ECRG Critical Realism Symposium
Organised by the Education and Childhood Research Group (ECRG).
Key Information:
- Date and time
- Thu 02 November 2023
14:00 - 16:00 - Location
- Room 2S515 (S block), UWE Bristol, Further info
- Contact
- Research Events Team researchevents@uwe.ac.uk
- Cost
- Free
- Attendance
- Booking required
About the event
Join us for the ECRG Critical Realism Symposium with featured speakers, Dr Amber Fletcher (Department of Sociology & Social Studies, University of Regina, Canada); Dr Dave Elder-Vass (Loughborough University) and Tom Fryer (University of Manchester).
Dr Amber Fletcher
Title: Climate change is real; inequality is real - using critical realism for climate change research with an equity lens.
- Abstract: Climate change is increasing the risk of flooding, drought, and wildfire for everyone, everywhere. But climate hazards do not affect us all equally. The lived experience of hazards is highly differentiated by gender, class, location, and culture. In this presentation, I discuss my methodological application of Critical Realism in a qualitative research project with rural and Indigenous communities in Canada. I argue that Critical Realism enables our understanding of the perseverant and connected problems of climate change and inequity.
- Keywords: Critical realism; climate change; climate hazards; gender; inequity.
Dr Dave Elder-Vass
Title: Building the conceptual architecture of your research project.
- Abstract: All social research depends on a series of inter-related non-empirical commitments that I will call its conceptual architecture. This concerns, for example, the objectives and methods appropriate to your topic, the nature of the social world, and the role of values in research. Research papers often omit much of this ‘messiness’ that sits behind, yet is foundational to, research projects. This paper presents a flexible framework that is intended to help researchers think through and develop their conceptual architecture.
- Keywords: Critical realism, methodology, research design, social theory,
Tom Fryer
Title: Applying critical realism to understand how students’ political attitudes change during HE.
- Abstract: Universities are often accused of influencing students’ political attitudes, particularly by sections of the right-leaning press. Recent political science work has also attributed HE with a key role in creating contemporary political divides. However, the literature on HE and students’ political attitudes has struggled to move away from the central question of whether HE is causal or simply a proxy. This presentation operationalises a critical realist understanding of causation to move beyond this debate—showing students tend to experience relatively modest changes over time, some of which can be attributed to the teaching function of HE.
- Keywords: Higher Education, critical realism, political attitudes, graduate outcomes, student politics.
Registration
All welcome, please register your attendance for refreshments.
- Cost: Free
- Attendance: Booking required
Location
Room 2S515 (S block)
UWE Bristol
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol
BS16 1QY
UK
Related events
Thu 30 October 2025, 15:00
How to get started with critical writing
Online
This interactive workshop looks at what is meant by critical writing and provides an opportunity to review an example of student writing.
Thu 30 October 2025, 16:00
Tradition to vision
Online
Hear from globally recognised African leader and visionary cultural practitioner Meskerem Assegued.
Thu 30 October 2025, 16:00
DJ workshop
Centre for Music, Farmhouse, Frenchay Campus
A two-hour workshop for Centre for Music members to learn about digital DJing. Join DJ Elley Phunk as she guides you through the basics of beat matching on our digital decks.
Thu 30 October 2025, 18:00
Halloween party
Room OSC014 - Next to the SU building, Glenside Campus
Get ready for a spooktacular night at our Halloween Party on Glenside – costumes, music and fun await!
Sat 01 November 2025, 17:00
Frights and firelights firework night
Norman Scott Park, Coniston Road
Join Student Life for a spine-tingling night of Halloween fireworks! Expect music, electrifying surprises, thunderous bangs and dazzling bursts of colour.
Sun 02 November 2025, 17:30
Film and noodle night
MOVE Studio, Purdown View, Frenchay Campus
Chill movie night! Pick Netflix or Disney, enjoy free noodles, bean bags and throws. Relax – it’s all on us!
Mon 03 November 2025, 09:00
RSPB stall
Atrium, X block, Frenchay Campus
Visit the RSPB stall during Green Week to learn about wildlife, conservation and ways to protect birds and nature.
Mon 03 November 2025, 11:00
Launch of UWE Bristol inter-hall student recycling competition
The Careers Lounge, Level 2, Frenchay Library, Frenchay Campus
Join us as we launch UWE Bristol’s brand-new inter-hall student recycling competition, where accommodation blocks will compete to improve recycling rates.
Mon 03 November 2025, 11:00
Recycling and waste pop-up
Careers Lounge, Level 2, Frenchay Library, Frenchay Campus
Find out how recycling works, meet waste experts and learn how you can make a difference on campus and at home.
Mon 03 November 2025, 12:00
Drop-in sessions for neurodivergence and mental health study support
Bower Ashton Library, City Campus at Bower Ashton
The Specialist practitioners are available in the Library to answer your questions or support you with any issues impacting your studies.
Mon 03 November 2025, 12:00
Deadstock charm making workshop
Meeting Room 1, Students' Union, Frenchay Campus
This hands-on, creative workshop invites participants to explore the environmental impacts of the fashion industry while making their own unique charms.
Mon 03 November 2025, 12:00
Plant pot decorating and bulb planting workshop
Community Corner, Students' Union, Glenside Campus
Join the Green Team for a relaxed drop-in – decorate pots, plant bulbs and enjoy a friendly, creative chat!
You may also be interested in
Education and Childhood Research Group (ECRG)
Information about the Education and Childhood Research Group (ECRG) based at UWE Bristol.
Social and Public Policy Research Group (SPPRG)
An impact-driven research group that aims to help us understand how research and theory can inform evidence-based policy and practice.
Psychological Sciences Research Group (PSRG)
Conducting applied research that has a positive influence on people and places; at home, in the workplace, and in the wider social environment.