Helen Kara | Lightnews

Cut, Paste, Create: Using Zines for Academic Writing

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · 18d

Ooh, lovely!

Dr Stephanie Zihms @acwristeph.bsky.social · 21d

Another blog post - from one of my #AcWriMo workshops. All about using Zines to help with your academic writing stephaniezihms.blog/2025/12/02/c... @thesiswhisperer.bsky.social @roseychang.bsky.social @drhelenkara.bsky.social

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we approach academic writing – and more specifically, how much of the writing process happens away from the keyboard. During a recent works…

stephaniezihms.blog

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · 22d

Thank you. Ideally yes, though I realise that's an even bigger ask. Also, I get really fed up with 'experts by experience' being paid substantially less for research work - not even participation, actual work - than professionals. Not least because sometimes I'm one and sometimes the other!

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · 22d

Thanks for the shout-out - glad you liked it!

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · 22d

Should research participants be paid? 🤔

I explore why fair compensation matters and how it can be done ethically - cash, vouchers, in-kind rewards, or time swaps.

Watch here: youtu.be/UoKt_-c8EjQ

#ResearchEthics #FairCompensation

115 Should We Pay Research Participants

YouTube video by Helen Kara

youtu.be

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · 25d

Thank you! And sorry for delayed reply - am just back from a much-needed holiday.

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · 25d

Thanks Jo! And sorry for delayed reply - am just back from a much-needed and very relaxing holiday (I think you'll approve!).

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Nov 25

Just a quick reminder! Only 5 days left to get your proposal in for #ICRMC 2026!

If you’re working with creative or unconventional research methods, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more here: creativeresearchmethods.com

#ICRMC2026 #CreativeMethods #CRMethods

A promotional flyer for the International Creative Research Methods Conference, taking place Monday 7th to Tuesday 8th September 2026 in Manchester, UK and online. The top features a colourful globe-as-lightbulb graphic and the conference title in bold black and neon text. Below are two circular portraits of the 2026 keynote speakers, each framed with bright accent colours, with their names and short role descriptions shown beneath them. The bottom of the flyer includes the hashtags #ICRMC and #ICRMC26 and the website creativeresearchmethods.com.

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Nov 18

New for #ICRMC26: One Slide Five Minutes 🎤
Presenters get 1 slide, 5 minutes to present, and 5 minutes for questions, followed by a networking session.
A fast, interactive way to share research, spark discussion, and connect.

Learn more: creativeresearchmethods.com

#CRMethods

The International Creative Research Methods Conference is an annual gathering for academics of all disciplines who are interested in using creative methods in their research.

113 What Is Manual Data Analysis

Association of University Presses @aupresses.bsky.social · Nov 13

Spotlighting great journals & journal-focused works from @crmethodsjnl.bsky.social, @brisunipress.bsky.social, @sumingkhoo.bsky.social, @sophierwoodward.bsky.social, @drhelenkara.bsky.social, @openpress.bsky.social & @universityofwisconsinpress in the #TeamUP Gallery: https://bit.ly/4qwyDOI

Team UP with Journals, University Press Week 2025, featuring 3 images:
-Journal of Creative Methods Research
-Teaching with Tricontinental: A Sourcebook for students working with radical periodicals
-Scandinavian Studies, featuring the cover of the journal of the same name, as well as 4 book covers: Nordic Socialism, I Talk About It All the Time, As Legend Has It, and Visions and Victims

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Nov 13

Hands-on or digital — how do you analyse your data? 📝💻

Check out my two short videos:

Manual Data Analysis
🎥 youtu.be/dto46nZs1_8

Digital Data Analysis
🎥 youtu.be/yIp3nr3fKxU

#DataAnalysis #ResearchMethods #QualitativeResearch #CreativeResearch

YouTube video by Helen Kara

youtu.be

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Nov 11

Another great year for the International Creative Research Methods Conference!

Read our reflections, feedback, and plans for 2026 including a new and exciting initiative: helenkara.com/2025/11/11/i...

