What is a Research Workshop?
The IAED Research Workshop is a two-day experience that takes you from "zero to sixty." You will learn the steps involved in conducting research, how to ask good (and interesting!) research questions, how to get approval for your study, how to collect data, and how to share your findings with the world. The best part is, you will walk away from the two days with something to show for it: you'll have a study already underway!
Who should attend the Workshop?
Anyone! Many people are intimidated by the concept of an entire workshop dedicated to research, but the fact is, anyone can learn to conduct a study and publish the results. Anyone with an interest in improving their own agency's performance, or the performance of emergency dispatching globally—really, anyone who has a "burning question" about dispatch or dispatchers that they want to answer—should attend.
Do I need any research experience?
Nope. Come as you are; we'll lead you through every step of the process. If you've ever worked with data before (as an ED-Q, for example), that's great. And if you've actually conducted research or been involved in a study, you'll be well on your way! But it's not necessary to have done any of that. If you're curious, interested in improving things, and want to learn a new skill, this is for you!
Is research for me?
Research is a broad, inclusive term that can mean anything from a brief case report to a multi-year multi-agency study. There is a kind of research, and a level of research involvement, that's right for everyone. The people who most enjoy research are those who want to lead change in their organizations, those who want to understand problems more deeply, and those who are just plain curious. In our opinion, research is for everyone.
How will learning about research help me?
Research offers a lot of benefits. Conducting research gives you a big-picture view of whatever you're studying, whether it's your agency, one of the protocols, dispatcher emotional responses, or a single type of emergency call. It also provides you with skills that are incredibly valuable in any career, and especially in management and leadership, including the ability to use data to answer questions, the ability to "see through" issues to the real problem, and the ability to present information in a compelling way. In other words, research is a great way to develop yourself as a person—and also an opportunity to develop and promote yourself as a professional.