Dr. Helen Kara: Independent Researcher and Scholar

Written By Janet Salmons

What does it mean to be an independent researcher and scholar? Mentor in Residence for April 2022, Dr. Helen Kara, has made a successful career by working independently. In this interview she discusses her motivations and offers suggestions for those considering this kind of path.

Dr. Kara is a prolific writer and editor, offering her own work and providing visibility to global researchers, new and experienced. Find out about Dr. Kara’s work by reading her blog: https://helenkara.com.

Follow Methodspace this month to read more posts from Dr. Helen Kara and other guest contributors who will share their own insights on this month’s focus: Be Expansive: Research Outside Academia.

More Methodspace posts from Dr. Helen Kara

Blog
The Importance of Being Disruptive: On Decolonising Creative Research Methods
Q4, December 2023, Decolonization, Caroline Lenette, Helen Kara, CRM Conference
The Importance of Being Disruptive: On Decolonising Creative Research Methods
Q4, December 2023, Decolonization, Caroline Lenette, Helen Kara, CRM Conference

Caroline Lenette offered a keynote address at the International Creative Research Methods conference, September 2023. See the address and learn about the 2024 conference here.

Q4, December 2023, Decolonization, Caroline Lenette, Helen Kara, CRM Conference
Coding Qualitative Data
July 2021, Helen Kara, Qualitative Data Analysis, July 2023, Q3
Coding Qualitative Data
July 2021, Helen Kara, Qualitative Data Analysis, July 2023, Q3

Dr. Helen Kara offers tips for the process of coding qualitative data.

July 2021, Helen Kara, Qualitative Data Analysis, July 2023, Q3
Writing a New Book Edition
Books, Helen Kara, Janet Salmons, Academic Writing, AcWriMo23, Q4
Writing a New Book Edition
Books, Helen Kara, Janet Salmons, Academic Writing, AcWriMo23, Q4

Dr. Helen Kara and Dr. Janet Salmons discuss their experiences and strategies for planning and writing a new book edition.

Books, Helen Kara, Janet Salmons, Academic Writing, AcWriMo23, Q4
The Importance Of Secondary Data
Helen Kara, Documentary Research, Documents, April 2022, History in Archives, Archival Research, ORM2
The Importance Of Secondary Data
Helen Kara, Documentary Research, Documents, April 2022, History in Archives, Archival Research, ORM2

Dr. Kara discusses the usefulness of secondary data.

Helen Kara, Documentary Research, Documents, April 2022, History in Archives, Archival Research, ORM2
Why Stories Are Practical
April 2022, Helen Kara, Independent Scholar, Stories, Storytelling, Creative Methods
Why Stories Are Practical
April 2022, Helen Kara, Independent Scholar, Stories, Storytelling, Creative Methods

Dr. Kara discusses the value of stories for research purposes.

April 2022, Helen Kara, Independent Scholar, Stories, Storytelling, Creative Methods
Writing Is A Research Method
April 2022, Helen Kara, Writing, Independent Scholar, Books
Writing Is A Research Method
April 2022, Helen Kara, Writing, Independent Scholar, Books

Dr. Helen Kara discusses ways to use writing as a method - a valuable approach for independent or practitioner researchers.

April 2022, Helen Kara, Writing, Independent Scholar, Books
Writing “Qualitative Research for Quantitative Researchers”
Helen Kara, Academic writing, April 2022
Writing “Qualitative Research for Quantitative Researchers”
Helen Kara, Academic writing, April 2022

Dr. Kara discusses the input that helped her craft her new book, “Qualitative Research for Quantitative Researchers.”

Helen Kara, Academic writing, April 2022
Independent Scholarship: Interview with Ronald Gross
Ron Gross, Independent Scholar, Independent research, April 2022
Independent Scholarship: Interview with Ronald Gross
Ron Gross, Independent Scholar, Independent research, April 2022

Ron Gross, author of The Independent Scholar’s Handbook offers encouragement and advice to indies.

Ron Gross, Independent Scholar, Independent research, April 2022
Bridging Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
Helen Kara, April 2022, Qualitative Methods
Bridging Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
Helen Kara, April 2022, Qualitative Methods

If you are a researcher accustomed to quantitative methods, listen to Dr. Helen Kara’s discussion about the importance of understanding qualitative research basics.

Helen Kara, April 2022, Qualitative Methods
Ten Top Tips For Becoming An Indie Researcher
April 2022, Practitioner research, Helen Kara, Independent Scholar
Ten Top Tips For Becoming An Indie Researcher
April 2022, Practitioner research, Helen Kara, Independent Scholar

Thinking about becoming an independent researcher? Here are some tips from Dr. Helen Kara.

April 2022, Practitioner research, Helen Kara, Independent Scholar
Dr. Helen Kara: Independent Researcher and Scholar
Helen Kara, April 2022, Independent research, Independent Scholar, Careers
Dr. Helen Kara: Independent Researcher and Scholar
Helen Kara, April 2022, Independent research, Independent Scholar, Careers

What does it mean to be an independent researcher and scholar? Learn from Dr. Helen Kara, who has made an independent career.

Helen Kara, April 2022, Independent research, Independent Scholar, Careers
This April be expansive: Research beyond academia
April 2022, Independent research, Practitioner research, March 2022
This April be expansive: Research beyond academia
April 2022, Independent research, Practitioner research, March 2022

It is a new month, with a new theme” “Be expansive: Research outside academia.” Let’s get started!

April 2022, Independent research, Practitioner research, March 2022
Self-Care and Well-being for Researchers Studying Sensitive Issues
Sensitive, Helen Kara, March 2022, Relevance, Self care, SAGE Journals
Self-Care and Well-being for Researchers Studying Sensitive Issues
Sensitive, Helen Kara, March 2022, Relevance, Self care, SAGE Journals

Self-care is essential when studying painful, sad, difficult experiences or situations. Find strategies and tips in this video from Dr. Helen Kara and collection of open-access articles.

Sensitive, Helen Kara, March 2022, Relevance, Self care, SAGE Journals
Devising Research Methods, and Analysis
August 2021, Helen Kara, Creative Methods, Innovation, Emerging
Devising Research Methods, and Analysis
August 2021, Helen Kara, Creative Methods, Innovation, Emerging

Devising new methods? Dr. Helen Kara discusses strategies for creative researchers.

August 2021, Helen Kara, Creative Methods, Innovation, Emerging
Two Researchers on Ethics: Video & Podcast
Research Ethics, March 2021, Helen Kara, Suzanne Albary
Two Researchers on Ethics: Video & Podcast
Research Ethics, March 2021, Helen Kara, Suzanne Albary

Listen to Drs. Helen Kara and Suzanne Albary share their thinking and questions about research ethics in a video and a podcast.

Research Ethics, March 2021, Helen Kara, Suzanne Albary
Researchers Respond to Covid-19: Interview with the Editors
Emerging, Author Interviews, Helen Kara, Online Research, COVID-19
Researchers Respond to Covid-19: Interview with the Editors
Emerging, Author Interviews, Helen Kara, Online Research, COVID-19

How are researchers changing their attitudes and approaches to respond to the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic? Learn about emerging methods that will be useful as researchers make greater use of online methods.

Emerging, Author Interviews, Helen Kara, Online Research, COVID-19
Janet Salmons
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