January 2008 Archives

The Young Researcher Network is supporting 15 groups of young people aged 13 - 25 with training that will enable to them deliver high quality research on issues that matter to them.

One topic we hope to cover as we provide support and advice to projects is online research. You might think that young people, as members of the google generation, would be far ahead in their ability to use the internet for research, but as a recent study has shown - young people still need training and support to make the most of their familiarity with the digital world. The 'information behaviour of the researcher of the future' paper tried to explore some 'myths' about young people's 'information behaviours', including this one:

They [young people] are expert searchers
Our verdict: This is a dangerous myth. Digital literacies
and information literacies do not go hand in hand.

Of course - we're interested in the 'information behaviour of the young researcher of the present' - but it's important that we look deeper into this.

When I studied for my degree, the internet was only just being widely introduced as a research tool, but now it seems that young people's skills in using the internet are often assumed in a way that means they don't have an opportunity to learn the important concepts to help in critically assessing information online.

But I'm sure there must be good resources out there to support young people as researchers.

If you're a young person, perhaps as a young researcher, have you had any good training in how to use the internet well? Or have you just always known how to make use of the internet? Do you think you're an expert searcher - or are there things you want to know about?

And if you're involved in research - are there any good resources you can recommend for teaching good online research skills to the google generation, and supporting young people in online research?

Things have been really busy here at YRN headquarters since the launch conference in December. We've been active behind-the-scenes putting together a range of training opportunities for network members. The package of training is being rolled our between now and March, when each local young people's project will be putting forward a research proposal and funding bit for up to £3000

Training sessions will cover:
• the research process;
• finding focus and defining a research question;
• identifying a methodology;
• consider the ethical implications of research.

And individual customised training will also be available, as Dr Darren tours the country visiting network members.

Equipping young people with strong research skills is a key part of the Young Researcher Network project to ensure high quality research.

Some of the training will be delivered by the Centre for Social Action , and if you are a YRN member you can find full details of the training that is available to you on our website

If you've been involved in training either as a young researcher, or as someone working to support young people (ages 13 - 25) in research projects - what training have you found most useful? You can tell us in the comments below.
 

I hope that you all had a good bit of time off to relax and are raring to go now in the New Year! This year is going to be extremely busy for the YRN. We are hoping to kick start the year with a training programme for core partners. In addition the grants programme is being developed that will hopefully lead to completed research projects lead by young people in a years time....fingers crossed. Currently we are focussing on the website to begin to put useful pages together and develop a good and useful resource section. So busy busy busy......!

As promised we have started to receive some workshop presentations from the launch conference that a number of you said that you would find very useful. We also have Viv's keynote speech, in which she highlighted policy that might present opportunities for research lead by young people.

These are all available online on our current webpages www.nya.org.uk/youngresearchernetwork on the conference page. We will add more as it come in....also I guess for those of you that have made it thus far, you will be aware of the social media worksheets.

Thanks to Tim and Alex for posting these. So please keep in contact - and let us know what information would be of use to you.