Undergraduate and postgraduate students studying within the Politics and International Relations (PAIR) division at the University of Southampton, are given the opportunity to gain first hand experience of conducting field research.
During December 2009, a group of 14 PAIR students interviewed and handed postal surveys to participants in the climate change march and ‘Wave’ held in London ahead of the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Between Grosvenor Square and Parliament Square, our students conducted questionnaires and interviews which will improve understanding of the biographies and views of those engaging in climate change protest.
Student participation is an invaluable contribution to the European-wide Caught in the Act of Protest project, which aims to systematically survey social movement protests on a range of protest issues across Europe. Similar research will be conducted up to three times per year, focussing not just on climate change protest, but also on other issues including anti-war; peace and labour; employment issues.
Participation in this research project has allowed our students to develop research skills including survey design, interviewing and data entry. Such opportunities are constantly available to undergraduate and postgraduate students as part of the wider curriculum of study.
For details of future research opportunities at the University of Southampton, please visit School of Social Sciences PAIR division website or contact Dr. Clare Saunders at c.e.saunders@soton.ac.uk
Audio podcast and student views:
To listen to a podcast introduced by Dr Clare Saunders, Lecturer in Politics & International Relations, and hear the view of participating students, please click on the audio player.
For further information or discover how to get involved please contact:
Maria Grasso
Research Assistant on the Caught in the Act Project
m.grasso@soton.ac.uk
The field research gave a valuable insight into how material evidence is gathered to support the social sciences and influence political policy"
... the approach and the issue have strong resonance in the research that I hope to conduct in the coming years during my PhD.