Sparking ‘Aha’ moments: a resource for teaching research methods
Sparking ‘Aha’ moments: a resource for teaching research methods
This resource is the product of discussions among members of the NCRM pedagogy network. It is in part a celebration of the work of NCRM and the network.
The editors, inspired by Baker and Edwards’ paper How Many Qualitative Interviews Is Enough?, set out to engage the network (and their networks) in addressing one key question: how do you spark those ‘aha’ lightbulb moments in research methods learning?
The intention was to curate and disseminate the responses so that other methods teachers might use or take inspiration from the various metaphors, activities and workshop ideas that the contributors so generously shared.
The outcome of this project is an engaging collection loosely ordered as: supporting learners’ understanding through metaphors; supporting learners to ‘get it’ using active, experiential or immersive learning; lightbulb moments through creative exploration; and learning relationally with peers and others.
The resource shows how, for some academics, methods teaching is a passion rather than a chore. It is also a useful resource for methods learners.
National Centre for Research Methods, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton
Nind, Melanie
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Shanks, Rachel
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Edson Ferrie, Jo
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Lee, Yenn
8af383e3-5bd8-4ea3-8ee5-251766220685
29 October 2025
Nind, Melanie
b1e294c7-0014-483e-9320-e2a0346dffef
Shanks, Rachel
18e96bcc-f675-4236-b61c-e444a5000b1c
Edson Ferrie, Jo
ad03941e-06fb-4c34-9868-79267ab2e02b
Lee, Yenn
8af383e3-5bd8-4ea3-8ee5-251766220685
Melanie Nind (Author),
Rachel Shanks (Author),
Jo Edson Ferrie (Author),
Yenn Lee (Author)
(2025)
Sparking ‘Aha’ moments: a resource for teaching research methods
National Centre for Research Methods, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton
Abstract
This resource is the product of discussions among members of the NCRM pedagogy network. It is in part a celebration of the work of NCRM and the network.
The editors, inspired by Baker and Edwards’ paper How Many Qualitative Interviews Is Enough?, set out to engage the network (and their networks) in addressing one key question: how do you spark those ‘aha’ lightbulb moments in research methods learning?
The intention was to curate and disseminate the responses so that other methods teachers might use or take inspiration from the various metaphors, activities and workshop ideas that the contributors so generously shared.
The outcome of this project is an engaging collection loosely ordered as: supporting learners’ understanding through metaphors; supporting learners to ‘get it’ using active, experiential or immersive learning; lightbulb moments through creative exploration; and learning relationally with peers and others.
The resource shows how, for some academics, methods teaching is a passion rather than a chore. It is also a useful resource for methods learners.
Text
Sparking_Aha_Moments
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Published date: 29 October 2025
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Local EPrints ID: 507343
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/507343
PURE UUID: 1d0a60e3-50ad-4565-b8d6-6aa39cbd5889
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Date deposited: 04 Dec 2025 17:58
Last modified: 05 Dec 2025 02:38
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Contributors
Author:
Rachel Shanks
Author:
Jo Edson Ferrie
Author:
Yenn Lee
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