Any academics about? Would you include your lived experience?

[Trishna99]

If applying for a funded PhD where the topic is already written and decided, around domestic abuse and family courts. I have to do a 20 min presentation on how I am experienced and organised enough to do the PhD, and also personal experience (doesn't state whether professional or lived). I have a bsc, msc and work in domestic abuse sector. I'm thinking about adding one slide on lived experience. Not talking about details of the relationship but more that I have been through the processes I would be studying, aka marac, gaining a non mol, police interaction, family courts etc. My friend who is an academic in the area thinks I should include it whilst keeping it professional. I'm not sure.

Leave it?
Add it?

What do you think?

I wouldn’t.

It does add a strong rationale for your interest in the area of study, and an understanding of what you all be doing. I normally look at MA proposals, and I do like reading the reasons/rationale for research.

good luck with your presentation

Can I ask why?

Thank you. I'm so nervous

Maybe a comment like “my professional experience is further informed by personal experience of the processes involved” rather than a slide, without going into any detail.

When I’m looking at a PhD applicant, I want to know if this person is sufficiently intellectually able, capable of undertaking the research needed in the time allotted, with sufficient previous qualifications and experience, committed to the project, self-motivated, good at managing deadlines etc. I don’t need to know about your personal life.

ur friend is correct.

One slide is fine; if you do, it should come at the very last (or you can say it without a slide).

If you choose to do it, just briefly mention that you have relative personal experience without any details. The message to deliver is that those personal experiences may give you an edge in conducting the research efficiently.

The panel needs to assess your research potential and the fit to the project.

(from someone interviewed many PhD applicants)

good luck.

As long as you keep it factual not overly emotional,and importantly it won’t make you emotional when you present it and put you off your stride I would say include it ( my MA supervisor had recommended that a personal angle to support rationale is helpful and demonstrates a real interest in the subject rather than “it looks / sounds good , is the current trend”. Good luck with your presentation.

Fair. What if part of the PhD included training around domestic abuse, marac and family courts. Would having navigated those processes personally, and after as a professional supporting survivors, be something you'd be interested in knowing about? Or just the professional bit?

Only include personal lived experience if you can demonstrate how it has allowed you to progress academically

It wouldn't be personal at all. I rarely talk about my experiences. I don't get emotional about it otherwise I'd probably struggle to do my job. It would more be that I understand the processes inside and out because I have experienced them from both sides.

I'm still undecided but thanks all so far

I wouldn't add a slide but say it in passing. I think the risk is that they might think that your lived experience will mean you focus on that, rather than other people's lived experiences. And the one thing a PhD thesis must be is evidence based - and not limited to just your evidence. Your experience working with others is far more valuable in academic terms.

Yes I worry that they will think I have tunnel vision, which I don't, but they don't know that.

I would include, appropriately, but acknowledge impact on your positionality - and the advantages this insider perspective brings

Interesting question! I think if you include it as a way of demonstrating your reflexive approach to your research (& reference this approach) its worth including

I'm part of an 'expert by Experience' research group (it's an amazing group that is quite well known and highly thought of) so maybe I could tackle it from that angle.

I think this depends a lot on the planned methodology, the culture in the field and department you’re applying to and the attitudes of the people interviewing you. I’d do some nosing around the professional profiles and publications of the panel, department and relevant researchers you’ll be citing and see if they temd to be more dry and dispassionate or more emotionally and socially engaged. I would personally lean slightly towards including it along with your professional experience and intellectual journey in a brief description of what led you to the topic, given that you have said you can talk about it easily.

I definitely did, and definitely got my PhD. (Despite the domestic abuse, death threats, stalking and so on, being told to run to a refuge with my children and deciding instead to stand my ground).

If you're doing anything with qual research and/or multidisciplinary then reflective practice is important to include as it actually shows you're aware of how your own experience might colour your perceptions. It makes a much stronger research framework.

I would also be wary of anyone who thinks your personal experience has got nothing to do with your work, this could potentially be true for some ancient, male-oriented technocratic subject that allows people (who I'm sure are very clever, if not versed in the ways of the real world) to not have to think very hard about this stuff. I assess researchers and would always choose someone who shows potential in balancing lived experience with theoretic research, especially where lives are at stake. (It is hard to do and agonising; it shows real courage that you're doing this).

Also congratulations on attempting this, you'll make a fantastic researcher with your experience and hopefully use it to change things for the better. Good luck 🤞

I'm in humanities rather than soc sci, but I wouldn't find it strange or off-putting for you to mention this. I'd think it was a positive, especially if the project involves reflexive methodologies, or needing to gain the trust of those using DV services.

I think the "Expert by Experience" group sounds like a good way in - I'd want to hear more about that, sounds really interesting. But something like, "I've engaged with xyz services as a researcher and a service user, and my lived experience would help me do/let me bring ABC to the project"? That would be fine. And I also think it's ok if that gives you a particular investment in the topic - we want people who really want to pursue the study!

Initially my feeling was that including this might put you into a position where you look like someone with tunnel vision. However, seeing your subsequent comment about “expert by experience “, it seems quite important you do include something about it. I wouldn’t explain it as a motivation so much as a driver for your interest. I’d not include detail of the situation, just explain that you have been through processes x and y and what you found fascinating about that, what you think the positive impact would be of research into particular issues etc. Be concise and keep the framing positive and research impact focused.

You say the PhD topic is already written. Does it specify or express a preference for research methodology/approach/epistemology? For an interpretivist/poststructuralist, inductive/abductive study I would completely expect you to include lived experience as part of researcher positionality and reflexivity. For a positivist, deductive number, you would be best focusing on the professional.

100% depends on whether you want to share your private life.
There is no one answer for all.
I know a lot of academics who of course mention their personal experience, such as someone in played football keenly would explain that led to research in head injuries or a wheelchair user might be researching disabled persons' experiences. Sometimes the lived expertise is obvious.

Someone I know researches a rare disease that his close childhood friend died of, this is a primary reason he got into the career he has.

Nope

This..
I think those saying to mention it in passing are wrong.
I think if you do mention it, you need to do so in relation to what it would bring to the research- e.g., as others have said , insider perspective, Expert by experience. You might also add in some reflections on what you would also need to be cautious of in terms of having your own personal connections to the topic, to show critical reflexivity.
as a pp said , take a look at the methodology/ approach/ metatheoretical framework for the study.
good luck!!