Library
Latest Articles Author Index Articles IndexCareers in Qual
Qual as a career choice A typical qual project Careers FAQResources
Glossary of terms Past, Present, Future Recruiter Accred (RAS)Quick Answers
Running Projects Running Groups Books and Reading ListCalling all quallies
Accreditation is one of the hottest topics around... and it's moved on since our last report. For its next stage of development, though, we need your input.
If you are reading this, chances are youre a quallie, or at least have a significant interest in qualitative matters. So, what do you think about the future direction of your profession/industry? How should it address its internal needs and present itself externally?
The industry-wide Qualitative Steering Group on Accreditation, with these matters in mind, has met twice this year to develop its collective thoughts on how best to do this as covered in the last issue of In Brief. A key part of this process is calling on all quallies to get involved with the direction and professional standards for qualitative research going forward.
We are setting up a LinkedIn page to act as a forum for all those wishing to impact on the professionalisation of qualitative research and to keep abreast of the Steering Groups progress. We will be announcing details of how to access this shortly and will publicise its launch.
We need your help in creating the Future Vision for Qualitative Research. This is designed to inspire researchers about the exciting and privileged position we occupy, as we study the everyday lives of people around the globe. Part of this exercise is ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to be properly trained in both the necessary skills and theory underpinning the very best qualitative endeavours.
Wendy Gordon and Roy Langmaid, two of the industrys most innovative and leading thinkers, have volunteered to conduct a Day of Vision: Co-Creation workshop coming up within the next couple of months.
Early this year we set up the following four subcommittees tasked with scoping out the following:
1. Vision/Forum:
Drawing up a vision for qual which will inspire and professionalise.
2.Models of accreditation/training:
Investigating the best and most effective way of implementing the professionalisation of QR in terms of training and certification models.
3. Home:
Where should the industry-wide Qualitative Steering Group sit within the industry? Should it be an independent body, or be incorporated within an industry association or associations, in order to be able to move the whole programme forward?
4. Funding:
What would be the cost of training and certification/accreditation of individual researchers? How would the Steering Group, or its administrative executive, be funded and what are its likely costs?
These groups have now reported and this will be available on our LinkedIn page. It will also inform the background to the Day of Vision. And now? Get Involved! Our futures are at stake.
Michael Herbert
Alumni Member
This article was first published in InBrief magazine, June 2014
Copyright © Association for Qualitative Research, 2014
About the author

Michael Herbert
Michael has been working as an independent qualitative consultant, mentor and trainer for the last 6 years. He spent much of 2012 working in Shanghai with a Chinese qual agency and their clients and coaching their executives. He was a board director of Henley Centre HeadlightVision for two years prior to this, where he ran the biggest qual account as well as creating their qual training programme.
AQR Member Profile
Michael Herbert
Articles by this author
February 2017
Just one step away
September 2016
Edging closer to professionalisation
December 2015
Qualitative Professionalism
June 2015
Accreditation morphs into professionalisation
June 2014
Calling all quallies
Full Index for this author
8 articles by Michael Herbert