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Research Community

SPARC

Research Community

Explore SPARC membership pathways, research support, supervision and continuing professional development for practitioner-researchers.

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Practitioner-led research

A community for research and reflection

SPARC provides structured research support, including methodology consultation, academic supervision, publication guidance and research mentorship.

Membership pathways are designed for different stages of research engagement.

Membership pathways

Continuing professional development (CPD) is part of each membership pathway.

Affiliate Member

£15 / month

12-month commitment

  • Minimum 4 CPD hours annually
  • Access to the practitioner-research forum and networking events
  • Access to the online programme Writing for Professional Publication
  • Ad-hoc academic supervision (£45/hour)
Explore membership

Practitioner-Research Member

£35 / month

12-month commitment

  • Minimum 12 CPD hours annually
  • Access to the practitioner-research forum and networking events
  • Access to the online programme Writing for Professional Publication
  • Annual research consultation and ethics pre-screening
  • Writing accountability group and collaborator directory access
Explore membership

SPARC Research Fellow

£65 / month

12-month commitment

  • 20+ CPD hours annually
  • Access to the practitioner-research forum and networking events
  • Access to the online programme Writing for Professional Publication
  • Three annual research consultations and priority ethics review
  • Writing accountability group and collaborator directory access
  • Support identifying and applying for external research funding, if needed
Explore membership

CPD and professional responsibility

CPD certificates are provided for structured seminars, training events, one-to-one learning sessions and supervised research support.

SPARC membership and CPD activity do not constitute professional accreditation or a qualification. Members remain responsible for ensuring alignment with their professional body requirements.

Support for your research

Develop the project

Methodology consultation, literature-review support, and ethics and safeguarding guidance.

Undertake the research

Academic supervision from experienced practitioner-researchers, with statistical and qualitative analysis mentorship.

Share the findings

Publication-pathway support and writing accountability groups.

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Research as continuing professional development

Learning through research engagement

Research-led CPD can support professional development in several connected ways:

Research literacy

Develop critical engagement with research and its relationship to evidence-informed practice.

Ethical confidence

Build confidence in ethical and governance frameworks through research engagement and support.

Clinical reflection

Connect research with advanced clinical reflection, publication and dissemination opportunities.

Spaces for professional connection

Each membership pathway includes access to the practitioner-research forum, networking events and the online programme Writing for Professional Publication.

The Practitioner-Research Member and Research Fellow pathways include writing accountability groups and collaborator directory access. Research consultations and supervision provide further opportunities to discuss methodology, ethical considerations and research development within the relevant membership arrangements.

Explore publication and dissemination support

Join the research conversation

Discuss membership, collaboration, research supervision or support with the Research Director.

Contact the Research Director

laura.sparc@instituteofpsychosexualpsychotherapy.org