[We see Baasit Siddiqui sat behind a desk in a virtual studio. The University of Derby logo is on the desk, 'Get Ready for Uni' is on the two side screens, and the Kedleston Road site is seen through the window behind him.]
Bassit: Hello. This is Get Ready for Uni with the University of Derby. I'm Baasit Siddiqui.
Being able to research a topic is an important study skill. However - we know that while you're sat there at school, the thought of one day being involved in university-level research can seem like a big deal and be hard to imagine where or even how you would come into it. So today I'm going to find out how research can be fun, interesting, and accessible to everyone, regardless of background and experience and how it can be use to change the world. It really is possible for you to go from the classroom to being a global researcher in just a few years.
This is Get Ready with Research Skills.
[Intro sequence with music reads 'Get Ready for Uni: Research Skills']
[Back in the virtual studio, where Baasit is now joined by Pete Barker - Psychology Lecturer.]
Bassit: Research is there along your entire path through university: whether it's just bubbling away in the background as something that shapes what you learn on your courses, or it's an ongoing activity there for you to take an interest in and get actively involved with. Even as soon as during your first undergraduate degree, there's no mistaking its importance as a key component of university life.
Research might not always look like what you expect it to either. So I wanted to speak to a lecturer about a topic I'm experienced in - reality TV - so we're now joined by Alex Barker, a Psychology Lecturer here at the University of Derby.
Welcome Alex!
Alex: Hi Baasit
Baasit: Thank you very much for joining us today so we'll go straight into the questions if that's all right with you. Maybe a tough one to start with but - why do people watch TV?
Alex: Well people watch TV for a variety of reasons. This could be to escape the stresses of everyday life. Studies have shown that while people are watching TV, their reaction times are slowed, so they're actually focusing their attention on what they're seeing on screen, rather than things that have happened during that day like a stressful job or unpaid bills that they need to pay.
Baasit: Yeah of course god yeah, so there's that escapism element of it as well and to gain information in certain ways as well?
Alex: Yes certainly so TV at the time presents a snapshot of everyday life and culture at that time and that can be providing us with information, not only that but we have things like the news which can give us information about our everyday lives that might be crucial to us.
Baasit: Fantastic, you know what I've never really thought about why we watch TV but I think that's so interesting that just slowing everything down is fantastic and obviously for the information side of it. I'll have to reflect on it a little bit more when I'm watching it for a television production company, definitely. Now so moving on - do some genres appeal more to certain people?
Alex: Yeah so we know through previous research and viewer figures that certain genres appeal more to certain demographics so for example if you're thinking about soap operas like Coronation Street, Eastenders, that's more likely to appeal to older Generations than it is to younger Generations whereas programmes like reality TV are mostly geared towards younger people and attract a younger audience. If you think about things like Geordie Shore, Big Brother, Love Island for example, it's all geared towards that younger demographic. And people might be drawn to that because they see themselves in the characters that are being portrayed.
Baasit: Fantastic. And then just bringing it back to this idea of linking TV to research and data, why do we study what people watch? What's the benefit in doing that, what's the reasoning behind that?
Alex: Yeah well TV can provide a snapshot of the times that we live, in the culture that we live in and the values that are represented at that time. So if you think about programmes from the 80s and '90s you can see this in things like the fashion that's being worn at the time. So it reflects our reality but it can also shape our reality. So the things that we see on TV programmes might in turn affect our own individual behaviour, and this is known as something called social identity theory, whereby people might identify with and copy the behaviours of influential others so when you think about reality TV stars people might copy their behaviours because they're seeing their celebrities engaging in these behaviours.
Baasit: I can imagine anyone who's listening to this have experienced that in some form or fashion. Whether it's really nuanced, really subtle things that you do because you're being influenced by a sitcom that's on, or a reality show that's on, or a certain character that you can relate to. I know I've done it countless times on certain shows that I've watched as well so that's that's really interesting. And what can we do with this research so obviously this research is happening, you've given an idea of why this research happens but then what can be done with this research?
Alex: Yeah so an example from my own research is that I explore the alcohol and tobacco industry who are very aware of this link between people viewing these programs and then engaging with these behaviours. So sometimes they try to employ methods where they advertise their products in certain programmes and reality TV is a good example of that. So a couple of years ago now we looked at Love Island and smoking within that programme, and we found that there was a large amount of smoking being portrayed and a particular brand being shown in that programme. And it was an example of sneaky marketing.
Baasit: Right, wow!
Alex: So through that type of research we were able to show that that shouldn't be happening and we were able to put into into place Public Health measures to prevent it, such as banning smoking on that show.
