In today's fast-paced academic landscape, the demand for training in behavioural science methodology is greater than ever.
The Rocky Mountain Methodology Academy (RMMA), a program hosted by the Canadian Centre for Research Methods and Analysis (CCRAM), offers a unique opportunity to hone essential skills in research design and data analysis with courses taught by experts in behavioural science methodology. The CCRAM is one of the Haskayne Centres of Excellence.
Course explores research design and data analysis
Led by Dr. Andrew Hayes, PhD, a Distinguished Research Professor at the Haskayne School of Business, CCRAM endeavours to narrow the divide in research design and data analysis education.
"If you look at the way most behavioural scientists are trained, there's usually fairly limited training in the basics of research design and data analysis,” says Hayes. “You'll typically get a couple of courses giving you some fundamentals, and then you're left on your own to figure out what you need to know, learning it from wherever you can.”
It’s challenging for students to find the time to learn about research design and data analysis during the limited duration of graduate school, as Hayes points out. The annual RMMA, to be hosted from July 16 to 27, 2024 at the main campus, seeks to address this challenge by providing scholars with avenues to enhance their comprehension and hone their skills.
“Prior to the creation of CCRAM, they would have to go to other places — the U.S., Europe — to kind of get that training,” says Hayes.
RMMA attracts learners from around the world
The RMMA program aligns with CCRAM’s mission of advancing participants’ research skills through a series of in-person, two-day lectures by experts in behavioural science methodology.
With attendees from countries around the world, including the U.S., Mexico, Singapore and South Africa, the course fosters a dynamic learning environment enriched by a variety of perspectives.
"Our market is the entire world," says Hayes.
Despite the international interest, the RMMA is uniquely Canadian, attracting experts from across the country who are deeply passionate about research methodology and committed to providing instruction grounded in Canadian scholarship.
“It’s about educating scientists using the talent that exists in Canada, people who make a living for themselves thinking about data analysis and research design,” says Hayes. “That's what our instructors offer. We spend our lives thinking about these things and how to convey them to people who aren't computer scientists, who aren't mathematicians, so that they can use these skills in educated and informed ways.”
But the RMMA isn’t just about learning — it’s also about experiencing. Participants not only gain from the top-tier training but also from the social experience and the opportunity to explore Calgary and the Canadian Rockies, with a day trip to Banff included for those who register before May 15.
"We still believe that people fundamentally want to get out and learn face-to-face with other people who are there for the same reason, and experience the world and the people in it," says Hayes.
Sign up for the Rocky Mountain Methodology Academy 2024 and be part of an enriching, global educational experience. Register now
