LEMMA 1 - Training and capacity building
A key focus of LEMMA 1 was to train social researchers in the analysis of data with complex structure.
TCB activities included a series of awareness-raising 'roadshow' events at a range of UK conferences (e.g. BERA and the NCRM Research Methods Festivals), intensive three-day workshops using MLwiN, and courses for more specialist audiences on topics such as multilevel event history analysis and multilevel modelling for educational policy makers. Alongside traditional face-to-face training, we experimented with provision of post-workshop on-line tutored support and mentoring of established university research groups (e.g. Psychiatry, Bristol; Health Psychology, Aberdeen; Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor). Our experience in running courses and mentoring quantitative social scientists fed into the development of a virtual learning environment (the LEMMA online course) which was launched in April 2008.