Summer Institute in Qualitative Research: Putting Theory to Work to be held Monday 19th – Friday 23rd July 2010 at the Education and Social Research Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

The first international Summer Institute in Qualitative Research will provide the opportunity to learn about current trends in theory and methodology, in dialogue with leading theorists.

What are the current trends and the future directions?
How does theory engage with policy and practice?
How can I put theory to work in my own research?
How does theory influence methods, ethics, identity?

psychoanalysis • art theory • feminisms • sociocultural theory • action research • poststructuralism • critical race theory • literary criticism • policy analysis

Summer Institute Director: Maggie MacLure
Plenary Keynote Speakers
Patti Lather - Ohio State University - The State of Qualitative Inquiry: Methodology 2.1
Stephen Ball - Institute of Education, London - Challenges of Policy Analysis in Hard Times
Neil Mercer - University of Cambridge - Sociocultural Theory
Nick Lee - Warwick University - Researching Childhood, Growth and Change: Bio-politics, Affect and Attractors
Maggie MacLure - MMU - Provocation: The Productive Offence of Theory
Bridget Somekh - MMU - Action Research
Erica Burman - MMU - Feminisms and Childhoods
Lorna Roberts - MMU - Critical Race Theory

Ian Parker - MMU - Psychoanalytic Theory

Patricia Allmer, Rachel Holmes, Liz Jones, Maggie MacLure, Christina MacRae - MMU - Encounters with Art Theory

Putting Theorists to Work

Mini-sessions on: Butler • Derrida • Irigaray • Lacan • Foucault • Bourdieu • Deleuze • and others

Sessions will be a mix of keynotes from leading researchers, smallgroup workshops and mini-sessions on leading theorists. The Summer Institute will be of interest to qualitative researchers who are looking for serious and stimulating engagements with theory. It will be of particular interest to doctoral students and beginning researchers in education, social sciences, and the health and caring professions. The Education and Social Research Institute at MMU is a leading centre for applied social and educational research, with a world-class reputation for the development of theory and methodology. It is one of the top ten UK education research establishments, according to the latest Research Assessment Exercise. Find out more about ESRI at

Standard delegate fee: £195 (including all lunches, tea & coffee, plus wine reception)

Initial enquiries:

Summer Institute in Qualitative Research, The Education and Social Research Institute,

Manchester Metropolitan University, 799 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury,

Manchester, M20 2RR, UK

tel (0161) 247 2318 fax (0161) 247 6353 email SIQR@mmu.ac.uk