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Today's #ResearchTip answers a question I'm asked a lot by scholars: "How do I write a book?"
Here's a threadđ§”explaining how to do it. #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #HigherEd #gradschool #PhDChat #MedEd #PhDHelp
Here's a threadđ§”explaining how to do it. #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #HigherEd #gradschool #PhDChat #MedEd #PhDHelp
If you're thinking about writing a book, the first thing to ask is 'why do I want to do this?' Some common reasons are:
- want to share ideas with others
- impact
- always been a dream/ambition
- prestige
- promotion/career progression
- money
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter
- want to share ideas with others
- impact
- always been a dream/ambition
- prestige
- promotion/career progression
- money
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter
Wanting to share ideas is a great reason for writing a book.
Before you go further, note what those ideas are - and who you want to reach? Is an academic book (or any kind of book) the best way to document your ideas and share them with others? #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter
Before you go further, note what those ideas are - and who you want to reach? Is an academic book (or any kind of book) the best way to document your ideas and share them with others? #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter
Today's #ResearchTip is: Want people to 'share their story' (for teaching, research, or talks)?
Check:
- all that sharing their story may cost them (now and in future)?
- why you want to know?
- what you/they hope will happen on telling?
- their support needs
#AcademicChatter
Check:
- all that sharing their story may cost them (now and in future)?
- why you want to know?
- what you/they hope will happen on telling?
- their support needs
#AcademicChatter
Storytelling as a method is becoming increasingly popular not just in qualitative research but in teaching, advocacy and more commercial and fundraising arenas. Done well it can be powerful and bring change. Done badly it can be a waste of time at best,harmful at worst. #HigherEd
Because it's popular, and viewed as a quick way to make impact, storytelling may be used unethically and uncritically. More so as conference keynotes (and some teaching) move from a scholarly address to 'tell us your story' (I'm asked for the latter way more than the former now).
With Twitter facing an uncertain future, today's #ResearchTip is threadđ§”all about how to plan your future social media use, ensuring you don't lose out and can stay safe. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp
Firstly, a reminder that none of us like change, and there's a lot being predicted that may or may not come true. So work from what you do know. Note why you use social media, what for, and to what benefit? That can indicate where you go next. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
Remember, lots of academics don't use any social media and do okay. When Twitter first started most academics were very negative about it, viewing it as a pointless waste of time. Other social media platforms are largely ignored. What does this mean for you? #AcademicTwitter
Today's #ResearchTip is as you're keeping records of your progress (in a log, diary etc) remember to note
- what you did
- why you did that
- how you went about it
and
- what happened as a consequence
You may think you'll remember, but over time you'll forget! #AcademicTwitter
- what you did
- why you did that
- how you went about it
and
- what happened as a consequence
You may think you'll remember, but over time you'll forget! #AcademicTwitter
Bonuses of keeping records that go beyond a simple description of what you did:
- you can pinpoint where things go well or badly
- easier to demonstrate impact
- helps remember the good times
- shows your progress and actions
- very helpful for teaching
- invaluable in a crisis
- you can pinpoint where things go well or badly
- easier to demonstrate impact
- helps remember the good times
- shows your progress and actions
- very helpful for teaching
- invaluable in a crisis
Remember, for some projects you're restricted to recording information in very particular ways, that often focus only on the 'what I did' and not the other details. So keep additional records to describe all actions taken and how you felt about it all.
Today's #ResearchTip is competitive academia often makes it difficult to admit when we don't know something. But if you don't understand your work/studies ask for help asap. The longer you leave things, the worse they can get. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd #MedEd
Ideally you'd ask for help from your supervisor, manager, tutor etc. But not everyone is safe to seek answers from. In which case colleagues, friends working in other unis, professional organisations, your union, or checking online may be a reassuring place to begin.
If you're working or studying in a place that makes it difficult, unsafe, or impossible to ask for advice or clarify when you don't know something, that's a major red flag. Yes, seek additional help with the ideas above, but you may also want to find another place to work/study.
