Networks, journeys and interpretation · Practical workshop
Mixed-source Analysis and Research Reporting with SAM
Bring several sources into a coherent analytical account while preserving their purposes and limits. Use prepared public service material to connect research questions, coding, comparisons and selected visualisations, then develop a short report whose claims can be followed back to identifiable evidence and documented decisions.
Research questions often reach across sources with different purposes, audiences and forms. This workshop explores how to develop an integrated account while retaining the context needed to understand each contribution. A prepared example concerning public services brings together public discussion, institutional material and research accounts.
What you will explore
- Map a research question to the distinct contributions and limits of several sources.
- Design a comparison that respects source context and analytical units.
- Develop claims supported by identifiable evidence and reviewed analytical outputs.
- Write a concise account of methods, findings, uncertainty and limitations.
Participants begin by mapping the research question to the available evidence. Following a tutor demonstration of collection and import, you will work with prepared materials to identify meaningful comparisons and the limits of combining findings. Exercises consider how close reading, coding and selected network or pathway outputs can contribute when their construction and analytical units fit the question.
The second half turns that work into a short research account. You will connect claims to identifiable evidence, discuss disagreement and missing perspectives, and explain the decisions that shaped the analysis. A reporting template supports a clear methods paragraph, an evidence-based findings section and a proportionate statement of limitations. Throughout, the researcher chooses the analytical approach and determines whether a source, label or visual output provides adequate support for a particular claim.
Who it is for
Researchers and practitioners preparing a report from several datasets or combining qualitative and exploratory analytical outputs.
The teaching example
Prepared source collections and a source-to-claim worksheet for reporting.
Proposed 180-minute outline
| Topic | Minutes |
|---|---|
| Research question, sources and the intended report | 20 |
| Tutor demonstration and source comparison matrix | 25 |
| Examine evidence within each source | 35 |
| Break | 10 |
| Develop and review comparisons across sources | 35 |
| Draft methods and evidence-based findings | 35 |
| Review claims, uncertainty and reporting decisions | 20 |
Researcher decisions
You decide how each source contributes, which comparisons are meaningful and what standard of evidence a claim must meet. You select a methodological approach and the role of any AI assistance, including choosing to conduct the analysis without it.
Your practical takeaway
A source comparison matrix and a draft methods and findings section with an evidence record.
Suggested preparation
Experience with basic SAM analysis and two relevant earlier sessions, or equivalent experience, is helpful.
Practical questions
Preparation and materials for this delivery
Experience with basic SAM analysis and two relevant earlier sessions, or equivalent experience, is helpful.
Course-specific SAM access and practice arrangements will be confirmed before bookings open. A course enquiry or registration of interest does not require a SAM subscription.
Prepared teaching material and practical exercises are being developed for this course. Final arrangements will be stated before bookings open.
Recording and material-access arrangements for this course will be confirmed before bookings open.
Proposed three-hour workshop, including breaks.
Full refunds, including booking fees, are available at least seven calendar days before the webinar, or within 14 days after the day of booking even after attendance or resource access. One free transfer to an available published repeat requires 48 hours’ notice; substitutes require 24 hours’ notice and the applicable ticket eligibility. See Practical questions below for the full cancellation, transfer and refund arrangements.
Live online via Zoom, with automatic English captions. Use Ask about training to request an accessibility adjustment. You will be able to tell us what would help you take part, without sharing a medical diagnosis. Questions can be asked through chat or speech, and camera use is optional.
How long are the courses and how are they delivered?
Course duration, dates and times are shown with each delivery. Sessions run live online via Zoom with automatic English captions. The 90-minute sessions include a five-minute screen break; longer workshops have their own schedules. Check your selected delivery for its time and timezone. Dates labelled Proposed remain provisional.
Can I watch the demonstration or take part?
For sessions that include teaching-workspace access, your booking includes named access to the shared SAM teaching workspace on the day of your course and for the following 14 days, ending at 23:59 Europe/London on the fourteenth day after your course. Explore around ten prepared teaching datasets and practise the course methods. A paid SAM subscription is not required. The teaching workspace uses the supplied datasets only; uploading or importing your own data and starting new data collections are unavailable. You may watch the demonstration or use the included practice access. Each course states its access arrangements before bookings open.
Do I need to attend every date?
