SPSS workshops for Postgraduate Researchers
The SPSS 1 beginner’s workshop is now rescheduled for Monday 18th Dec from 2-4pm in the IT Training Room. This workshop is facilitated by Paul Rice and has two parts; the follow on workshop will be held on 8th January 2018 from 10-12. Please note that you need to have attended part one (or have the appropriate skills in SPSS) to attend part two. There will be homework to do between the two workshops.
SPSS 1 beginnner’s workshop takes place on 18 Dec 2017, from 14:00 to 16:00 in Library IT Training Room, Rockingham Library, Park Campus. Please use the link to book.
SPSS 2 (follow on workshop from 18th December) takes place on 08 Jan 2018, from 10:00 to 12:00 in Library IT Training Room, Rockingham Library. Please use the link to book.
Top 100 – Altmetrics – 2017
The Altmetric Top 100 2017 is here! Check out this year’s list of the most talked about articles. http://altmetric.com/top100
What are Altmetrics?
- Attention to research outputs in non-traditional sources, e.g. policy documents, news, blogs and social media
- Indicators of research impact
- Help understand how research is being received and used
- Complementary to traditional citation-based analysis
Why Altmetrics?
- Provide a more coherent understanding of research attention
- Understand the broader reach and early impact of research
- Track attention to a broad range of research outputs, including articles, posters, data sets and working papers, etc.
- Help researchers get credit for impact activities
Advantages of Metrics for Single Research Outputs
- Real-time, immediate feedback on attention to scholarly content
- Useful for early career researchers whose work may not have accrued citations
- Showcase attention to a research output beyond academia
- Not biased by an over-arching metric
The Altmetric Bookmarklet
The free Bookmarklet lets you instantly retrieve altmetrics data for any article.

To install, go to: http://altmetric.it
Remember that the Numbers Don’t Tell You…
- Quality of the paper
- Quality of the researchers
- Whole story
Adapted from https://www.altmetric.com/
Monitoring the transition to open access
(Published 5 December 2017)
The proportion of UK research which is available via open access is increasing at a considerable rate, with 37% of research outputs freely available to the world immediately at publication.
This report, the second in a series commissioned by the Universities UK Open Access Coordination Group, aims to build on previous findings, and to examine trends over the period since the major funders of research in the UK established new policies to promote open access.
The research was delivered by a partnership involving Research Consulting, the University of Sheffield and Elsevier, and was led by Jubb Consulting.
Key findings include:
Making the most of GRANTfinder Workshop
GRANTfinder 4 Education is a database that the University of Northampton subscribes to giving a range of funding information and opportunities.
Whether you are a new user or have had an account for a while, come along to this workshop to get tips and advice about how to make the most of your Grantfinder4Education login. Facilitated by Karen Lewis, Bidding Manager for the Research and Strategic Bidding Office, this session is an interactive workshop.
Computers will be provided or feel free to bring along your laptop.
Wednesday, 24th January 2018 from 10am-12pm in Room G152, Grendon on Park Campus
Please book your place via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-the-most-of-grantfinder-tickets-40875149673
Research E-Bulletin – December 2017 (Issue 2)
With Christmas just around the corner, welcome to the December issue of our Research e-bulletin. Bringing all the Faculties and Institutes research news, events and information from across the RSB Office and The Graduate School.
Want to receive the e-bulletin?
If you do not receive our monthly e-bulletin, but would like to please email the team at rsb@northampton.ac.uk
Research Impact at UK Parliament
The UK Parliament is delighted to announce the launch of a new web hub for academic researchers.
‘Research Impact at the UK Parliament'<http://www.parliament.uk/research-impact> provides comprehensive information for researchers and universities on how they can engage with Parliament.
The hub answers three key questions:
• What is Parliament interested in?
• How does Parliament use research?
• Why engage with Parliament?
It provides essential information on ways to engage with Parliament and stay up to date, as well as contact details of parliamentary teams and staff who work with research to support Parliamentarians.
The pages feature a variety of case studies in which researchers from across the UK, and from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, write about their experiences of working with a number of parliamentary offices.
Transfer Seminar – Teaching Literature Using Critical Thinking and Communicative Teaching Language Approaches
Wednesday 29th November – 3 pm.
Location – MY120 Maidwell Boardroom.
All PhD students and staff at UoN are invited to attend Elhadj Benmoussa’s transfer seminar. Please note the change of location of the seminar.
REF 2021 – Decisions on Staff & Outputs
A summary for staff at the University of Northampton can be found in the yammer research support group site.
Any questions – email REF@Northampton.ac.uk
LLS Resources Week

Just a couple of weeks to go before LLS Resources Week takes place on both of our campuses.
This event is for everyone to enjoy and will include resource demonstrations from providers such as Sage, Taylor & Francis and Mintel, as well as supplier stands, competitions and free donuts (look out for Donuts & Digital Resources on the Tuesday).
Please come along and join in, encourage colleagues and students to sign up to some of the sessions and find out what digital resources are available to help them with their research.
There are timetables for both campuses – just follow the links within the timetables to book on any of the sessions that interest you. Whether you are a staff member, a student or a researcher, there really is something for everyone!