Baasit: That's fascinating that is, that's brilliant and I just want to touch on that a little bit more as well with regards to it: what does that look like as a process? When we talk about we did this and this research is happening what does that essentially look like on a day-to-day basis what does that me look like?
Alex: Yeah this can look like me sat in front of a TV screen. So very similar to your job! But it involves coding a program minute by minute so sitting there watching the programme, seeing what's being said, seeing what people are doing and just recording this and making a note and seeing how many times things happen with in the programme.
Baasit: Yeah and you know what I've never made that connection so I've been on TV for 10 years now and we've got people who have the job role of a researcher and it's exactly what you've said. Wherein that case they're researching minute by minute to find the funnies or the poignant points, you're looking at it from a different way and what's amazing to hear is that that can influence change in such a positive way as well with regards to the risk of tobacco to young people, really thinking about how people in certain shows - reality shows - can be influencers and that requires a duty of care and a consideration for their audience as well. So that's really really interesting. And with that in mind from your own point of view and obviously you're the research person there as well - would you say that reality TV can be bad for us?
Alex: Um, it can possibly be when it's used for these purposes but people watch reality TV for different reasons and it can provide that connection, that human connection and those relationships that we we crave and the gossip and juiciness around that as well. But those those types of connections that people can hold with the characters that they're seeing on TV can actually be really good for people and fulfil that psychological need of connecting with people. So with that in mind - it can be a good thing: it's only when it's used in a bad way.
Baasit: Fantastic and I think that's a message for all kinds of media as well isn't it? Not just necessarily TV but kind of social media as well it's being aware of it and these kind of things can happen with it and then considering steps that could be done to try and prevent it having a negative influence on us as well. That's really fascinating I love the fact that we've had this conversation. But bringing it back to Get Ready for Uni and our students that are listening right now, if a student out there is thinking I like the idea of exploring reality TV in research, how would they go about getting started in their own projects? And would they have to be studying psychology? Kind of if you can give them a bit of guidance in terms of how they can start on their journey with this.
Alex: Yes I started my journey at the University of Derby so I'm an Alumni there and I studied Psychology, but these types of topics and these types of methods - you can look at this from a variety of different angles and it doesn't necessarily have to be Psychology. So if you're interested in this by all means get going with it but you know during your undergraduate you do have an opportunity to engage in an independent project and that's a perfect example of a good project that you can do.
Baasit: Fantastic and that does sound like a really interesting one to be honest to kind of ease people into this idea of research and I think for me what this has really opened my eyes to and obviously I've been to university as well but when you think about university there is this perception of someone like people in lab coach kind of sitting there. But it can be it's it's pretty much everything in this world that we live in right now, information is so so powerful and data is so so powerful but again if it's sitting there in a vacuum and no one's doing anything with it then what's the point what I love and what I've heard from this is the the amazing impact it can make and the real change that it can lead to as well. So it's been absolutely fantastic talking with you with regards to that. So Alex - thank you for that really interesting insight. But I have to ask you, when it comes to your own personal favourites is there any reality shows that's on your watch list.
Alex: Oh certainly Gogglebox
Baasit: I feel you felt you had to say that if I'm honest with you
Alex: Yeah definitely yeah I tend to watch most of them now just because of my background in this so,
Baasit: Fantastic research yes, you're doing it for research!
Alex: Binge watching...
Baasit: And with that in mind and we we will wrap up and I'll say my thank you's properly as well, one that's really really caught the interest of people at the moment is Traitors. From your - with your researcher hat on and kind of all of this study that you do behind it all, what would be your comment about that show itself?
Alex: Oh, it's very addictive isn't it?
Baasit: Yeah there's something about it.
Alex: Yeah yeah. It catches your attention because as I was saying about people watching this for the juicy gossip within the programmes, that programme is a prime example of it and you can see that kind of drama and the backstabbing that's going on that programme which I think it draws me in and I'm sure it draws a lot of other people in as well.
Baasit: Oh Alex it's been brilliant to hear you talk because obviously you are someone who who uses research, gathers the research and uses it in a really positive way, but you're clearly a fan of these different types of shows as well aren't you, fantastic.
So Alex it's been brilliant talking with you. Someone who is clearly passionate about the research side, but also happy to to watch TV, see what's happening and are a bit of a fan about TV as well which I think is fantastic. So all that's left for me to really say is a massive thank you for joining us.
Alex: Yeah, thank you
Baasit: And thank you for sharing your insights.
[We transition into the next section and Baasit is the only person on screen.]
