Pat Bazeley
was awarded a PhD in community psychology for an action research based thesis
which argued that community development was an effective strategy for the
promotion of mental health in a disadvantaged population (Macquarie U, 1980).
After graduating she worked in community development and as a freelance
researcher, undertaking projects in public health, welfare, education, law and
community studies. From 1991-9 she was responsible for research development
(and for four years, administration also) for academic staff at the University
of Western Sydney. In consequence, she has had experience with research design
and methodology broadly across the social sciences.
As a research methodologist, through
Research Support, she now provides training, assistance, time out (and good
food) to researchers from a wide range of disciplines (and countries) at her
research retreat at Bowral, in the southern highlands
of NSW. Additionally, she provides training and consulting to academics,
graduate students and practitioners in universities, government departments and
commercial organisations both locally and
internationally. Her particular expertise is in helping researchers to make
sense of both quantitative and qualitative data and to use computer programs
for management and analysis of data.
Pat's own research has been focused in
two quite different substantive areas: around the motivation, development,
performance and careers of researchers; and in public/community health issues.
She has a particular interest in mixed methods research, where she is exploring
tools and techniques for integrating analysis of qualitative and quantitative
data and the methodological implications of doing so.