Ideas, Melting Pots and Connecting Homeopaths

A Pod can arise from any of these three entry points:

Idea: You may have a research topic idea already in mind. You can make contact with the Research Coordinator here to discuss your idea, see if it is an idea aligning with our vision and mission, and explore the next steps.

Melting Pot: One of our occasional Melting Pot sessions might be the place you connect. In 2021 we ran a series of Melting Pots focussed on the First National Homeopathy Survey in 2018. Four research project ideas were formulated and in 2022, three of these were developed into research projects. Read more about Melting Pots on our website.

Connecting Homeopaths: This is the third pathway to join a research Pod. Meet colleagues, join in conversations and build relationships. The conversations could spark an idea that you are passionate about which in turn becomes a research idea. CH sessions run on the first Wednesday of the month on Zoom at noon Sydney time. You can join any time on our events calendar.

Invitation

After a period of initial discussion with the Research Coordinator, Director and other key people, an invitation is shared with our members to join in and form the Initial Pod.

Initial Pod Formation

A series of initial meetings with members interested in the topic occurs. The purpose at that stage is two fold, to see how the people fit and to explore the topic in more detail. Wholeness, bringing one’s whole self into the research activity and includes both professional and personal skills, is a key aspect of all Pod behaviour. It allows the Pod to operate more effectively as a self organising entity, and provides important connections for professional homoeopaths in Australia.

The Initial pod formation stages are facilitated by the Research Coordinator, or other experienced Pod members, who understand the Pod processes. As the Pod ethos starts to form between members and the Pod members find their feet in this dynamic space they begin to set their direction. During this phase, meetings occur most likely at fortnightly intervals, online.

Formal Pod Creation

There is a time in the project, where it is clear to all of the members that the project will proceed into a research activity. When this point is reached a formal Pod formation occurs. All Pod members ensure their membership with us is current, and complete relevant research agreements with us, upholding our research policies and procedures. These are standard policies that all researchers in Australia undertaking human research agree upon.

Ethics Module

At this time in the pathway, Pod members each undertake an Ethics Module. It is a 5 point CPD activity accredited with ARoH, and covers all of the requirements needed when undertaking research with humans. A specific section addresses the research topic of the Pod. This information is given back to the Pod to assist their research proposal creation process as well as their ethics application.

Research Question, Blog, Literature Review

The research idea and question are related but not identical. Research projects require clearly defined research question(s) and a review of literature helps to identify whether the question being asked is worthwhile and necessary. These three stages of activity occur again with iterations and refinement as the Pod works through the existing research and what it reveals about their topic and what question their idea might answer. A researched article is published on the AP Blog and is one of the first activities the Pod will undertake together. As the Pod grows in maturity it will complete a research proposal which will guide its research activity.