A workshop I ran on the idea of Guerrilla research - that is no (low) cost research that relies on free tools, open data, etc and doesn't require permission

1. The art of guerrilla research
Martin Weller
http://www.flickr.com/photos/idfonline/
5981013497/

2. Overview
• What is guerrilla research
• Relationship with traditional research
• Inefficiency in current practice
• Four examples
• Issues

3. What is guerrilla research?
Guerrilla research methods are faster, lower-
cost methods that provide sufficient enough
insights to make informed strategic
decisions
(Ross Unger and Todd Warfel)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/essgee/3411795985/

4. Afforded by digital, network & open

5. The research process
• Have an idea
• Write a proposal
• Submit proposal
• {wait}
• Get funding
• Do research
• Write paper
• {wait}
• Publish
• Have an idea
• Do research
• Blog it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mg7een/4550426/

6. DIY
• Create a journal
• Interrogate data
• Disseminate findings
• Create a community
• Collaborate

7. “what’s important here is that Zuckerberg’s
genius could be embraced by half-a-billion
people within six years of its first being
launched, without (and here is the critical
bit) asking permission of anyone. The real
story is not the invention. It is the platform
that makes the invention sing.”
(Larry Lessig)

8. The manifesto
1. It can be done by one or two researchers and
does not require a team
2. It relies on existing open data, information
and tools
3. It is fairly quick to realise
4. It is disseminated via blogs and social media
5. It doesn’t require permission

9. Relationship with ‘traditional’ research
• We think of research as having a certain shape
and size
• This extends that

10. Complementary
• Demonstrate potential of further work
• Altmetrics as indicator of interest
• Get ideas/collaborators for bigger project
• Increase personal profile

11. More efficient?
12 days for a
conventional
proposal was the
average (RCUK 2006)
ESRC - only 17% of
bids were successful in
2009-10
RCUK = 2006 £196
million on
applications to the
8 UK research
councils
2800 bids submitted to
ESRC in 2009-10, an
increase in 33% from
2005-6
ESRC - 2000 failed
bids x 12 days per
bid = 65 years of
effort

12. Example1: The rich world of travel
blogsGuided by a Bourdieusian
lens, this article examines
the negotiation of
authenticity, distinction and
identity in the websites and
blogs of companies and
tourists during the 2010
spring Mt Everest climbing
season.
(Kane 2012)
This paper provides a
discussion of the
strengths,
weaknesses and
implications of using
content analysis and
narrative analysis on
travel blogs
The research reviewed the
published literature and
real-life examples of
destination marketing
organizations and tourism
enterprises using blogs as
part of their business
strategy
One important form is traveling, in which self-
described “travelers” aim to dissociate
themselves from tourism altogether. As travelers,
rather than tourists, these people present
themselves as engaged in a morally superior
alternative that does not create the same
problems as tourism.

13. • No permission
• Rich source of data
• Would have required interviews, recruitment,
budget
• Different methodology

14. Example 2: The meta-journal

15. • No permission (OA licensed articles)
• Quick set up
• No business case required
• Allows for interdisciplinarity

16. Example 3: MOOC research
Katy Jordan doing
MOOC, blogs
final assignment
Picked up by Phil
Hill at eliterate
Becomes defacto
piece on
completion rates
Invited to submit
proposal for
funding
Conference &
journal articles
follow

17. • Used free tools
• Openly available data (reports, papers, data)
• Relies on open scholarship identity
• Led to proper funding and publication
• Being used for further bids

18. Example 4: Facebook app

19. • No special access to data
• No permission required
• Spare time
• Adopted by OU as official app

20. Issues
• Will someone steal my idea?
• Can I account for it in my workplan?
• Will it get me promoted?
• Do I need technical skills?