
Events
- An Introduction to Longitudinal Research (14-15 September 2010)
- An Introduction to Epidemiology (9-10 September 2010)
- Taking Action on Childhood Obesity (11 November 2010)
- Involving Families in the Design and Implementation of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (25 June 2010)
- Public Seminar: Working Together to Reduce Child Poverty (19 May 2010)
- Introduction to STATA course (17-18 May 2010)
- An Introduction to Children's Rights for Researchers (21 April 2010)
- Seminar: "Evidence-Based Literacy Education" (19 March 2010)
- Una Seminar on Children’s Rights and Service Design (12 March 2010)
- "Using Evidence to Improve Outcomes for Children and Young People" - A Joint NCB and ICL Half Day Seminar (23 November 2009)
- Workshop on Doing Randomized Field Trials with Prof. Gary Ritter (30 September 2009)
- Seminar: “Do Volunteer Tutoring Programs Enhance Academic Performance for Tutees? A Systematic Review" (1 October 2009)
- Seminar and Workshop on Cost/Benefit Analyses by Steve Aos (23 June 2009)
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An Introduction to Longitudinal Research (14-15 September 2010)
9.30 am – 4.30 pm, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast Professor John Micklewright, Professor of Quantitative Social Science, Institute of Education, University of London Dr Alice Sullivan, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Education, University of London
The purpose of the training event is to provide an introduction into longitudinal methodology and analysis. Longitudinal research is key to understanding how individuals change and develop over time. During this two day course participants will learn about:
The day will involve a mixture of theory and hands on practice using SPSS. The training will provide an introduction to longitudinal analysis, but it is expected that participants will have a basic working knowledge of SPSS and be familiar with simple multiple regression models. Click here for a flyer for this event. |
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An Introduction to Epidemiology (9-10 September 2010)
9.30 am – 4.30 pm, Room 305, Peter Froggatt Centre, Queen’s University Belfast Dr Katie Palmer, Marie Curie Fellow: European Union at Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy. The purpose of the training event is to provide a basic knowledge of epidemiology and its application for researchers. Epidemiology is a key discipline for understanding and improving global health. This two-day event will introduce the basic concepts of epidemiological research including measures of disease occurrence and association, study design, the role of bias and confounding in epidemiological studies, data-handling skills and discussion of statistical analysis of data-sets, and research planning. Click here for a flyer for this event. |
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Taking Action on Childhood Obesity Conference
Date: Thursday 11 November 2010 Times: 9.00am – 5.00pm Venue: Sir William Whitla Hall, Queen’s University Belfast Organisers: School of Nursing & Midwifery and Improving Children’s Lives, Queen’s University
We would encourage you to put the date in your diary and plan to attend. It is anticipated that there will be a high level of interest so we advise early booking in order to guarantee a place. Our keynote speakers are from Medicine and Public Health, Sports Sciences, Dietetics, and Behavioural Psychology, thus covering an impressive interdisciplinary arena. Click here for a flyer for this event
To register, please go to the website below: www.qub.ac.uk/sites/childhoodobesityconference
Contact us: childhoodobesityconference@qub.ac.uk.
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| Involving Families in the Design and Implementation of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (25 June 2010) |
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Improving Children’s Lives will be hosting a training event in the design and planning of children’s services, entitled “Involving Families in the Design and Implementation of Neonatal Intensive Care Units” on Friday 25 June 2010, between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm in The Great Hall, Queen’s University Belfast. The purpose of the training event is to address how best to involve families in the provision of services to children. During discussions views from policy, practice and research communities will be shared to explore best practice in service design and planning involving families. Guest speaker at this event will be Dr Joy Browne, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, and Interim Chief of Pediatric Psychology at The Children’s Hospital. To view the programme and presentations at this event, please click here.
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Public Seminar: Working Together to Reduce Child Poverty (19 May 2010) 9.00 am – 12.30 pm The Great Hall The purpose of the seminar is to look at the issue of child poverty from multiple perspectives. Views from the policy, practice and research communities will be shared in order to establish the most effective ways to begin addressing child poverty and thus improving children’s economic wellbeing, one of the six core outcomes set out in the OFMDFM ’10 year Strategy for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland 2006-2016’. This is the first of a series of seminars to be held by Improving Children’s Lives, Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) and the Health and Social Care Board. This is a free and open event. However, space is limited and registration is therefore essential. To book your place, please email your name and organisation to David Piekaar at d.piekaar@qub.ac.uk. Click here for a flyer for this event. To view the programe and presentations for this event, please click here. |
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Introduction to STATA course (17-18 May 2010) An Introduction to STATA Course will be held on 17 and 18 May 2010 in Teaching Room 1, Medical Biology Centre. The course will include a general introduction to STATA, data management, generation and replacement of variables, combination of datasets and the production of summary statistics, tables and graphs. Click here for a booking form for this event. Completed forms are to be returned via email to Marie Cantwell m.cantwell@qub.ac.uk by 7 May 2010. |
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An Introduction to Children's Rights for Researchers (21 April 2010) 9.30 am - 12.30 pm Senate Room, Queen's University Belfast The purpose of this training event is to introduce researchers to children’s rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the most comprehensive human rights instrument dedicated solely to the promotion and protection of children’s rights, and contains standards covering almost all areas of children’s lives. This event aims to provide researchers with an insight into how a children’s rights framework can be applied to research practices. No prior knowledge of children’s rights is necessary. The event will be facilitated by Professor Laura Lundy (Education), Dr Bronagh Byrne (Education) and Ms Lesley McEvoy (Education). Places are limited. To register, please email Bronagh Byrne, School of Education, b.byrne@qub.ac.uk |
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School of Education Friday 19 March 2010, 1.00 - 2.00 pm Evidence-Based Literacy Education Professor Timothy Shanahan, University of Illinois at Chicago Cathcart Room (G13), School of Education, 69-71 University Street.