No. Repeat dates teach the same course; choose one delivery per topic. Courses can be taken separately where you meet their suggested preparation, including equivalent prior experience.
What experience do I need?
Check the suggested preparation on each course page. It explains any previous SAM experience, prerequisite course or equivalent experience needed.
What will attendance cost?
Course fees are shown with each delivery. Sessions priced at £60 standard or £40 student/access include booking fees. The student/access rate is for students, unwaged researchers and researchers personally funding attendance without institutional training support. Fees are confirmed before a session opens for booking.
Will I receive a recording and materials?
For sessions that include a replay, a checked recording of the teaching and demonstration will be shared with registered participants within five working days of the course, with checked replay captions. It will remain available to view for 30 days from sharing. Recording access continues independently of the SAM teaching workspace access period. Slides, handouts and practice datasets are included. Slides and handouts are available to download for 30 days from sharing and may be kept for personal learning and reference. Separate dataset and source licences still apply. To watch your private course replay, you will need a free Zoom account. Please use the same email address as your booking, or contact us before the course if your Zoom account uses a different address. Included benefits are shown on each course page before bookings open.
What will be recorded, and how long are meeting files kept?
We record the trainer, slides and SAM demonstrations. Participant gallery view, names and chat are kept out of the shared recording. Questions are repeated anonymously and recording is paused for personal-case discussions. Camera-off attendance is welcome. Raw recordings and any participant-identifying transcripts or chats are deleted within 60 days of first sharing the replay.
Is there a SAM subscription offer?
For sessions that include the subscription offer, course attendees receive 20% off the first eligible Academic or Professional individual SAM subscription invoice only: the first monthly invoice or the first annual invoice. Subsequent invoices use normal pricing. Redeem within 30 days of your course date. Standard pricing applies afterwards. The offer applies once per customer to individual subscription fees and cannot be combined with another promotional discount. Additional processing Credits, top-ups, private training and team or institutional plans are excluded. Repeat course attendance does not extend or restart the discount. A subscription purchase is optional and separate from the course booking. Included benefits are shown on each course page before bookings open.
How can I request an accessibility adjustment?
Live online via Zoom, with automatic English captions. Request an adjustment through Ask about training: https://samapp.bigqualdatalabs.com/support/training?reason=accessibility You will be able to tell us what would help you take part, without sharing a medical diagnosis. Questions can be asked through chat or speech, and camera use is optional.
Can I cancel my booking?
You can cancel for a full refund, including booking fees, at least seven calendar days before your webinar starts. We also offer a full refund if you cancel within 14 days after the day you booked, including if you have already attended or accessed the recording or teaching workspace. For later cancellations outside these windows, please contact us. We will consider the circumstances and any transfer available. Any amount retained will be limited to reasonable costs or losses we cannot avoid. These arrangements do not limit your statutory rights.
Can I transfer to another date or send a substitute?
Contact us at least 48 hours before the start to transfer once, free of charge, to another published date for the same webinar, subject to availability. You may nominate a substitute attendee at least 24 hours before the start. For a student/access ticket, the substitute must also qualify for that rate or pay the difference to the standard price.
What happens if SAM cancels or changes the date?
If we cancel your webinar, you will receive a full refund. If we change its date, you may choose the replacement date or a full refund.
How do I request a cancellation or transfer?
Use Ask about training to request a cancellation or transfer: https://samapp.bigqualdatalabs.com/support/training?reason=course Include your name, booking reference and course date when contacting us. We aim to respond within five working days. Refunds are made without undue delay and within 14 days, normally to the original payment method. These arrangements do not limit your statutory rights.
Can you provide private online team training?
We offer live online training for research groups and organisations. Sessions can be tailored to your research context, experience and learning goals. Ask about private online team training: https://samapp.bigqualdatalabs.com/support/training?reason=team
Continue your learning
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Dr Sam Martin
Sam is a digital sociologist and the developer of Social Analysis of Meaning (SAM). The platform and courses extend her Big Qual Methods work with Oxford and UCL/RREAL over the years. Her teaching connects analytical tools with research questions, context and researcher judgement.
Keep in touch about training
Register for course updates. This does not reserve a place. To attend an open session, use its Book on Eventbrite button. No SAM account or subscription is needed to register interest.
Ask about a course, accessibility or private online team training. An enquiry does not subscribe you to course updates.