Using Freedom of Information in Research

Date and place: 10 May 2012, Southampton

Course leader: Dr Cathy Murray, University of Southampton

This one day event will explore the use of Freedom of Information requests as an innovative way of conducting research, either as a stand-alone approach or in combination with other research methods. Examples of empirical studies conducted on Children in Care in the UK and on the British government's role in the Rwandan genocide will be presented. These studies will illustrate how researchers have successfully utilised the UK Freedom of Information Act (which came into effect in 2005) to conduct their research, by making Freedom of Information requests to elicit data. Importantly, there will be a session on the background and context of the legislation and on the role of the Information Commissioner in enabling researchers to access the data they require for their studies. Finally, you will have an opportunity, in a facilitated workshop, to consider how to use Freedom of Information requests in your own research.

Fees: £30 for UK registered postgraduate students; £60 for staff at UK academic institutions, ESRC funded researchers and registered charity organisations; £220 for all other participants. All fees include event materials, lunch, morning and afternoon tea.

To book your place in this course please go to the course details on NCRM website http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/show.php?article=3354