QSA*Net: Promoting Open Research in Qualitative Social Science
Lead investigator: Professor Jane Gray, Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University Jane.gray@mu.ie
Lead administrative institution: Maynooth University (Department of Sociology and Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute)
Funding call: Open Research Fund 2023. Strand II: Open Research Stimulus
Project website: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/social-sciences-institute/research/qsanet
National Action Plan theme: Theme 1: Establishing a culture of open research. Action: A3.4.1. Recognise, encourage and support the creation and development of peer-led and expert networks for open research to stimulate awareness and participation in open research.
Governance: QSA*Net is a partnership between Maynooth University, Technological University of the Shannon and the University of Leeds. Dr. Lisa Moran is the contributing partner from TUS, and Professor Kahryn Hughes is the contributing partner from University of Leeds.
QSA*Net is overseen by an Advisory Board composed of eight contributing individuals from five affiliate institutions:
- Fran Callaghan, Maynooth University
- Ruth Geraghty, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- Elizabeth Kiely, University College, Cork
- Dermot Lynott, Maynooth University
- Chandana Mathur, Maynooth University
- Mary O’Donoghue, University of Limerick
- Aileen O’Carroll, Maynooth University
- Marian Quinn, Childhood Development Initiative
Overview of the project: QSA*Net aims to stimulate awareness and participation in open research by promoting practices of data re-use in the qualitative social sciences. The project will research barriers to re-using qualitative data deposited in data infrastructures such as the Digital Repository of Ireland, and inform researchers about the analytical potential of Qualitative Secondary Analysis (QSA). It will engage researchers across disciplines, and across academic and applied sectors, by building community, fostering expertise, and developing skills in QSA, with a particular focus on early career and other under-represented researchers. QSA*Net will establish an international partnership on excellence in QSA with Maynooth University and the Technological University of the Shannon in Ireland, and the University of Leeds in the UK. Building on this partnership, QSA*Net will develop an openly available collection of state-of-the art resources on QSA in the Digital Repository of Ireland (QSA*Hub), and will contribute to the development of an international network on Qualitative Archives and Qualitative Data Re-Use.
