Social Media and your research profile

Dr Scott EacottOffice of Educational Leadership

School of EducationThe University of New South Wales

Social Media and your research profile | Dr Scott Eacott

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Shameless self-promotion

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A useful resource

Carrigan, M. (2016). Social media for academics. London: SAGE.

A sample chapter can be found here

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Presentation Overview

• Part One– Supports through social media

• Part Two – Building a research profile

• Dialogue and debate

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BUILDING A SUPPORT NETWORK

Supports during candidature

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Some sources of support• Journal clubs

content | technical• Writing groups

technical | content• Seminars

content | technical• Conferences

content | technical

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Patter• patthomson.net• Twice a week blog

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Thesiswhisperer• Thesiswhisperer.com• Blog • @thesiswhisperer

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Twitter People• @ThomsonPat• @NHopUTS• @phdforum

Hashtags• #phdchat• #phdforum• #ECRchat • #emcrforum• #shutupandwrite• #acwrimo

BUILDING A RESEARCH PROFILE

Becoming someone in the academy

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What do people find when they you?

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Outline • What is a research profile?

• Key challenges

• Strategies

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What is a research profile?• A research profile is different from track record.

• A level of recognition within (and beyond) your discipline based on a clear understanding of what your work is about, what it does, and its quality. Your research profile is related – in part – to the impact your work has (Adkins & Dever, 2012).

• An excellent track record ≠ a strong profile

• Quality work and careful management.

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Why is it important?• When you are known and recognized for your research,

you are well placed to receive invitations such as:

– Join networks, groups, grant applications;– Present at esteemed venues / outlets;– Review for journals / publishers;– Participate in peak bodies;– Edit journals and book series.

• As a result, your invitations to others become more serious.

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Some challenges• Profiles are individual and collective• Academics ARE researchers• Take yourself AND others serious as

researchers• Prioritize research – the issue of research• Publicize achievements• Insist on supports

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Conferences• Attending key conferences• Participate – play a role• Ask questions• Have your ‘to meet list’• Business cards• Dress appropriately• Follow-up timely

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Key social platforms• Institutional (comparison)• Academia.edu• Researchgate• LinkedIn• Twitter• Facebook• Personal website

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Academia.eduAffiliation

Research interests

Bio

Following | followers

Document views

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Analytics

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Twitter • Use consistent image• 1 in 4 rule• Connect | interact

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Personal website• Audience | Content | Purpose• Why academics blog?

… expand and disseminate knowledge, make contact with potential collaborators and have

scholarly discussions on a global scale.(Mewburn & Thomson, 2013, p. 1106)

Mewburn, I., & Thomson, P. (2013). Why do academics blog? An analysis of audiences, purposes, and challenges. Studies in Higher Education, 38(8), 1105-1119.

Research profiles• Require quality work• Careful curation• Both individual and collective

A profile comes not from a quantum of activity but from a research trajectory. A

generative research narrative.

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Dialogue and Debate

A presentation at:

UNSW School of Education HDR Workshop Series Semester One 2016

University of New South WalesSydney NSW AUSTRALIA12 April 2016

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Contact Details

Dr Scott EacottPhD MLMEd GradCertPTT BTeach/BSocSci FACEL

Director, Office of Educational LeadershipSchool of EducationUniversity of New South WalesSydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2052

P: +61 2 9385 0704T: @ScottEacottE: s.eacott@unsw.edu.auW: http://scotteacott.com

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