Inspiration taken to new depths

The AQR/QRCA Conference attracted delegates and speakers from around the world. These are the reactions of Ken Parker, Discovery Research

It must have been a challenge: putting a programme together that reflects all the important debates in qual, with just two days to convey them. And how the Committee rose to the challenge. We had papers, barrowboy sessions (although I think they had a sexier name than this) and Pecha Kucha. From dawn to dusk, hardly a moment to catch our breath. Thank goodness for Mark Earls asking us to emulate "inspiration" with a deep breathing exercise Wendy Gordon started the session with an excellent thought-provoking workshop revolving around why we shouldn't ask "why?" any more. Apparently for 35 years I've been asking the wrong question. Henceforth, it's where, when, who, and how?

What's more, having been told the benefits of online, I'm not sure now that I've been using the right data collection method. There seems to have been a seismic shift in the US towards online qual methods, with the primary benefits of cost (mainly travel) and time savings. Will Europe follow?

Unfortunately, the conference didn't address analysis, interpretation and reporting. Had it done so I'm sure I would have had even more to learn. Maybe next time

Congratulations to Gigi Santiago on winning the Most Inspiring Contribution Award. She certainly deserved it, not least for her later revelation that her graphics were borrowed from an erotica site! Now that is inspirational