Ableism in Academia: accessibility and inclusion through innovative research methods
This project explores how creative and participatory research methods make higher education and research culture more accessible and inclusive.
The project runs from January 2024 to December 2027 and is funded through an Impact Grant from the Department for Culture, Communication and Media 2023–24.
Background
Research in the Higher Education sector in the UK and beyond has supported the development of institutional policies and guidelines. These have significantly changed equality, diversity and inclusion practices for academics, professional services staff, and doctoral researchers.
Conference organisers and grant funders have become more aware of their responsibility. They need to ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion are not merely empty buzzwords, but are put into action and practice. In short, academia, research practices and research culture are becoming more inclusive.
Drawing on Nicole Brown’s previous research into ableism in academia and applying her contributions to research methods, this project contributes to this agenda of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Aims
This project aims to achieve the following:
- Evidence key milestones in the development of, and share guidelines for best practice to:
- making academia and research accessible and inclusive, and
- making research culture more equitable.
- Provide insight into how these guidelines have been implemented.
- Continue to shape research culture within academia and the third sector.
Methodology
The project methodology is qualitative. Participants are offered a range of data collection approaches so that they can choose how they would like to take part. Data collection methods include:
- semi-structured interviews
- creative approaches
- focus group discussions, and
- stakeholder/advisory group workshops.
The project lead contacts colleagues whom we have worked with and who agreed that they could be contacted again via direct emails. We invite them to contribute to this project. Sampling is therefore based on who opts in.
Once potential participants have been in touch, the project lead commences an initial conversation. This is to explain the research purpose, aim, methods and ethical considerations. Through these conversations, we ensure that participants understand expectations, rights and responsibilities on the part of the project lead as researcher and them as participants. Participants will then be asked to sign a consent form, before contributing to the project.
Examples of collected data
Image descriptions
Image 1: A collection of seashells with words written on them on a white surface. Examples of words and phrases include: "listen to your body", "bit exposed", "relief", "delight", "grateful", "emotions are physical", "fail", "hope, "nostalgic", "stress", "affection", "joy", "passion", and "connection".
Image 2: A collage with magazine cutouts, drawn symbols and handwritten words on white paper. The handwritten words say "agency", "bit exposed", "performativity", "react" and "PS – why are we all". The magazine cutouts include images of a fashion runway, a man with a mug, and a statue of a red monkey, as well as texts saying "do and do not want", "more choice", "not your thing?", "talk", "talktalk", "escape", "a triumph", and "women".
Image 3: A black mug, a microphone, a clear jug, a brush, a piece of clay sealed in a plastic bag, a booklet titled "I have no idea what I'm doing – adventures in academia #1", a white sculpture, a horseshoe, an animal figurine, a potato, a gem, and a booklet titled "I have no idea what I'm doing – adventures in academia #1" on a white surface.
Team
Project lead
Related links
Contact us
Department of Culture, Communication and Media
IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society
University College London
20 Bedford Way
London WC1H 0AL
