Dr Harriet Richmond (University of Warwick) and Dr Jacquie Ridge (University of Northampton) are the co-convenors of The Non-Traditional Research Methods (NTRM) Network. The Network was launched in 2021 and was borne out of three colleagues talking and observing that, despite the sheer range of research methods available, in practice decisions in this area are often bound by the conventions of different disciplines. Not all research methods suit all contexts, but we decided that we would really welcome the opportunity to be exposed more to innovative research methods and research methods that are not traditional in the areas in which we work. The purpose of NTRM is, therefore, to provide a space for meaningful cross disciplinary research debate and thereby encourage more creativity in this aspect of research design.

Dr Harriet Richmond is the Researcher Development Consultant at the University of Warwick, with responsibility for professional development programmes for research staff. Harriet received a PhD in Drama from the University of Birmingham, UK in 2018. Her thesis examines the relationship between theatre design education, design and scenography practice and emergent professional identities of theatre designers by reconstructing the curriculum and pedagogy of a theatre design course that originated in the 1930s - the Motley Theatre Design Course - using visual and object elicitation research methods. Harriet’s interests are the formation and development of professional identities, creativity in professional learning, and creative research methods, including arts-informed research, photo and object elicitation, and collage inquiry. Harriet is the author of The Public Laundry blogLink opens in a new window.

You can see Harriet's most recent painting, called 'Words Rise into the Air.'

Dr Jacquie Ridge is a Senior Lecturer within the field of Advanced Nursing at the University of Northampton, working interprofessional across Levels 4-8. She is also a founder member of the Non-Traditional Research Methods (NTRM) Network, which seeks to provide a meaning space for cross-disciplinary research debate, encouraging creativity in research design, novel approaches to research, and ideas about the researcher.

Motivating her work is the drive for authenticity and legitimacy of the voice represented within research and its (re)production using creative methodologies, such as the substantive theory derived from doctoral research, ‘Authentic Identity: A Visual Grounded Theory of Constructing and Sustaining of Professional Identity in Adult Nursing’ (Ridge, 2020); publications pending.