School of Psychology Friday 23 April 2010, 1.00 – 2.00 pm Old Wine...New Bottles: Cyber-bullying amongst Irish post-primary school students and the EU response Dr Conor McGuckin, Trinity College, Dublin School of Psychology, David Keir Building, Malone Road, Room 02.525 (formerly 253)
School of Education Friday 30 April 2010, 12.00 - 1.00 pm What it means to apply a children’s rights based approach to research: the experiences of children with chronic health conditions in mainstream primary schools. Dr Bronagh Byrne, School of Education Room G6, School of Education, 69 University Street.
Department of Child Health Thursday 13 May 2010, 4.00 – 6.00 pm Using measurement for patient safety and quality improvement in paediatrics Dr John Fitzsimmons, Child Health & Welfare Recognised Research Group Macafee Lecture Theatre, Royal Victoria Hospital
School of Education Friday 21 May 2010, 1.00 – 2.00 pm The ‘new orthodoxy’ in educational research: some reflections on experimental methods drawing on critical realist post-positivist perspectives. Dr Andy Biggart, School of Education Cathcart Room (G13), School of Education, 69-71 University Street.
School of Law Wednesday 19 May 2010, 1.00 - 2.00 pm Children, Democratic Citizenship and Participation Dr Aoife Nolan, School of Law Room 27.101, School of Law
School of Pharmacy Monday 24 May 2010, 12.00 - 1.00 pm The child’s right to evidence-based medicine. Dr Ahmed Hawwa, School of Pharmacy Room G6, School of Education, 69-71 University Street
School of Education Friday 28 May 2010, 1.00 - 2.00 pm HeartMath/Safe Place Programme: A means to improve emotional self- regulation and resilience in schools? Fintan Connolly, Pharmacist and Educational Consultant Room G6, School of Education, 69-71 University Street
School of Sociology, Social Policy & Social Work Wednesday 9 June 2010, 1.00 – 2.00 pm Using a child rights framework to inform practice with young children in care Dr Karen Winter, School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work Room 1.37, School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, 6 College Park
School of Nursing and Midwifery Thursday 10 June 2010, 1.00 – 2.00 pm Improving Outcomes after Paediatric Brain Injury. Dr Carol Hawley, Director of Transport and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University of Warwick Seminar Room, Nursing & Midwifery Research Unit, 10 Malone Road
School of Sociology, Social Policy & Social Work Wednesday 23 June 2010, 4.00-5.30pm What makes a difference in interventions with adolescents? Findings from Two Studies Professor Nina Biehal, University of York Room 1.35, School of Sociology, Social Policy & Social Work, 6 College Park
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Una Seminar on Children’s Rights and Service Design (12 March 2010)
A one-day seminar is to be held at Queen’s University Belfast on Friday 12 March on the theme of: “Respecting Children’s Rights in Service Planning, Provision and Evaluation”. The event is being organised by the Children’s Rights and Advocacy Learning Group of Una: The Global Learning Initiative on Children and Ethnic Diversity and is being hosted by the Improving Children’s Lives Initiative at Queen’s.
Una is a global, inter-disciplinary network of leading researchers and practitioners committed to reducing racial and ethnic divisions and building socially inclusive communities through the promotion of effective early childhood programmes. Its work is characterized by a commitment to developing programmes that are children’s rights-based, outcomes focused and evidence-informed. Una is Co-Directed by Profs. Paul Connolly and Tony Gallagher of the Centre for Effective Education.
The purpose of the seminar is to share international experiences and perspectives regarding the application of a children’s rights based approach to the planning, provision and evaluation of children’s services and to consider the implications of this for developing early childhood programmes aimed at promoting respect for ethnic diversity.
The seminar is free to attend but pre-registration is essential to secure a place. Further details, including how to register, are provided in the event flyer: http://bit.ly/93mBv0, and by visiting the Una website page for this event.
