ESRC Three-year PhD Studentship (full-time)

Institute of Education, University of London: PhD Studentship: ESRC National Centre for Research Methods NodeThree-year PhD Studentship (full-time) commencing October 2011Title: Multimodal transcription in primary classroom digital learning environments Supervisor: Dr Diane MaversProject details:We are seeking applicants for an ESRC three-year PhD studentship. The studentship is linked to the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) node on ‘Multimodal Methods for Researching Digital Data and Digital Environments’ (Directed by Professor Carey Jewitt). The studentship will be based in the London Knowledge Lab at the Institute of Education in central London, and will commence in October 2011.The broad research focus of the studentship is in the area outlined below but the student will have the opportunity to contribute to the design and shape the direction of their study within this area. We are seeking applicants with a good 2:1 or 1st class undergraduate degree and a Masters degree in social science or relevant discipline. The studentship includes the standard research council stipend and covers tuition fees. Applicants must meet ESRC eligibility criteria.The PhD studentship will examine the topic of multimodal transcription in primary classroom digital learning environments. Conventions for the transcription of speech are well established. With increasing use of camcorders in social scientific research, the issue of transcribing everyday interaction in a multiplicity of modes has become focal. Researchers have innovated and experimented with a variety of means for re-presenting the multimodality of social exchange (e.g. gesture, facial expression and so on, as well as what is said), though these have as yet by no means been subject to intensive methodological investigation, reflection or broad acceptance. The overall aim of the proposed studentship is to investigate methods of transcription, and in particular movement-in-interaction. The studentship objectives will be: To describe and analyse existing methods of transcribing movement as one feature of social interaction; To test the affordances of these methods of transcription as research tools in the site of the primary classroom; To develop new means of transcription, taking a social semiotic perspective. This phased study will begin with a broad exploration of means of transcription in published transcripts (e.g. of the whole body, gesture, facial expression), and from there moves to empirical work that will focus particularly on gesture and action with the hands, as they are realized in ensembles which constitute pedagogic explanation, alongside speech, other bodily movement etc. Empirical research will be conducted to test methods of transcription focusing on teachers’ use of whole-class digital technologies in primary classrooms.It is expected that the doctoral project will therefore contribute to the development of some/all of the thematic strands that cut across the node, i.e.: representation and transcription; physicality and embodiment; time and space; naturally-occurring digital data; and/or mixed methods. The studentship will provide the successful applicant with an interdisciplinary training in researching digital technologies – with a particular focus on qualitative analyses including multimodal methods, video based social research at a level appropriate to the student’s experience.Further Enquiries: Dr Diane Mavers: d.mavers@ioe.ac.uk and Professor Carey Jewitt: c.jewitt@ioe.ac.ukFunding Details: Studentships will cover Home/EU tuition fees and pay a stipend (£15,590 for 2011/12) for a period of up to 3 years.Eligibility: Applicants should hold a minimum of a UK Honours Degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in Social Science or any other relevant subject and a postgraduate research training Master’s degree recognised by the ESRC or must demonstrate that the level of training already undertaken is in line with both the generic and subject specific requirements set out in the ESRC Postgraduate Training Guidelines 2011.How to apply: Eligible candidates should:1. Apply for MPhil/PhD at the Institute via UKPASS (details below)2. Include an up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV).3. A covering letter explaining your interest in the area (max 2 pages A4)4. Supply a copy of a piece of your own written work. This might be something you have written as coursework, or a publication (for a peer reviewed journal or something more journalistic such as a student newspaper). If jointly written publications are submitted please indicate your role in the writing and percentage of effort.This should be submitted to doc.enquiries@ioe.ac.ukClosing date: 16th May 2011Using UKPASS to apply for MPhil/PhDIf you have not already done so, please make your application for doctoral study via the PhD apply button on our web site. UKPASS is an online system for postgraduate applications. You will need to register there for an account, which is free of charge. The MPhil/PhD course code for UKPASS is P010801 PhD Education.Further details: http://bit.ly/fvSNHU