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BERA Conference 2022

6 September 2022 to 8 September 2022University of Liverpool

Abstract submission now closed

Deadline for submissions: 31 January 2022

PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE SUBMITTING AN ABSTRACT

Type of submission Maximum number of words (Additional 250 words for references)
Symposia 750 words
Alternative Format Session 750 words
Poster 750 words
Individual Papers – option to specify Student, New Researcher, Researcher, Post-doctoral Researcher, Teacher/Practitioner Researcher Papers 750 words
Workshop 750 words

Important points for submitting an abstract:

  • There is no specific theme for the conference. When submitting an abstract you will need to select a topic (which mainly align to our Special Interest Groups). You can now select up to 2 SIGs or themes to align your abstract to.
  • Once you have signed in, you will be redirected to the abstract submissions page.
  • Currently you will not need to submit a full paper for the Conference.
  • You should receive an email confirmation with a copy of your abstract once your submission has been completed.

Symposium

750 word abstract of the symposium, and must include the title and a paragraph about each paper in the symposium. There is an additional 250 words for references. The symposium as a whole must have a clear focus and each paper therein must be clearly related to the overall focus/theme of the symposium but also offer distinct perspectives.

You can also contact your Special Interest Group who may be putting together symposia. Visit www.bera.ac.uk/communities for a list of all the SIGs and contact details.

If your abstract does not include a paragraph under the title of each paper, this may be reviewed as an individual abstract. 

Please also ensure your symposium is anonymous. Your abstract may be edited to anonymise for the reviewing process and if successful can then edited to include presenters for each paper. Symposiums are 90 mins long and consist of more than one paper on a related theme. There is no limit to the number of papers in a symposium, but you are restricted by time.

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Originality of the symposium proposal
  • Rigour and coherence of the symposium and its individual papers
  • Significance of the research for education practice, policy or theory

Example of structure for Symposium

Alternative Format Session

750 word abstract with an additional 250 words for references.

We are open to all new ways of presenting and demonstrating a non traditional approach to an academic presentation of research. Options include:

  • Panel discussion (60 mins)
  • Activity (90 mins)
  • Offsite + plenary (60 mins)
  • Video workshop (60 mins)

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Suitability of the session format
  • Rigour of the research
  • Significance of the proposal for practice, policy or theory

Poster Session

750 word abstract with an additional 250 words for references.

We will make a decision as to how posters will be displayed during the duration of the conference nearer the time. There is likely to be scope to have some displayed in the main area where catering and the exhibition is held but there is also likely to be a digital element. There will be a prize for the best poster. 

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Suitability of the format
  • Rigour of the research
  • Significance of the proposal for practice, policy or theory

Individual Papers

750 word abstract with an additional 250 words for references.

Option to specify Student, New Researcher, Researcher, Post-doctoral Researcher, Teacher/Practitioner Researcher Papers.

Individual Papers will be grouped into coherent symposia of up to four papers in a 60/90 minute slot. These sessions will have the discussion at the end of the session rather than after each paper.

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Originality of the research
  • Rigour of the research
  • Significance of the research for education practice, policy or theory

BERA aims to celebrate and promote the work of our Students. The top ten scoring Student abstracts will be automatically shortlisted for the BERA Student Presentation Award.

Workshops

750 word abstract with an additional 250 words for references.

These must be highly participatory sessions that need audience interaction. Abstracts must include how these will be different than one of the other submission types.

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Suitability of the session format
  • Rigour of the research
  • Significance of the proposal for practice, policy or theory

Bursaries

There are various bursaries available to assist with attendance at the conference. Please visit the bursary information page for further details on the opportunities available and keep checking as other opportunities may become available as early bird deadline approaches.

Apply for a bursary

Abstract review process

Each abstract is reviewed blindly by two reviewers drawn from members of the relevant SIG (Special Interest Groups), or one of the BERA Committees.

All BERA members will have the opportunity to peer review the abstracts submitted and we rely upon the efforts of our members to ensure we have sufficient capacity to review all abstracts. If you would like to be added to the database please click here.

If the same abstract is submitted under different SIGs only one SIG will review this abstract and you will only receive one set of results.

Results

There is limited space on the programme and sessions available at the conference. Each year we are mindful that presenters do not want more sessions as the rooms will not be as full. Therefore there will always be a percentage of papers rejected. In the last few years this is around 30% of papers but it will depend upon the number of abstracts submitted. The Conference & Events Committee continually review the processes to ensure these are fair and transparent.

Authors will be notified of the date and time of the presentation if accepted after the early bird deadline, by when all presenters need to register. This is to ensure once the programme is grouped, this consists of confirmed presenters only.

> For individual and poster submissions

  • Only one abstract will normally be accepted per main presenting author, which will be the highest scoring paper. You can still submit more than one paper.
  • Only one presentation style will be accepted for the same abstract
  • This does not apply if you are a presenting co-author on other papers
  • Similarly this does not apply if you have also been accepted for a symposia or alternative format session

Themes

All submissions should indicate the theme which closely relates to the topic when submitting.  BERA reserves the right to reassign your abstract to a different theme than submitted if more relevant for programming purposes. Some themes relate to our Special Interest Groups, details here: www.bera.ac.uk/communities. If your paper abstract does not fall within the remits of the listed themes, please email conference@bera.ac.uk and you will be given instructions how to submit.

  • Alternative Education
  • Artificial and Human Intelligence
  • Arts Based Educational Research
  • Children and Childhood
  • Climate and Sustainability Education
  • Comparative and International Education
  • Creativities in Education
  • Curriculum, Assessment and Pedagogy
  • Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Educational Effectiveness and Improvement
  • Educational Leadership
  • Educational Research and Educational Policy-Making
  • Educational Technology
  • English in Education
  • Higher Education
  • History
  • Inclusive Education and SEND
  • Literacy and Language
  • Mathematics Education
  • Medical Education
  • Mental Health, Wellbeing and Education
  • Migrant Education
  • Nature, Outdoor Learning and Play
  • Ongoing Impact of COVID
  • Philosophy of Education
  • Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy
  • Post-Compulsory and Lifelong Learning
  • Practitioner Research
  • Prison Education
  • Race, Ethnicity and Education
  • Religions, Values and Education
  • Research Methodology in Education
  • Sexualities and Gender
  • Social Justice
  • Social Theory and Education
  • Socio-Cultural and Cultural-Historical Activity Theory
  • Sociology
  • Teacher Education and Development
  • Youth Studies and Informal Education

Awards

There are various awards for presentations at the conference. These vary from year to year and we reserve the right to add to or remove some of these. However, in most years, the following awards are run during the conference. 

BERA Student Presentation Award

The top ten scoring student individual papers will automatically be shortlisted for this award.

Prize:

  • 1st prize – £300 + Complimentary attendance at the BERA Annual Conference 2023

Poster Presentation Award

All posters will be judged for this award.

Prize:

  • Complimentary attendance at the BERA Annual Conference 2023.