Dr P Yeates, Prof R McKinley
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Methods:
The course of study will use a mix of qualitative “think-aloud” and cognitive experimental methods. Depending on results, It may seek to trial a benchmarking invention in practice and/ or use realist methods to understand how benchmarking may operate in practice. The PhD student will be supported to develop their own research aims as they review the literature, whilst later study aims and methods will be developed in response to initial findings. Consequently this study should be seen as illustrative.
Example Study 1:
Aim: To explore what examiners describe as salient to their judgements for a target performance when they have and haven’t viewed a benchmarking performance.
Methods: Using a 2x2 crossover design, examiners will observe and score a video-based benchmarking performance and then a video-based target performance. Examiners will be randomized to view performances in either order: A (benchmarking) then B (target); or B (benchmarking) and A (target). Examiners will be asked to describe features of each performance which they consider salient to their judgements both concurrently and immediately retrospectively. Following the benchmarking performance participants will be provided with a “correct” score for the performance they have just observed, derived from prior scoring of the performance. They will be asked to reflect on that score, and then consider what they will take forward into observing the next performance which that performance has received in research. Think-aloud transcripts will be inductively analysed to develop a taxonomy of statements for each performance, and thematically analysed to describe the influence of benchmarking on examiners’ judgements. Depending on researchers’ interpretation of findings and the viability of recruiting a sufficient sample, secondary reanalysis via blinded content analysis may be used to compare the frequency of examiners’ perceptions across conditions.
Outcomes: The PhD is expected to consist of 3 studies. The initial literature review is expected to be publishable as a narrative review, with the PhD producing 4 academic papers.
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Funding Notes
Funding is available for three years to cover fees for PhD registration (2018/19 home/EU rates: £4,260) and a research studentship stipend of currently £14,777 per annum for 2018/19. Non-EU students would be required to pay the balance (currently approximately £11,200 per annum) of the overseas fees themselves.