Todayâs #ResearchTip is a basic safety one. If youâre using social media for work or study,you may want to keep your DMs shut to anyone bar mutual follows, with another means of contact in your profile. It can reduce unwanted or abusive messaging #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter
Of course itâs up to you whether to have DMs open or not. And some people vary this,keeping them open at set times related to work or personal need and contact. But if youâre getting harassing, unkind or upsetting messages itâs okay to close this avenue off for your own wellbeing
It also is the case that minoritised folk that are working or studying in academia are much more likely to be harassed on social media and often by DM (the latter by colleagues or others who want to target without being seen by others). Maintaining boundaries can help you here.
Todayâs #ResearchTip is when an unethical and alarming piece of research is identified, donât let your scramble to be part of an exciting drama mean you amplify problems or act unethically yourself.
This 𧔠is about ways to respond to unethical publications #AcademicTwitter
This 𧔠is about ways to respond to unethical publications #AcademicTwitter
There is a paper, published in a qualitative journal, that is currently raising concerns and questions about how it was published. It's grim and extreme. But it's sadly not unique. There are countless examples of unethical research out there /2 #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter
Most of the time unethical research is stopped by good teaching and supervision (either explaining not to do it, or catching and halting it). Other places like ethics committees, participants, colleagues or reviewers can spot and prevent harm spreading /3 #AcademicTwitter
Todayâs #ResearchTip is envy is sadly very common in academia and often linked to competition (which many are taught as a positive thing). Remember your candle wonât burn brighter just because you blew out someone elseâs flame. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd #MedEd
It can be difficult when everyone around you seems to be sharing successes, making progress, or not experiencing blocks and barriers. It can make you feel angry, sad, anxious or inferior. And impact negatively on working relationships or your interactions online. #AcademicChatter
It may be tempting to blame other people for their progress, success or happiness rather than recognise and make space for your own disappointment, worries, or rejection. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd #MedEd #PhdChat #gradschool #PhDHelp
Todayâs #ResearchTip is your #PhD is the only time youâll âgo it aloneâ as a researcher (and many still work in teams for their doctoral studies). Learning to work with colleagues and communities is a great skill to acquire during your doctorate. #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter
#PhD candidates can be misled to believe working with others is âcheatingâ in some way. It isnât. Itâs a great way to share ideas, expand horizons and also get or give help in areas you or others need support with. #PhDChat #PhDHelp #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #AcademicChatter
Future research projects, even for independent researchers, doesnât happen in a vacuum. We need to coordinate with others to understand, progress and make an impact with our studies. Identifying and maintaining your networks is a key skill. #PhDChat #PhDHelp #gradschool #HigherEd
Today's #ResearchTip is if you want to share your work and promote yourself - go where the people you want to reach are!
That might be here, ORCID, ResearchGate, on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, your uni's website, or a personal profile
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #HigherEd
That might be here, ORCID, ResearchGate, on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, your uni's website, or a personal profile
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #HigherEd
There's often a recommendation to get a personal website. That can be useful as your career builds. However I'd recommend an ORCID profile first and foremost. If you get a website you need to send people to it, which can be a job in itself! Have a plan for that #AcademicChatter
You can use different platforms for different purposes. ORCID plus Scholar or ResearchGate for your publications. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for networking and help seeking. TikTok or Insta for public engagement and cat photos. There are lots of choices #AcademicChatter
It should be a training experience so when you start you know relatively little about research and supervision but by the time you finish you not only have a thesis you have learned how to run your own future studies and support others to do so, ethically and effectively. ButâŠ
In most cases even basic research skills arenât taught and thatâs why the PhD is so stressful. People arenât supported to get their research done or navigate academia. Meaning they get distressed, some leave, others continue but lacking core skills. So the problems perpetuate.
The whole time we keep bleating about academic mental health while doing remarkably little about it. And absolutely nothing about supervision and tuition for undergraduate or postgrads. With all that happening itâs not surprising people are struggling and unhappy.
Iâve been training people in how to peer review today.
Here are the top things they didnât know before the class that they thought you might find helpful 𧔠#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #PhDChat #HigherEd #ResearchTip
Here are the top things they didnât know before the class that they thought you might find helpful 𧔠#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #PhDChat #HigherEd #ResearchTip
1. Peer reviewing is an essential research skill. And as with any skill it takes tuition, time, practice, respect and accountability to get right. The more you do it the better youâll be.
