The Small Cities Community-University Research Alliance (CURA) at Thompson Rivers University is hosting the Explorations in Qualitative and Arts-Based Research Conference Aug 29, 30 and 31 at the Kamloops campus of TRU.
Bringing people from different disciplines, professions, and cultures, the aim of the conference is to offer university researchers, students, and community-based researchers a forum to compare and discuss methodological issues, approaches, and practices.
“This promises to be a truly exciting research symposium,” said Dr. Will Garrett-Petts, Small Cities CURA principal researcher and conference chair. “This is rare opportunity to compare notes on and learn about the theory and practice of qualitative and arts-based research methods, especially as those methods apply to community-university research.”
The collaborative research, Settlement Experiences in a Small City, undertaken by Julie Drolet (Social Work, TRU) Jeanette Robertson (Social Work, TRU), Wendy Robinson (Kamloops Immigrant Services) and Picku Multani (Interior Health Authority), is just one example of the many topics being presented over the three days which illustrate the strong, close ties between the university and community grassroots in the far-ranging Small Cities project.
Conference participants have the option to attend introductory and intermediate workshops led by Dr. Kristi Jackson to gain hands-on experience using qualitative data analysis software.
Jackson, who will also deliver the conference’s keynote address, has been an evaluation researcher for 15 years, serving as principal investigator or co-investigator for a diverse array of studies in public health, criminal justice, education, and community development. Her conference presentations and published papers often address the implications of the growing importance of qualitative data analysis software, and she is recognized as one of the leaders in this area.
In addition the Small Cities CURA will be publishing the conference proceedings in a new online publication, Small Cities Imprint.
Contact:
- Dr. Will Garrett-Petts, (p)(250) 828-5248
