken in 2013 for the RNLI as part of a photo shoot that was published in the Lifeboat magazine featuring volunteers and the different walks of life from across the UK and Ireland and the Channel Islands.  I am not sure Adam wants me to share this, but on their wedding day the ‘car’ for Paula was the spare RNLI boat, crewed by volunteer and full-time crew who gave their time to deliver her to the party boat for the service.  Adam did say that sadly neither of them able to volunteer now.
In a very different way of working with the RNLI, BU academics currently are involved in a collaborative research project with RNLI to prevent the drowning of toddlers under the age of two in rural Bangladesh.  This project called Sonamoni.  BU is leading this interdisciplinary study of nearly £1.7 million funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
This interdisciplinary project is a collaboration of BU’s Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health (CMWH), BU’s Department in Accounting, Finance & Economics and Department of Design & Engineering, and external partners, namely the University of the West of England, the University of Southampton, the Poole-based RNLI and in Bangladesh the research organisation CIPRB (Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh), and in Uganda Design Without Borders (DWB).  The Bournemouth University team comprises staff from three faculties: Dr. Mavis Bengtsson, Dr. Kyungjoo Cha, Dr. Mehdi Chowdhury, Dr. Yong Hun Lim, Mr. John Powell, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen, and one PhD student Mr. Md. Shafkat Hossain.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
CMWH