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #PhDChat #HigherEd #ResearchTip
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #PhDChat #HigherEd #ResearchTip
2. Peer reviewing doesnât just benefit the person whoâs work youâre checking. The more research proposals and publications you review the better your research will become.
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #PhDChat #HigherEd #ResearchTip
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #PhDChat #HigherEd #ResearchTip
Academics! About to recommend a colleague to help someone else with their teaching, research or events? Please check first that said colleague has time and capacity to assist. And make anyone you're referring to them aware that they shouldn't be expecting anyone to work for free
"_______ said you'd be able to help me with..." is the starter of so many emails I get.
When _________ is any number of academics who've not checked first if I'm willing, able or qualified to assist.
When _________ is any number of academics who've not checked first if I'm willing, able or qualified to assist.
Be as swift at putting someone forward for paid work using their expertise as you are to give their details to answer someone else's questions you don't want to deal with.
Todayâs #ResearchTip is if youâre applying for grants remember many funders include on their websites
- instructions for applicants
- details of existing funded projects
- FAQs
- contact person
All of these are for you to use! đ
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool
- instructions for applicants
- details of existing funded projects
- FAQs
- contact person
All of these are for you to use! đ
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool
Also if youâre seeking funding and arenât sure what to do, seek out
- training in your uni/organisation
- support from professional bodies
- videos/guides others have shared online
- library services
- reading other peopleâs successful applications
- grant planning workshops
- training in your uni/organisation
- support from professional bodies
- videos/guides others have shared online
- library services
- reading other peopleâs successful applications
- grant planning workshops
Sometimes people whoâve successfully applied for funds you are seeking will explain how they managed to get their cash and/or show you their applications. Donât assume all have the time/energy to do this and ensure you can reciprocate in some way.
Todayâs #ResearchTip is just because you work or study in a uni,doesnât mean youâll find friendships, relationships, family, or peers easy. None of us are immune to problems. Donât put off seeking help because youâre afraid of not seeming perfect #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
IME thereâs something about academia that makes us feel everyone working or studying there is somehow either immune to problems or will be very good at solving friendship, relationship or family problems. Whereas the reality is personal problems are very common.
Academics are often poor at comprehension and communication (I know, right! Itâs literally our job and yet weâre not great at it). That can make things difficult. Plus thereâs pressure to not bring our personal lives to work. Ignoring how academia causes or worsens our problems
Today's #ResearchTip is referencing is not just for work you are directly quoting. If you've read a book, paper or report, or watched a podcast or someone's talk that is directly informing your work THAT needs citing too! #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #PhDChat
A lot of academics seem to believe if they're sharing other people's ideas but from their perspective, or they aren't using a quote or image directly, then this does not need crediting. It does! If you're passing off someone else's work as your own it's unfair and dishonest.
It's very much an issue that academics, often those with higher profiles, lift work from minoritised scholars and/or those not working in universities. They get credit for stuff that is not their work while the original authors remain unacknowledged and further sidelined.
Todayâs #ResearchTip is if youâre writing a substantial piece of work (paper, report, book or dissertation) the help of a writing skills workshop or an editor can vastly improve your tone and messaging. #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #MedEd #HigherEd #PhDChat
A lot of us arenât taught to write at all. And if we are taught itâs to write to a formula for a specific journal. We donât often get taught basic writing skills, or learn from those whose job it is to communicate with clarity. Reading widely helps, too.
All of us have strengths with how we communicate our research. That might be in how we write and different styles (theoretical, chatty, persuasive, pragmatic). Or in using other ways to share messages including visual and audio options and co-writing with colleagues
Todayâs #ResearchTip is a reminder that badmouthing is a distressing and destructive form of bullying we need to be alert to in academia. What is it? Find out in the thread âŹïž #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp
What is badmouthing? Itâs when
- untrue
- unkind
- unfounded
information or rumours about a person are shared by one or more individuals, behind the person being badmouthedâs back.
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp
- untrue
- unkind
- unfounded
information or rumours about a person are shared by one or more individuals, behind the person being badmouthedâs back.
