Creating a Safe Environment for Disparity in Attainment Research to Take Place. Mr Pliny Soocoormanee Dr Arinola Adefila Dr Debra Cureton Mrs Jaswinder Sekhon

Outline Brief Research Overview Ethical Considerations Creating a Safe Research Environment Methodology Tools for Data Collection Evaluation of Methodology

Tools for Data Collection Research Stream 1: Institutional data Identifying modules with no disparity – highlighting good practice Research Stream 2: Student data What students say help or impede their achievement Research Stream 4: Dissemination How to get a Good Degree Guide, Methodologies & Frameworks Research Stream 3: Action research with staff Evaluation of interventions identified by staff to eradicate the gap

Exercise Work in small groups and discuss: –Should we tell the students about the attainment gap at the point of recruitment? –Should we recruit white students in research that looks at why less BME students attain a ‘good degree’? –Should we recruit university wide or only from modules where changes are being implemented?

Ethical Considerations Do NO Harm Students Lecturers Institutions When to inform BME students about the attainment gap Is it ethical not to include white students? How to ethically investigate bad practice? Is it ethical to engage students in solution finding who wont experience the benefits of the change? How to ensure no harm is done to the institutions involved?

Creating a Safe Research Environment The research methodology aims to: –actively empower the students’ voice –educate the students about the issue –be a safe space for students to be comfortable to disclose in –be egalitarian –be engaging

Methodology

Research Tools Revising with friends – study groups Library is always Noisy!

Evaluation of Methodology CORA Useful Sense of Community Empowered students

Contact Details Dr Debra Cureton – Project Manager University of Wolverhampton Dr Arinola Adefila – Project Manager Coventry University Mr Pliny Soocoormanee – Project Worker University of Wolverhampton