For more information please contact David Piekaar on 028 9097 5956 or email at: d.piekaar@qub.ac.uk
"Using Evidence to Improve Outcomes for Children and Young People" - A Joint NCB and ICL Half Day Seminar
Monday 23 November 2009, 9.30 am – 2.00 pm. The Great Hall, Queen’s University Belfast
This half-day seminar is for service commissioners, practitioners, academics and policy makers. This event, which is being co-hosted by NCB Northern Ireland and the Improving Children’s Lives initiative at Queen’s University Belfast, seeks to explore the challenges faced by researchers and service providers in attempting to meet the government’s pledge - “To deliver improved outcomes for all children and young people…. based on identified need and on evidence about what works” (Our Children and Young People – Our Pledge 2006 – 2016).
The event will be chaired by Celine McStravick (Director of NCB Northern Ireland) and will include the following speakers:
- Christine Davies CBE, Director, Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services www.c4eo.org.uk
- Dr Deborah Ghate, Director, Centre for Effective Services www.effectiveservices.org
- Prof. Paul Connolly, Director, Improving Children's Lives www.improvingchildrenslives.org
We will also invite poster presentations/information sharing to promote ongoing examples of evidence based interventions to improve outcomes for children and young people in the region.
A buffet lunch will be provided.
As places are limited, we respectfully request you book your place as soon as possible by completing the booking form below the advertisement attached to this page and returning to cadrain@ncb.org.uk
Click here for flyer and booking form for this event.
To view the programme and presentations for this event, please click here.
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Workshop on Doing Randomized Field Trials with Prof. Gary Ritter (30 September 2009) Methods Workshop: “Doing Randomized Controlled Trials without the Control: Conducting Random Assignment Studies in a Social Context" Professor Gary Ritter, University of Arkansas Time and Venue: 11:00 - 15:30, Wednesday 30 September 2009, G13 (Cathcart Room), School of Education. In this workshop, we will discuss the challenges, possibilities, and ultimately the importance of conducting random assignment in social (and particularly educational) contexts. The workshop will be organized roughly around the following questions: · What exactly is a Randomized Field Trial (RFT) and how is it different from an RCT? · What types of questions can RFTs help us address? · In the absence of RFTs, what are policymakers and others using as evidence? · How can such evidence lead them/us astray? · What are the common arguments against doing RFTs? · Why should we continue to do RFTs anyway? · What are the logistical issues than can undermine RFTs? · What are some lessons from the field in successfully conducting RFTs? The workshop will conclude with a presentation of the results of an actual RFT conducted in 2006-08 with more than 4,000 school children in the US on the impact of technology in the classroom.
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Seminar: “Do Volunteer Tutoring Programs Enhance Academic Performance for Tutees? A Systematic Review” (1 October 2009) Professor Gary Ritter, University of Arkansas Time and Venue: 13:00 - 14:00 (sandwich lunch at 12:30), Thursday 1 October 2009, G13 (Cathcart Room), School of Education This meta-analysis assesses the effectiveness of volunteer tutoring programs for improving the academic skills of students enrolled in public schools Grades K-8 in the United States and further investigates for whom and under what conditions tutoring can be effective. The authors found 21 studies (with 28 different study cohorts in those studies) reporting on randomized field trials to guide them in assessing the effectiveness of volunteer tutoring programs. Overall, the authors found volunteer tutoring has a positive effect on student achievement. With respect to particular subskills, students who work with volunteer tutors are likely to earn higher scores on assessments related to letters and words, oral fluency, and writing as compared to their peers who are not tutored. |
Seminar and Workshop on Cost/Benefit Analyses by Steve Aos (23 June 2009)
A Seminar and Workshop focusing on cost/benefit analyses of early intervention programmes for children will take place on 23 June. The Seminar and Workshop to follow will both be led by Steve Aos, Associate Director of the Washington State Institute of Public Policy (WSIPP) which is housed within government at the Washington State Legislature. Steve’s work puts prevention and the analyses of research-informed programs at the heart of government. He is an internationally regarded expert in the production of cost/benefit analyses of early intervention programmes for children. His costs/benefits analyses (or ‘consumer reports’ as he likens them to) detail which early interventions with children provide the best value for money in relation to their longer term outcomes. He has carried out these reports in a range of contexts including; Criminal Justice, Education, Child Welfare, Health Care and Mental Health. Steve will follow his seminar with a short practical session on how to compile cost benefit analyses.
This Seminar and Workshop is being organised by the Centre for Effective Education in conjunction with Improving Children’s Lives. These events have been made possible with the support of the Contract Research Staff Training and Development Fund. An overall itinerary for the day is provided below. Further details will be available shortly:
Tuesday 23 June 2009
Sandwich lunch 12.30-1.00pm (Senate Committee Room)
Seminar 1.00-2.00pm (Senate Room)
Workshop 2.30-4.30pm (Senate Room)
For more information contact Dr Liam O’Hare l.ohare@qub.ac.uk or to register for either event please contact David Piekaar d.piekaar@qub.ac.uk