Details of Activity
The department set up a series of debates in November 2012, which covered multi-disciplinary topics and encouraged the participation of staff from across the department and the university. In order to demonstrate the value of multi-disciplinary approaches and encourage co-operation among the department, a qualitative methods clinic was set up in 2013, alongside already existing statistic clinics, to advise on research projects.
Outcomes
The qualitative methods clinic advised on 12 projects within its first 10 months of being active. The debate series and research clinics were reported to have benefited clinical and non-clinical research staff who gained knowledge from interacting with staff who specialised in other methods and approaches, as well as feeling valued for sharing their own specialisms with other staff. The department saw an 11% increase from 2012 to 2013 in the number of staff agreeing with the statement, "I feel valued in the department for the work I do".