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp
Badmouthing in academia happens for a variety of reasons. Most commonly bullying, but also due to
- bad communication or poor management skills
- passive aggressive behaviour
- jealousy or spite
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp
- bad communication or poor management skills
- passive aggressive behaviour
- jealousy or spite
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp
Todayâs #ResearchTip is weâre at the stage in the pandemic where compassion fatigue is really showing itself. This may affect teaching, supervision, research, mentoring and #PastoralCare Itâs understandable, but may not be immediately obvious.
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
What are the signs of compassion fatigue?
Your appetite, sleep or concentration may be affected.
You could feel exhausted (mentally and physically), dizzy or sick.
It may be difficult to be sympathetic to others, especially those you think are making a fuss without good reason
Your appetite, sleep or concentration may be affected.
You could feel exhausted (mentally and physically), dizzy or sick.
It may be difficult to be sympathetic to others, especially those you think are making a fuss without good reason
Some people feel overwhelmed with many angry, irritable or sad feelings. Others feel detached or numb. Still more fret about what they could or should have done in difficult situations. Or dwell on incidents and individuals they believe have harmed others.
Todayâs #ResearchTip is people are not always going to be ready for, interested in, or able to accept your research or training proposals. You can keep offering but always look for other sources and opportunities to build, grow and disseminate.
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
Most of the time if people arenât ready for your research ideas itâs not personal. Itâs because of lack of funds, overwork, stress, or topics that you know are crucial not being perceived as so necessary to others. Itâs why you may need to keep trying and reminding.
There are, however, some topics or some individuals that are sidelined. Meaning their ideas are dismissed or, more often, others discover them later and take credit. So keep records for all your proposals, invitations and rejections as you may need to return to these in future
Todayâs #ResearchTip is we all know itâs wrong if supervisors say âsuffering is a badge of honour for a PhDâ. But PhDs regularly tell each other sufferingâs an inevitable part of a doctorate. Stopping them - or others - seeking help.
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool
So suffering should not be a badge of honour OR an inevitable part of doing a #PhD
Sometimes it will be challenging. But it should also have high points. If you are struggling without help or being made unwell or unhappy by your peers, supervisor or PI - ask for help!
Sometimes it will be challenging. But it should also have high points. If you are struggling without help or being made unwell or unhappy by your peers, supervisor or PI - ask for help!
You may feel afraid, exhausted or underconfident. That may lead you to be negative about your #PhD and assume you cannot seek support or none will be available. This hopelessness is a vicious cycle. There may not be people immediately available to help but help is still there
This tweet taking off is a reminder if something supports your world view youâll like and use it when you should be engaging critical skills. Here are academics enthusiastically sharing a small Twitter poll as a survey. Try sharing useful and nuanced research - tumbleweed đą
Also if youâre going to share a poll or anything else your first job is to cite the original. This is basic research practice and it did not happen here as @InductiveStep and others rightly pointed out.
How can we do better when sharing research on academic life?
- use robust research (thereâs lots of it)
- cite and link to it
- check against other research
- critique and question
- synthesise research and share
- put it into practice
- tell others how it worked out for you
- use robust research (thereâs lots of it)
- cite and link to it
- check against other research
- critique and question
- synthesise research and share
- put it into practice
- tell others how it worked out for you
Todayâs #ResearchTip is all of us should be able to be open and critical about the problems inherent in academia. Being pressured to say nothing in order to keep your job, get funding, or hold senior roles is a massive đ©
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd #MedEd
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd #MedEd
If youâre in an organisation where youâre being bullied then you understandably may worry about speaking out and may need help to do so while keeping yourself safe theresearchcompanion.com/bullying The same cannot be said at organisational level where silence allows abuse to thrive
Research councils, professional associations, university management and charities/groups supporting students and staff often use âstaying neutralâ to really mean ânot getting involved with damaging situations requiring urgent attention (that we also may have a role in)â.
Today's #ResearchTip is #refugee students and scholars are among the most neglected in discussions about #AcademicMentalHealth, inclusion, rights and access.
What can you do to help? Find out in the thread and share your suggestions too
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd
What can you do to help? Find out in the thread and share your suggestions too
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd
You can campaign to make your university a #SanctuaryCampus Find out more on how to do this via @UniofSanctuary universities.cityofsanctuary.org
You can support @CARA1933 who support refugee academics. There's a variety of ways to assist from fundraising to volunteering. This can be as an individual or as a university cara.ngo/how-to-help/
