Work plan

 Project "Life course perspectives in studying youth transitions to adulthood: bridging qualitative and quantitative approaches" (YouthLife) 

dlpilt

Project activities are organised into following work packages:

  • WP2 Early stage researchers´ (ESRs) capacity building (leader TLU/UNI BA) 

    WP2 - Early stage researchers´ (ESRs) capacity building - aims to arrange and coordinate effective and efficient involvement of ESRs in the training and networking activities planned under WP3-WP6 and to organise a special training on academic publication skills for ESRs. University of Bamberg will be responsible for organising two publishing workshops for ESRs where the strategy for improving the quality and impact factor of research publication will be outlined and participants are guided through the process of publishing peer-reviewed research results.

    In addition, the ERSs will choose a co-supervisor or mentor amongst the leading researchers of Partner institutions and compile their career development plan, including training plan and schedule in the framework of the project and they are encouraged to attend the Partner institutions for short-term research visits and/or participation in additional training courses. The ESRs will also contribute to the tasks related to organisation of events, and implementation of communication and dissemination activities, including preparation of joint publications and new research proposals during the project.

  • WP3 Expanding methodological advancement: quantitative approach in life course research (leader University of Bamberg)

    The objective of WP3 is to increase the methodological capacity of researchers and ESRs in preparation and implementation of longitudinal surveys, to advance the skills in contemporary methods of analysis of such survey data, and to advance the knowledge of how different life events shape youth trajectories to adulthood.

    WP3 will provide a training school in quantitative longitudinal data collection, organise two intensive training courses in advanced methods of quantitative longitudinal data analysis, and arrange discussion seminars, practical workshop and consultations based on experience gained from the preparation and implementation of large-scale longitudinal data on educational careers and competence development from early childhood to late adulthood in the framework of NEPS. The quantitative approach of WP3 will bring together ideas and methods developed in statistics, econometrics, epidemiology and psychometrics that deal with the three major methodological challenges in longitudinal observational studies: (a) Causal inference; (b) Missing data; (c) Measurement error.

  • WP4 Expanding methodological advancement: Qualitative approach in life course research and mixed methods usage (leader University of Southampton)

    WP4 is dedicated to expanding the research capacities and methodological skills in a range of (i) advanced qualitative longitudinal data collection and advancement of a mixed methods approach to life course research, bridging qualitative and quantitative approaches, to increase research capacities and promote international collaboration for investigating youth transitions to adulthood.

    WP4 will provide advanced training in a selection of qualitative longitudinal data collection, and analysis methods, both prospective and retrospective, and temporally-aware data analysis methods, enabling researchers to make informed methodology decisions in researching young people’s transition to adulthood. Training activities and materials planned under WP4 will develop an advanced appreciation of epistemological and ethical issues involved in qualitative longitudinal research, promote usage of mixed methods and further understanding of the role that mixed methods research can play in relation to policy development.

  • WP5 Elaboration of research design for the Estonian Longitudinal Study of Youth (ELSY)

    The aim of WP5 is to support the development a scientifically excellent research design for the first Estonian Longitudinal Study of Youth (ELSY) by capitalizing on knowledge transfer and exchange of expertise by three internationally renowned partners in life course research. In addition, WP5 will build data management and processing capacity of researchers at TLU to be able successfully implement the ELSY data collections in the future.

    The conceptual and methodological framework for ELSY is developed in a workshop and during individual consultations, building on best practices in this area. Training of more practical skills related to organising fieldwork, managing large sets of data, and preparing them for public release will be provided in an advanced training school setting. Next, a workshop will be organised to establish the key concepts (and their main indicators) to be covered by ELSY data collections and to develop the overall conceptual framework for ELSY. 

  • WP6 Advancement of the research management and administration (RMA) at TLU

    WP6 aims to improve the capability to compete successfully for national, EU and internationally competitive research funding by increasing research application and project management and administration (RMA) skills of researchers (especially ESRs), research assistants and other administrative staff at TLU. WP6 is dedicated to upgrading the operational support system for research projects at TLU to be able to streamline the processes of proposal preparation and project application and to provide optimal solutions for managing international collaborative projects in order to reduce the administrative burden of researchers and to increase the success rate of research funding applications.

    WP6 will organise a series of training workshops for both academic and administrative staff at TLU on strategical targeting of research funding calls and organisation of efficient administrative support to researchers in their pursuit of research funding applications utilising the experience and best practices of partners. WP6 will also provide a platform for individual consultations and practical partnerships for knowledge transfer and experience exchange during the preparation of joint research proposals.