Methods at Manchester

30/04/2026

📢 Applications are open for the Methods Summer School at the University of Manchester. Short, intensive courses designed for postgraduate and early career researchers across the social sciences and humanities. Explore the full programme here: https://www.methods.manchester.ac.uk/events/methods-schools/

methods@manchesterEventsMethods Schools methods@manchester Events Methods Fair Workshops and Talks Methods Schools Past events Methods Schools Explore our popular programme of research-methods courses What we offer Our Methods Schools include a variety of in-person and online courses focusing on sof...

04/12/2025

Today I'm at Writing and Researching Differently through Fictocriticism, a Methods North West Thursday Lunchtime Seminar.
Mark Gatto is giving us a great introduction to the history of and current attitudes to fatherhood in the workplace.

18/11/2025

The second part of Topological Data Analysis Ball Mapper for the Social Sciences is underway - thank you Simon Rudkin for hosting this hands-on workshop!

What's great about these sessions is the wide range of disciplines our attendees are from, and the different data they are working with. Research methods and data analyses reach across subjects, which is why we are proud to host speakers from a wide range of research areas.

17/11/2025

🚨 TOMORROW - SPACES STILL AVAILABLE 🚨
Topological Data Analysis Ball Mapper for the Social Sciences
🗓️ Tuesday 18 Nov ⏰ 10-3pm 📍 Alliance Manchester Business School

This free workshop introduces the Topological Data Analysis Ball Mapper algorithm as a model free tool for visualising data. Led by Dr Simon Rudkin, whose work has pioneered application of Ball Mapper in the social sciences, the workshop will showcase the strengths of the algorithm and the research opportunities available for exploitation.

Book now 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1801610097299

13/11/2025

NEW BLOG 📣 Innovating inclusion: Creative methods for non-speaking communities 💡
Last week we welcomed twenty researchers and practitioners interested in innovative and effective ways to research with non-speaking autistic individuals to Manchester. This event, organised by Freddie Jones and funded by Methods North West, delved into our reliance on spoken language, and the different ways we can elicit the perspectives of neurodiverse people.
🪧 Thank you to Holly E. A. Sutherland, Verity Ward and Jill Bradshaw for sharing your fantastic research!
Read the full article 🔗 https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/innovating-inclusion-creative-methods-for-non-speaking-communities/

I was absolutely delighted to welcome a diverse and engaged group of researchers and practitioners to our recent event, where we explored innovative and effective ways to research with non-speaking autistic individuals. The day was expertly put together by Freddie Jones, a second-year SEED postgradu...

12/11/2025

🚨 NEXT WEEK 🚨 Topological Data Analysis Ball Mapper for the Social Sciences

🗓️ Tuesday 18 Nov ⏰ 10-4pm 📍 AMBS

It's less than a week until this fantastic workshop with Dr Simon Rudkin, who will be taking us through the Topological Data Analysis Ball Mapper algorithm. This is a great new way to visualise multivariate data without losing critical information!

Spaces still available 🔗

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1801610097299

12/11/2025

Writing and Researching Differently through Fictocriticism
🗓️ Thursday 4 December ⏰ 12-1pm 🌐 online
In this Methods North West Lunchtime Seminar, Mark Gatto (Northumbria University) will be exploring gender, work & care through dystopian fictocriticism to challenge patriarchal norms and inspire inclusive change.
Sign up now 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1963287905977

Exploring gender, work & care through dystopian fictocriticism to challenge patriarchal norms and inspire inclusive change.

11/11/2025

💡 Meet our workshop lead: Dr Simon Rudkin
Dr Rudkin is a member of the University of Manchester's Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMI) and The University of Manchester Social Statistics Department.
🪧 His work has pioneered application of Ball Mapper in the social sciences - his research focuses on the information which is held within data and the ability to use that information for societal benefit. Much of his research focuses on the development of Topological Data Analysis (TDA) for understanding data in the social sciences and humanities. This work has considered applications in the UK, China, Europe, and the USA. Topics covered include the health impacts of supermarkets, regional productivity, the digital economy, and finance.

Topological Data Analysis Ball Mapper for the Social Sciences
🗓️ Tuesday 18 Nov ⏰ 10-4pm 📍 AMBS
Sign up now 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1801610097299

10/11/2025

TODAY 📢 PRE-SESSION: Topological Data Analysis Ball Mapper for the Social Sciences

🗓️ Monday 10 Nov ⏰ 4-5pm 🌐 Online

This pre-workshop session introduces Topological Data Analysis Ball Mapper, a model free tool for visualising data. Led by Dr Simon Rudkin, whose work has pioneered application of Ball Mapper in the social sciences, this online session will explain the basics of this method and when it can be used.

Pre-cursor to Simon's full-length workshop next week!

Spaces still available - sign up now 🔗

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1813358487049

05/11/2025

⏰ Registration for this fantastic event closes tomorrow at 12 noon ⏰
Don't miss out on MethodsLab: Listening to the non-speaking experience this Friday.

It's just 🚨 3 DAYS 🚨 until MethodsLab: Listening to the non-speaking experience
We have a few more tickets left for this fantastic event, with workshops from Talking Mats and Digital Stories, and talks from Holly Sutherland, Verity Ward, Jill Bradshaw and Freddie Jones.

🗓️ Friday 7 November ⏰ 11-4:30pm 📍 AMBS
Get your ticket before they run out 🏃 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1683441712479

04/11/2025

It's just 🚨 3 DAYS 🚨 until MethodsLab: Listening to the non-speaking experience
We have a few more tickets left for this fantastic event, with workshops from Talking Mats and Digital Stories, and talks from Holly Sutherland, Verity Ward, Jill Bradshaw and Freddie Jones.

🗓️ Friday 7 November ⏰ 11-4:30pm 📍 AMBS
Get your ticket before they run out 🏃 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1683441712479