1. Dr Katrina Bannigan SFHEA
Developing the evidence base in the health professions: Students as Co-Researchers (SCoRe)
Dr Katrina Bannigan SFHEA
Enquiry Based Learning project
York St John University |

2. The heart of Yorkshire

4. Students as Co-Researchers (SCoRe)
Background
Historically primary research was not a possibility (but this has changed)
Academics have to balance teaching and scholarship
Students felt the dissertation was ‘jumping through hoops’
The challenge
In the allied health professions most research is conducted for academic award
Students as Co-Researchers (SCoRe)
was a solution
York St John University |

5. Students as knowledge creators
Research informed teaching (RiT) - strengthening the link between teaching and research in higher education (Jenkins and Healey 2005).
Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) - “describes an environment in which learning is driven by a process of enquiry owned by the student” (CEEBL 2007: 1).
The undergraduate dissertation (ideally) is an EBL activity.
Challenge of EBL - is for process of enquiry to be truly owned by the student whilst mirroring the experience of researching in practice settings.
It provides an opportunity for students to formulate questions, research answers and reflect on their understanding (Hutchings 2006).
York St John University |

6. An enhanced learning experience
Enhanced? What does it add?
Added value =
Collaboration – teaching mode and skill development
Transferable skills (not just about research), e.g. teamwork, project management, report writing,
Increases employability
Participate in projects that mirror the real life setting
Work with community organisations
Opportunity for publication
Enhanced – greater, improved, advanced or sophisticated features.
Especially as Middlesex University’s L&T conference
York St John University |

7. Creating the learning environment
Its all about learning
Learning experience
Academic award = primary goal
Research = learning
Practicalities - planning
Developing projects
Students choosing projects
Front loaded teaching
Liaising with the ethics committee
Supporting teachers – building skills, building confidence
Buddying-up
1 to 1 tutorials
Education sessions
Writing retreats for publication
York St John University |

8. Developing the evidence base
Meaningful research that is of a publishable quality
SCoRe 2013: To have thirteen papers co-authored by staff and students published by 2013
Evidence for Research Degree Awarding Powers: “The Student as Co-Researchers (SCoRe) project, led by one of the university Readers (Dr Katrina Bannigan), is a jewel in the crown of the HLS faculty undergraduate programme. Every undergraduate has the opportunity to collaborate with a tutor, in a SCoRe project, to conduct meaningful research of publishable quality. The lead for each SCoRe project is an active researcher who mentors academic staff, who are novice or new to research, to support a group undergraduate students (e.g. 3 to 10). Of the 77 SCoRe projects conducted to date, eight papers and three posters have been presented, two have been published and several are being written up.”
York St John University |

9. Developing the evidence base
York St John University |

10. SCoRe: A model for others
A model for student collaboration that can be adopted by other subjects and institutions.
Adopted in Lingusitics, used in Politeness research.
i-SCoRe, i.e. International research projects with students collecting data in different countries. First project planned with Oslo and Gothenberg.
York St John University |

11. A’Up study (The Agrability UK project)
York St John University |

12. The SIPPS project
‘An international scoping study to identify people who want to be involved in occupation and mental health research, their publications and their perceptions of future research needs
Team from left to right: Hannah Spring, Robert ‘Bob’ Collins, Elizabeth 'Jill' Bradley, Karen Wells and Katrina Bannigan.
International survey (Ethics Reference number OTIS1 1OCT 10 KB).
N=199 (with respondents from 26 countries).
Valuable data for developing networks for the RCOMH research programmes.
Publication being prepared for submission to the Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy.
York St John University |

13. Commissioned by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Global survey of occupational therapy and mental health
Commissioned by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Team 1 = Eight students and me
Team 2 = One student and me
Currently developing the research proposal and ethics submission.
Students involved in:
developing survey and piloted the survey
data analysis
York St John University |

14. Conclusion
SCoRe provides an enhanced learning experience, in which students can develop transferable skills, e.g. teamwork, even if they choose not to pursue a research career.
The SCoRe is an innovative approach to growing the evidence base (particularly in research emergent subjects).
SCoRe is a model for conducting research that can be replicated by others.
I don’t predict the death of the dissertation!
York St John University |

15. Contact details k.bannigan@yorksj.ac.uk
Faculty of Health & Life Sciences
York St John University
Lord Mayor’s Walk
York
YO31 7EX
+44(0)