Baasit: So hopefully that's a way of thinking about research you might not have considered. The scope of subjects that you could study is wide open. At Derby, you may have noticed a sea turtle being used to represent the university. You might have wondered how can this be when Derby's in the middle of the country and far from the seaside?The reason is of course it's research. Its research led by Professor Michael Sweet. Derby is playing a critical part in the restoration of coral reefs. These are vital to the planet - and turtles - and contain some of the world's most diverse ecosystems, but unfortunately, pollution, overfishing, and increasing sea temperatures are putting them at risk.
In a world first, Professor Sweet and his team developed an innovative technique for inducing the spawning of corals in captivity, in the hope that they can then thrive and survive independently in the wild ocean. If that all sounds exciting imagine being one of the PhD students that gets space in the Aquatic Research Facility lab to try out new ideas in this field, and hopefully contribute to improving the planet.
Kara Rising is an international student from the United States gets to do exactly that as part of her work at Derby. And here she is to tell us all about what being a postgraduate researcher is like:
[We arrow transition wipe to a science lab where Kara Rising is sat at one of the workbenches]
Kara: What got me really interested in research is probably pretty similar to a lot of people who are in my field of marine biology: I was a little girl and just fascinated with the ocean, like, obsessed with the ocean. And I think that passion for the mystery that the ocean has has kind of really propelled my desire to learn everything that I can about it. There's nothing I can think of that would make me happier than every day being able to answer and find more of the information that would help answer the questions that I really just am dying to know every day.
One of the things I love about research is that it's so varied every day looks different: I could be in the lab one day, I could be in the field the next and every single thing that I do just fills me with like such fascination and joy in what I'm doing. So I'm with the Aquatic Research Facility with Professor Michael Sweet, and some of the research that we're doing I just I fell in love with and so we're looking a lot at like the unseen forces that help to contribute to like the health of organisms in the in the ocean, so the microbes that actually rule our everyday lives.
We're really seeing how that is impacting ocean health and environmental health and helping to restore environments within the coastal ecosystem and such and so that is what really made me excited to go to Derby is because of all the really great research that's cutting edge in that field. So one of the things that's made Derby so great for me is that the people that I work with every day are amazing.
They're so friendly, they always want to help, my professor in particular like he wants me to succeed and he has such great connections that by coming to Derby I'm able to actually work all over the world. And so sometimes I go to Saudi Arabia and sometimes I'm able to go to Texas and and that's because the connections that people have made here have allowed us to succeed as researchers and so that has been one of the most exciting things about being able to be a researcher at Derby.
The facilities that are available to me are like the Aquatic Research Facility which are is essentially a wet lab we have aquariums in there, that we have corals, and I'm growing seagrass, and we have fish, and so that is one of the places that I spend a lot of my time. And also we have microbiology labs which I also spend a lot of my time, where I get to grow really cool microbes like really nice looking bacteria and fungi that are really interesting and so I spend a lot of time in those facilities.
So my research is focused on looking at how we can develop a probiotic essentially so beneficial bacteria that will help seagrass. One of the really cool things about seagrass is that it is known to sequester carbon. And so when unfortunately those seagrass degrade, that carbon that's trapped in the sediment is unfortunately released back into the water column and then potentially can contribute more to climate change. And so by hopefully being able to help contribute to seagrass health through this probiotic that I'm researching, maybe that will be able to have some impact on the acceleration of climate change.
So it feels like a dream to be working as a researcher. Like I said, since I was a kid this has been the one thing I've wanted to do my whole life. And so sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I'm like 'I get to go and actually do the thing that I've always wanted to do' - I bet four-year-old me would be so proud of adult me right now! If you have the passion for it, if you have the drive for it that's one of the the key things that you should have in there. It's not as glamorous as what you see on TV - every day doesn't look like you're out there catching sharks and being able to dive in the ocean. Sometimes you're actually knee deep in mud! But it's still - as long as you have that drive to really want to learn more about whatever it is that you're studying - then that's one of the best things that you can do, and so you should go for it. The world needs more researchers - we have always new things that we need to learn.
[We're back in the virtual studio with Baasit]
Baasit: So there you go. As Kara says, the world needs more researchers. So if you're keen to be one of them - start thinking about the topics that interest you, and what you'd like to find out about them. It may be information that already exists out there, but if it isn't, then you might have just found a topic prime for research. So why not have a chat as a group about topics, issues and questions you have, and decide amongst yourselves how you would tackle them as researchers?
Who would you need to help you? Would it be members of the public or professionals who could grant you permission to explore what they're responsible for?
What would you need to complete it? For instance - can you do this with just the equipment you already have like a voice or video recorder and a computer, or would you need specific kit or equipment that might only be found in a business or a university setting? Think about questions like that. That's it for Get Ready - Research Skills. So until next time - keep asking those questions.
[End titles - 'Get Ready for Uni with Baasit Siddiqui' - and the University of Derby logo]
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