Also, ticket prices remain unchanged since 2023!

#CreativeResearchMethods #ICRMC2025

The International Creative Research Methods Conference is an annual gathering for academics of all disciplines who are interested in using creative methods in their research.

Why Is There So Much Research About Us Without Us?

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Nov 7

So much research happens about us without us.
@autgeek.bsky.social and I co-wrote this piece for @isrfoundation.bsky.social on why lived experience needs to be central to research, not an afterthought.

isrf.org/blog/why-is-...

#ResearchWithUs #ExpertsByExperience #Inclusion

isrf.org

Independent Social Research Foundation @isrfoundation.bsky.social · Nov 6

Why Is There So Much Research About Us Without Us?

@drhelenkara.bsky.social and @autgeek.bsky.social outline why #neurodivergent led research is essential to building trust in communities and affirming neurodivergent ways of being.

isrf.org/blog/why-is-...

Why Is There So Much Research About Us Without Us?

isrf.org

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Nov 4

There is a new post on my blog: Writing Is Like A Fish In A River

Writing flows, stalls, loops, restarts. Shallow starts, meanders, dams, estuaries.

Hard? Yes. Normal? Absolutely.

Read here 👉 helenkara.com/2025/10/06/w...

#Writing #WritingProcess #FlowState #CRMethods

Writing Is Like A Fish In A River

Writing is difficult, whether it is academic or other writing. Writing is difficult for novices and difficult for experienced writers. If you find writing difficult, that is not because you’re stup…

112 Editing Academic Books - The Process

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Oct 30

New on my YouTube channel! 📚

Ever wondered what’s involved in editing an academic book? This video walks you through the process step by step — from first idea to publication.

Watch here: youtu.be/gg-H49OKFz0

#AcademicPublishing #BookEditing #ResearchLife

YouTube video by Helen Kara

youtu.be

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Oct 28

🚨 Proposals are rolling in for #ICRMC2026 — have you sent yours yet?

If you’re doing creative research (or thinking about it), now’s the time to share your work with an amazing community.

✨ Don’t miss your chance to be part of it:
creativeresearchmethods.com

#CreativeResearchMethods #ICRMC

The International Creative Research Methods Conference is an annual gathering for academics of all disciplines who are interested in using creative methods in their research.

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Oct 28

💡 ICYMI: Submissions are open for #ICRMC2026 – and ideas are already coming in!

We’re seeing amazing ideas from across disciplines, all exploring creative ways to do and share research.

Find out more here 👉 creativeresearchmethods.com

#CreativeResearch #CreativeMethods #ICRMC

The International Creative Research Methods Conference is an annual gathering for academics of all disciplines who are interested in using creative methods in their research.

Ethics Review In Practice

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Oct 8

Still places for this one - and it doesn't run often. Also will include pre-publication info from forthcoming book edited by @draimeegrant.bsky.social and me policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/using-docume... don't miss out!

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Oct 8

Oh FFS!!! Grow up, everyone! BTW you were right, I'm loving South Africa.

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Oct 8

From PhD chats about research ethics to nearly 30 years of collaboration with Lucy Pickering — it’s been quite a journey!

We’re now calling for chapters on experiences of research ethics review. Deadline: 30 Nov 2025.

More info here: helenkara.com/2025/10/08/e...

#EthicsReview #CallforChapters

I have known Lucy Pickering for a long time. I first met her almost 30 years ago through a mutual friend, and I got to know her well some years later when we were doing our PhDs at the same time. W…

Ethics Review In Practice

Helen Kara @drhelenkara.bsky.social · Oct 8

Lucy Pickering and I first talked about research ethics nearly 30 years ago. Now we’re launching a call for chapters on experiences of ethics review.

Deadline: 30 Nov 2025

More here 👉 helenkara.com/2025/10/08/e...

#ResearchEthics #CallforChapters #EthicsReview

I have known Lucy Pickering for a long time. I first met her almost 30 years ago through a mutual friend, and I got to know her well some years later when we were doing our PhDs at the same time. W…